The nitride barrel cost more than the stainless. Intentionally paid more for the specific reason of leaving the barrel fouled. The rifle was intended for shooting land riding bullets. One reads on the web how the land riding bullets are sized different for clean, and fouled barrels. This may be true for those using smokeless powder. However, experience is limited, but when using Blackhorn powder the land riding bullets can be sized the exact same for clean or fouled barrels. Early testing indicates, the first shot whether from a cold clean barrel, or a cold fouled barrel seem to fly high.
Turns out there may be no good reason to leave the barrel fouled, when shooting the land riding bullets, and Blackhorn powder. Too early to tell.............
Whenever the rifle is brought home, and left uncleaned, it feels wrong. However, it can be done, if one is stubborn. The rifle is out in the shop as this is being written; loaded, and dirty from two previous days of shooting. Yes, loaded, and dirty. Sure feels weird.
Normally when hunting, and shooting the rifle at a deer, the rifle is immediately reloaded in case another shot is needed. Normally the second shot is not required, and thus the rifle needs to be fired at nothing before heading home, so it can be cleaned. Perhaps now if one is hunting with a nitride barrel, one can leave the rifle, fouled by the one shot, loaded, uncleaned for the duration of the season. Seems like that would be difficult. Perhaps we shall see.
To some eyes, the nitride barrel is prettier than the stainless. The matte scope sure looks nice on the nitride barrel; they just go together.
