I have my first Garand on the way. It is a CMP H&R in about 95% cond.Throat erosion is 2, muzzle wear is 1. I understand throat erosion, & that barrels wear from the throat forward. My ? is, what causes the muzzle wear? Is it caused by shooting, or is cleaning fom the muzzle where most muzzle wear comes from?

Almost all muzzle wear comes from the sectioned GI cleaning rods wearing away the crown of the barrel. The sections can't match exactly and every stroke that the overhanging joints rub the rifling on the way in and out wears away at the rifling. The first (then) DCM M-1 that I got had NO rifling at the first 1/8" from the muzzle. When a scribe or nail was run along the rifling at the muzzle, there was nothing for it to catch on. Way back in second place would be the hot gasses escaping around the bullet when it emerges from the barrel; but, that is nothing compared to the sectioned cleaning rods.

I guess it would save a great deal of muzzle wear to use a bore snake then.Or, if a rod is to be used, a muzzle guide would be helpful.

Or just do away with the rod altogether... Get a Bore-Snake.

I use an Otis kit for "white-glove" barrel cleaning at home and boresnakes for quick field cleaning.  

A bore snake is what I plan on using. I use them on everything. I can't wait for my M1 to arrive. 2007 is looking good so far. I also have a Beretta BM59 on the way. This is the best start to a new year I've had in a while.

Bore-Snakes are great; I havew one in every caliber I use.

9mm (for my issue M9)
.223 (for both my issue M4 and my personal AR)
.45 (for my two 1911s and my Glock
.30 (for my Garand and 03 Springfield)
12 Ga. (for my Mossy 590)

Great tool to have, specially in the field; a couple of runs through the barrel and you are ready; it is not a replacement for a complete cleaning kit, but makes cleaning the barrel so much better, and no metal rods, so no damage to the muzzle.