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

Hoodie

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Aug 6, 2020
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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

FNG
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Mar 1, 2020
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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.
 
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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

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

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

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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.
 

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