HI Jason,,,,
Do go ahead and clean your barrel, sounds like it needs it..... but DON'T use any gun solvent. Matter of fact don't use a metal cleaning rod either.
Get yourself a length of "weed whacker" line. Sharpen one end to a point and take a lighter and heat the other end to form a small round "bulb" on the end then let that cool.
Use the sharp end of the weed whacker line and thread a clean patch soaked with "Goo Gone" . Insert the weed whacker line from the breach end and push it till it comes out the barrel, then grab it and pull the patch through the barrel.
Use this technique and keep alternating with the Goo-Gone and the clean patches until the patches come out clean. ONce clean you won't have to worry about cleaning again until accuracy starts to diminish.
Never a good idea to use regular gun solvent in an air rifle, it'll ruin your rifle for sure..... Goo-Gone is all you need to clean the barrel.
I wouldn't advise running an oiled patch down the barrel either.
Jeff