A few questions

[Leupoldd1]

I finally have a load for my 32-20 (Winchester Miroku 24")that seems to shoot quite well. Hornady 100gr XTP over 7.0 grains of 2400 give very consistent accuracy and seem to hit the rams very well. I also have 1000 85 grain Hornady XTPs that I'd like to work up for the chickens and pigs. Does anyone have experience with that bullet, and where can I start load wise? The 49th Edition of the Lyman guide lists 7.6 grains of 2400 as the starting load. Can I go lighter as I don't need a whole lot of velocity for chickens and pigs? I'd like to stay with 2400 to start.
Additionally, how often do you clean the barrel of your silhouette guns? I've run about 200 rounds through my gun since I last cleaned it and really hate that job. Do you have a cleaning routine, or do you go until accuracy seems to suffer? Thank you.

[jnyork]

I have been shooting the 85 grain Hornady's since I got the rifle about 5 years ago. I have never worried about velocity very much as you can knock down most (MOST) PC rams with a .22, you dont need a heavy load for rams. I just shoot for the best accuracy and use the same load all through the course. I found 8.5 grains of Lil Gun to work best for me, I never could get it to shoot 2400 worth a whoop. This is a Marlin CL rifle.

[Leupoldd1]

jnyork, thank you for the reply. I have some Lil' Gun powder and will give it a shot as well. The reason I plan to go with 100 grain Hornadys on the turkeys and rams, and 85 grainers for chickens and pigs is primarily because I have a lot of each type of bullet and want to balance them out so I don't need to buy any for quite a while. My experience has also been that you can knock over the rams with a .22 on most occasions. How often do you have to clean your gun to maintain accuracy with it? I've probably shot too many rounds out of my .357 without cleaning it.

[jnyork]

I clean it after each shoot. Dont want to let that copper build up, it's easy to clean after only one shoot. My accuracy falls off after maybe 100 rounds anyway, so I just go ahead and clean it.