OT - cleaning bores of target pistols

Don, this brings up a topic I've been going to propose to the "experts" on this board. I read (a long time ago) that most rifle bores were "cleaned" out, not shot out.


The article stated that high power rifle bores were good for about 2000 rounds but were seldom ever fired any where near that many times. It went on to say that cleaning the bore was more the cause of wear than shooting it.


From experience, I had an MP40 that I ran approx. 5000 rounds thru and it showed no visible signs of wear. Not to mention the fact that it was made in 1943 and probably had a lot more rounds run through it before I got it!


That's why, when some one says a Luger has a shot out bore I feel it would be more accurate to say it was "cleaned" to death. I just can't imagine ever shooting one enough times to wear out the bore - if 5000+ rounds didn't hurt the barrel of an MP40.


So your question, or more to the point, what you were told may have some credibility, but I'd like to hear what some of this group thinks. How about RickW, Frank, JohnD, Thor and the rest of you longtime shooters, what do you think?