When working up a load, I usually shoot 4 or 5 shot groups, with maybe 6 or 7 different combinations at a time, and was wondering how often I should clean the barrel....Ive been cleaning after every shot group, trying to keep it on a level playing field, and should I waste one, after each cleaning...

Make your five shot group then just run a dry patch down the bore and go at it again...

And Skeetman...Welcome to this fine sight. Grab a beer (Vince's) and pull up a stump. Others will be along soon with their ideas and you will get to pick one that will fit your needs...Enjoy....

Welcome aboard skeets....as Bushy said mate, grab a beer and pull up a stump.

Personally, I like to do as Bushy does...a dry patch down the barrel after each group. I do however, do a more thorough clean before changing to a load with a different powder. Don't forget to foul the bore again before shooting for group after a thorough clean.

I know, it doesn't sound like it would make a difference, but different powders can leave a different residue in the barrel and that can have a minor effect.

Cheers, Vince

How often you clean, depends to some extend on how fast your barrel fouls.

Some barrels will go 50+ rounds with very little fouling while others will foul after a few shots. Generally, the rapidly fouling barrels have some rough spots (i.e., aren't particularly good barrels).

In general, you would do fine in cleaning after 20 to 30 rounds.

I do clean beween groups of different powders The gun I shoot the most an f.n. p.b.r. >.308 win doesn't seem to foul too bad but a dry bore snake between powders like Vince says, does seem to make cleaning easier at the end also. I've used hoppes #9 when breaking in barrels but you have to be sure and get it completely dry before the next shot; After I settle on a load and the gun is broken in gently I see no reason why you couldn't go 50 rounds like Grumulkin says as long as your bore is relatively smooth and your not storing it dirty. I've shot matches that consisted of 50 rounds without cleaning between rounds with no ill effects.

another Idea I'm sure you've had is when you find a really good load it doesn't seem to matter if your not on a level playing field i.e. more or less copper, or residue. my .308 load is exactly that 168g smk on 43g reloder15, in lapua brass as long as the magazine will functionally allow, with federal large rifle primers. alot of guys use this in alot of different .308's and it works great. Some other calibers are a little harder to figure out but once you do it seems like simplicity. just outta curiousity what ya trying to work up, maybe i've tried it or someone else has.