Switching between jacketed lead bullets and monos in the same rifle, cleaning necessary?

[Hoodie]

I'm in the "don't clean your rifle until accuracy degrades" camp.

I have a 6.5 Creedmoor I'd like to shoot the TTSX out of for deer this fall. I use the ELDX for black bear and would prefer to continue doing so. I've heard people say you should clean thoroughly before switching to non-lead ammo in a rifle because fouling is accelerated or something.

Given that the ELDX has a copper jacket this seems like it may be a bit of a myth to me. Has anyone switched without cleaning and actually seen accuracy degrade?

 

[156821]

I switch back and forth and never noticed a difference. I clean more often than you but I don’t think it makes a big difference.

 

[ResearchinStuff]

The guns I've shot barnes through definitely do not like to have copper fouling from non-barnes bullets in them. Group size with normal bullet fouling was double what I saw with a clean bore or barnes only fouling. ymmv.

 

[hereinaz]

Consensus of guys I know don’t mix mono and copper jacketed without a thorough stripping of copper from the barrel.

 

[jfs82]

Never had an issue

 

[MTMeatHunter]

I shot a box of copper through an old ruger, didn’t clean, and my first three shots with the 150 ABLR went just over half inch this morning

 

[ResearchinStuff]

Jacketed bullets after monos have been fine for me, it's specifically shooting monos after jacketed that has produced poor accuracy.

 

[MTMeatHunter]

Interesting. I’ve had a poor run of accuracy trying Barnes bullets in two otherwise very very accurate rifles. I didn’t clean down to bare metal before trying them out. I’ll have to see if a good cleaning and stripping the copper changes that.

 

[Jimbee]

Following. I loaded up three Barnes 129gr LRX over IMR 4955 yesterday just to try them and I got a 3.25inch 3 round group. (.270 Win.) Then I shot a decent 10 round group with 145 ELDX. I haven't cleaned the gun since it was brand new.

 

[thinhorn_AK]

Never had an issue.