Patch Stuck...

[NorCalRefuge]

Rifles have been cleaned from the muzzle forever. I never had issues with my old Mini-14. That was when I was still using multi piece aluminum rods.

Well sure, if you don't care about the crown.

After which, you'll need to clean the inside of the receiver, since you just managed to push a bunch of gunk into it. While you're cleaning your receiver, you'll be pushing gunk back into the barrel unintentionally. Clearly not the best way to go about it...

[RNE228]

Still trying to see the issue.

The Mini-14 cleaned the same as a M1, 10/22, Savage 99, Winchester 66/73/ 86/94, Marlin 94/95 and too many other semi-auto, pump and lever action rifles.

I've never damaged a crown. Some care does need to be exercised while cleaning. I'm sure people have damaged crowns, but it's not hard to avoid.

Well sure, if you don't care about the crown.

After which, you'll need to clean the inside of the receiver, since you just managed to push a bunch of gunk into it. While you're cleaning your receiver, you'll be pushing gunk back into the barrel unintentionally. Clearly not the best way to go about it...

[NorCalRefuge]

Still trying to see the issue.

The Mini-14 cleaned the same as a M1, 10/22, Savage 99, Winchester 66/73/ 86/94, Marlin 94/95 and too many other semi-auto, pump and lever action rifles.

I've never damaged a crown. Some care does need to be exercised while cleaning. I'm sure people have damaged crowns, but it's not hard to avoid.

As originally said, the Otis Cleaning System came about as a solution for all those types of guns.

Every time you push a rod through the muzzle, you are indeed contacting the crown and pushing everything from your dirty barrel into your receiver, and then back into the barrel again as you clean the receiver.

Any kind of metal, along with dirt, carbon, grime, grit (all abrasive) rubbing on your crown is bad - it is not a myth that it will wear it unevenly, which is damage no matter which way you wanna call it. Just take a look at the surplus M1's and others where they were cleaned this way.

Just because people have done what you suggest, out of necessity, doesn't make it ideal (not that the Otis System is ideal either, it's clearly got its own share of problems).