Do Not Break in your Barrel

[mongo chicago]

Attached is a dissenting point of view.

 

[Alex Wheeler]

Never had one take more than 10 rounds to stop coppering and be "broken in" using the one shot and clean method. Most people dont do it correctly. You have to remove 100% of the copper before the next shot. 10 shots may take 8 hours. 45 minutes to 1 hour to soak the copper out between shots. I no longer break in barrels though, they still break in, it just takes more rounds.

 

[Joe Salt]

Alex I maybe all wet but, BEFORE I fire a single shot I use my bore scope to look at the lead to see how bad the machine marks are. Then I have a rod with a crank handle that I use along with a brush and patch along with JB bore cleaner and try to polish anything out that looks ruff. I have done this for years and my copper build up is about nil.
Get the machine marks out and they won't tear the jacket off the bullet. I know there are going to be people say your wearing out the throat, but what do you think your doing with the bullet!

Joe Salt

 

[Milo 2.0]

I'm not sure how anyone can make a blanket statement on breakin, all barrels are different. I myself have never did a breakin, but do monitor buildup to 70-80 rds.
Barrel brands that used to take 100+ rds to speed up are doing so in under 20, and while not yielding copper at all, you end up cleaning it at 250rds and swear it's the filthiest barrel you've ever owned.

 

[Shynloco]

Joe,
I'm Alex, but not the one you posed your question to. And over the years, I've read and heard this proposition discussed and argued til the cows come home. But I find your comments both interesting yet in conflict with what I've assumed (probably a bad idea). If one is to believe that Match barrels (which is all I buy and use) are, in fact, hand lapped, I assumed that the very thing you are trying to remove (machine marks) have already been removed. Secondly, I use a 40 rd "break-in" with heavy cleaning between the first 5 shots and again heavy cleaning between the next 5/3 shot groups, all of which would would take off any "machine markings" if there were any in the first place. On the other hand, there have been so many experienced people (and some not so experienced) have often said, "Just shoot the damn thing." Now I imagine that Alex Wheeler, whose opinion I respect greatly, may well be in conflict with some of the other well respected shooters and even Gunsmiths. SO I guess what I'm getting at, is who is to be believed as having the best method of "Breaking in a Barrel," if that is needed at all? And sorry to start another round of what is the right method to clean a barrel, a topic I suspect will be debated.....well FOREVER! Thx!

Alex

 

[watercam]

Alex I maybe all wet but, BEFORE I fire a single shot I use my bore scope to look at the lead to see how bad the machine marks are. Then I have a rod with a crank handle that I use along with a brush and patch along with JB bore cleaner and try to polish anything out that looks ruff. I have done this for years and my copper build up is about nil.
Get the machine marks out and they won't tear the jacket off the bullet. I know there are going to be people say your wearing out the throat, but what do you think your doing with the bullet!

Joe Salt

I agree. With custom barrels that are lapped properly I check the leade area and polish slightly if needed then simply shoot a match and clean to bare metal. After a hundred or two rounds they settle in and then off to the races.

 

[mikecr]

Counter logic:
Until a bore settles, the shots with it are just as wasted as those break-in shots offending Mr. McMillan.
WE have all kinds of situations with OUR bores (which are not always his).
Some will choose to develop with bores still changing, and some will try to settle their barrels beforehand ->faster.
Either way, our 'opinions' are as good as his, until he provides more than that much himself.

 

[JRS]

Counter logic:
Until a bore settles, the shots with it are just as wasted as those break-in shots offending Mr. McMillan.
WE have all kinds of situations with OUR bores (which are not always his).
Some will choose to develop with bores still changing, and some will try to settle their barrels beforehand ->faster.
Either way, our 'opinions' are as good as his, until he provides more than that much himself.

I'm quite sure the "dean of American barrel making" would be happy to enlighten you, and provide additional information. Unfortunatly, he died many years ago.

 

[mikecr]

Well that's sad.
Discussions with this will go on, and we will learn more about it.

 

[JRS]

Kelly McMillan can share with you the complete history. Not only were McMillan barrels on winning rifles, they were also on a number of rifles that set national, international, and olympic records

 

[gunsandgunsmithing]

What are everyone's thoughts on WHY a barrel speeds up...if it really does at all?

 

[dmoran]

@gunsandgunsmithing
Never had one that didn't (much more predominate with the cut rifled barrels that I have/had).
My opinion to why they speed up: friction transition from sharper/crisper edges to rounded/radius edges.
Donovan

 

[jbhotrod]

I know McBros barrels were some of the best, but what was his opinion on cut vs button?

 

[swd]

What are everyone's thoughts on WHY a barrel speeds up...if it really does at all?

My guess has always been burnishing in the lapping and increasing pressure. Why it always seems to be between 100-200 rounds, IF its going to happen I'm still at a loss about. And then some don't speed up at all..
It would be nice to understand the logic a barrel has, but logic at 60K psi is apparently different than the logic in my brain that's normally in a vacuum.

 

[Jeff A]

Joe,
Snip>If one is to believe that Match barrels (which is all I buy and use) are, in fact, hand lapped, I assumed that the very thing you are trying to remove (machine marks) have already been removed.<

Alex

After the barrel is hand lapped, THEN it is chambered if I understand the process correctly. There are inevitable sharp edges and tool marks which will make copper until they are worn down a bit. Please tell me if I'm wrong, I'm still learning.

 

[jds holler]

After the barrel is hand lapped, THEN it is chambered if I understand the process correctly. There are inevitable sharp edges and tool marks which will make copper until they are worn down a bit. Please tell me if I'm wrong, I'm still learning.

Yeah, I'd also like to know if this is the case. jd

 

[Joe Salt]

BikeEfect Right on! Yes the barrels are hand lapped, that's not the problem its the chamber job. The gunsmith isn't going to hand lap his machine marks for you so yes that is what I try and smooth out. I haven't seen a nice smooth one yet, even when they pump oil through them when they chamber.

Joe Salt

 

[mgunderson]

Not all lapping is the same between barrel makers.

 

[gunsandgunsmithing]

@gunsandgunsmithing
Never had one that didn't (much more predominate with the cut rifled barrels that I have/had).
My opinion to why they speed up: friction transition from sharper/crisper edges to rounded/radius edges.
Donovan

Like a Broughton?

 

[skeetlee]

I actually polish the throat a bit after i chamber a barrel. super quick and easy.. Walt Berger shared a little trick with me long ago about barrel brake in. Before i fire my first round i wet the bore slightly with a little Kroil. fire a shot over the kroil a couple times and all will be well. I havent seen any of my barrel copper foul much past a few rounds in a very long time. If i see no copper after the first shot or two then im done with the hole idea anyway. There is a lot of malarkey on the net, dont get sucked in!!! Lee Lee Gardner Precision