Tuning Barrel Polishing Question

If it ain't broke, don't try and fix it. If you do and choose to use those bore mops, be real careful not to bend them mid-stroke and scratch up your bore (especially the mope with the harder metal cores).

In my experience, polishing can be beneficial in a barrel that is fouling due to a rough finish, or other slight anomaly that will cause such fouling. It will not fix substantial machining imperfections. I think of it as the general equivalent of shooting a several hundred pellets.

Agreed, polishing is mainly to smooth out microscopic surface fretting which will help extend cleaning intervals.

No amount of shooting pellets will achieve the same result on account of lead being about 3 points lower on the Mohs hardness scale and incapable of scratching steel. What happens instead is lead abrades and sticks to the fretting, essentially covering it. 

As nervoustrig stated, it smooths out anomolies in the barrel. Extends barrel cleaning times. Can't hurt , if done correctly. 

I polish all of my new barrels and any used barrel that does not pass the pellet push through test.

After thoroughly cleaning the barrel I push a pellet through, with a rod, feeling for tight spots that may need more attention than the rest of the barrel.

I concentrate on the tight spots, using a rod and patches with some abrasive, and then just lightly polish the rest end to end. I leave the choke alone unless I think it is a bit tight.

The barrels usually respond positively to this and shoot better when I am done. 

I think Biohazardman has the right idea. Polish when needed, clean when needed, shoot always.