[dgludwig]

I have no problem cleaning my model 94 Winchester rifle from the muzzle. One of the cardinal rules for cleaning any firearm via the muzzle is to use the cleaning rod (regardless of what material it's made from) judiciously, avoiding any contact with the crown. This is not that difficult and many, many firearms require cleaning from the muzzle, including almost all non-takedown Winchester and Savage lever-action rifles; all current Remington pump and semi-auto rifles and virtually all revolvers (Dan Wessons and some top-breaks excepted), to name a few.