An apparatus including a ballistic barrel cleaning cartridge is provided. The apparatus includes a casing including a casing recess. The casing recess is closed at a first end of the casing. The apparatus further includes a propellant disposed within the casing recess and an abrasive-binding agent composite slug constructed with an abrasive agent and a polymerized binding agent. The abrasive-binding agent composite slug is disposed within the casing recess at a second end of the casing. Expansion of the propellant is operable to expel the abrasive-binding agent composite slug from the casing recess and propel the abrasive-binding agent composite slug down a bore of a firearm.