Do you have mud dobbers in your area ? Wasp like critters that lay their eggs in small holes then fill the end with a spit / mud / paper plug .
If you clean a gun and lay it down / prop it in a corner , one of those can plug it in an hour . Had one do it to me , caught it before firing . I now use GI muzzle covers on them the minute I'm through cleaning and leave them on till just before shooting .
Chris