Barrel Break-In Procedure Questions...

[titanxt]

It has been a while since I have posted on this forum. I am glad to be back!

I have owned rifles for many years and have always used some kind of break-in procedure. It has been a while since my last new rifle and now I am hearing of "equilibrium" vs. "benchrest" break-in procedures. I know the internet is full of information (good and bad and really bad...), and I have been doing some reading, but I would like to narrow my field of experts to those on this forum. Is breaking a barrel in still all that it is cracked up to be? What about the equilibrium process?

Note: The new rifle I just purchased is a hunting rifle: Remington Model 7 Predator in .223.

Thank you!

Andy

 

[CatShooter]

It has been a while since I have posted on this forum. I am glad to be back!

I have owned rifles for many years and have always used some kind of break-in procedure. It has been a while since my last new rifle and now I am hearing of "equilibrium" vs. "benchrest" break-in procedures. I know the internet is full of information (good and bad and really bad...), and I have been doing some reading, but I would like to narrow my field of experts to those on this forum. Is breaking a barrel in still all that it is cracked up to be? What about the equilibrium process?

Note: The new rifle I just purchased is a hunting rifle: Remington Model 7 Predator in .223.

Thank you!

Andy

Don't waste your time or ammo - work up loads, and clean it when it needs cleaning.

 

[82boy]

Don't waste your time or ammo - work up loads, and clean it when it needs cleaning.

+1

 

[titanxt]

Even with a mass produced, factory barrel as opposed to a high-grade custom barrel?

Thanks!

Andy

 

[FergusBailey]

A "barrel break-in" process will not improve a custom barrel or a factory barrel. As suggested, work up loads, clean it as needed with a good quality solvent & brush, and it will shoot as well as its going to.

 

[82boy]

Even with a mass produced, factory barrel as opposed to a high-grade custom barrel?

Thanks!

Andy

yup.

 

[MrMajestic]

Some JB won't hurt a factory tube to get it clean and smooth her up a bit. Don't get Medieval on it..

 

[K22]

Don't waste your time or ammo - work up loads, and clean it when it needs cleaning.

+1

Agree with the above.

I normally clean my rifles ever 20 to 30 rounds. With a new rifle I will clean it after every 10 round for the first 50 rounds. I can't prove that this makes any difference at all. It just a procedure I've followed for many years for new rifles under the premise that a new bore might benefit from more frequent cleaning until it's have been smoothed out by firing.

 

[4xforfun]

I disagree....I break in every BBL. It is true that all bbls will end up in the same place eventually weather they were broke in or not. I like to controle the process and KNOW WHEN THIS HAPPENS.

There is a MONSTER difference between the amount of cleaning it takes with a fresh bbl and one that is broken in. Fouling changes accuracy, both good and bad. All of my tubes don't shoot well til they are sufficiently fouled , and then at some point accuracy will go away again. I want to know when that is before I start load development.

Just my .02,
Tod

 

[NateHaler]

It has been a while since I have posted on this forum. I am glad to be back!

I have owned rifles for many years and have always used some kind of break-in procedure.

Welcome back, but couldn't you have posted something worthwhile? This topic has been flogged to death, on virtually every shooting forum you can find -- including this one, recently!!!!!!!

So Google search, or search any forum, and start reading.

 

[Alex Wheeler]

Every barrel I have broken in properly stopped copper fouling that day. Every barrel I did not break in continues to copper. I like being able to clean a bore quick without waiting for a copper solvent. I break in all my new barrels now.

 

[BigGun97B]

It has been a while since I have posted on this forum. I am glad to be back!

I have owned rifles for many years and have always used some kind of break-in procedure.

Welcome back, but couldn't you have posted something worthwhile? This topic has been flogged to death, on virtually every shooting forum you can find -- including this one, recently!!!!!!!

So Google search, or search any forum, and start reading.

Worthwhile? Hey great welcome to a returning forum member. Makes me wonder as a new guy what I've got myself into. If you had bothered to read his comment instead of judging it you would have noticed he said he already searched around with no luck and no faith in the value of the search info. So he thought he would come here and ask the 'experts'. And he got your reply. Nice job dude.

 

[Area Man]

Welcome back, but couldn't you have posted something worthwhile? This topic has been flogged to death, on virtually every shooting forum you can find -- including this one, recently!!!!!!!

I'm with BigGun. What is the point of being rude to a poster? If you don't want to read about break in procedures, just skip the thread. That's the way forums like this work. Skip the stuff that doesn't interest you.

I, for one, enjoyed reading the replies to the OP.

 

[titanxt]

Thank you gents for standing up for me, but don't beat BOhio too bad - I actually laughed a bit when I read his response because he is right about this topic, it does dominate a lot of forums. I just know that this forum has people who know what they are talking about and wanted to cut through the internet nonsense a bit. I also laughed a bit after I read BOhio's response when I thought about my other post asking if moly was still being used... It shows that I have been out of the loop for a while! So no worries at all.

Thank you!

Andy

 

[CaptainMal]

Zfastmalibu spoke of the copper fouling issue. I want to add "seconds" to that experience. Just broke in a new Ruger American for a fellow at my camp in Georgia. He's clueless on rifles and has screwed up all he's owned. For him, I did it my way.

After only 8 rounds with anal cleaning after each shot, the heavy carbon fouling and just a little copper fouling STOPPED. Oh, the barrel shot just over MOA through all that cleaning also. Might have been an exceptional production barrel.

My guess is that now it's turned over to the new owner it will be neglected to heqq. At least it started out right.

 

[KenO]

That question will never be answered one way. Take your pick. You can check your barrel makers recommendation, competition shooters, etc.

German Salazar had a web page on what to do, it was blank, meaning do nothing. Some shooters will clean several times after each round.

I asked a well known gunsmith a long time ago when I got a re-barrel. He said "go shoot a match, clean it, the barrel is now broke in".

We get our own ideas of what we think we should do. I shoot 5 and clean when working up a load a couple times, then go to a 10 round clean a couple times, and I'm done.

These are for custom barrels, don't know what I would do with a factory barrel.

I don't think there is a right or wrong.

 

[fdshuster]

CaptainMal: Speaking of the neglect issue only, not related to barrel break-in: I'm convinced that the majority do not have a clue of the very basics of keeping a barrel clean. This as verified by the many dozens of barrels I've inspected, at the owners request with my borescope.

After they tell me that "My barrel is spotlessly clean", I go in with the borescope & see what looks like the inside of a sewar pipe. Filthy beyond description. When I have them look at their bore, up close and personal, they are speechless. That's when I remove the borescope, make sure the angled lens is clean, put it away, and walk away.

I've pretty much given up wasting my time, and safety of the borescope, by looking into any bore except for close friends who I know can be trusted to know what they are doing, and talking about.

The rest? They're on their own.