How clean do you keep your barrel and how many shots down the tube?

I had a 223 sporter barrel that took around 200 shot to break in and for that first 200 it would do what you are describing. Finally one day it started putting 5 in a nice group. Shortly after I cleaned it thinking I was helping it and groups opened again. Once it got dirty again it closed the groups up. So I just let it stay dirty and it all worked out, until I had to clean it again. Ended up selling it to a buddy and since he is not real excited to clean guns he was over-joyed when I told him not to clean it much. Been a 1/2MOA shooter for me and him.