I'm thinking of just going up to Banff and then back out. I was thinking about finding a gun shop in Great Falls to "clean" my gun and pick it up a week or so later on my way back home. Is this a reasonable plan?
Absolutely (as long as you aren't using some sort of euphemism!). Someone on here may be able to recommend a reputable one that will "clean" or store it for the time frame. Better than trying to beat the system.
I've crossed many times with a CCL and no issue. The fact that all of us work for defense contractors was of much more interest to the border agent. I suspect that when someone is "hassled" and they have a permit the vast majority of the time it's coincidence. Either a behavior set them off or they just happened to be the 12th unit when they board every 12th unit.