Barrel break in

[Rock Knocker]

I will be using a Harris bipod that Crem1 is letting me try out, mine is on order.

H-S Precision w/ aluminum bedding block
NF 8-32 BR
trigger probly almost a pound pull, i havent adjusted it yet and havent used a gauge on it

Actually i just went out last night and got a tackle box and filled it up with my reloading stuff so i can go and shoot and load all day ;D

There are some wind flags set up at the 100 yard range but they are somewhat delapadated.

I have the bullets and powder that i am useing, i dont plan on breaking any records with them. I just am going to get the two to work together the best i can untill i try some othe bullets but i have plenty to shoot now.

I am a hunter before i am a target shooter. I am not interested in some sort of fancy bench with levers and levels on them. i also dont look at wind flags, unless you can call grass and trees flags. I will have none of that hunting, i am more interested in being able to shoot the best i can not shoot as good as my rifle can.

 

[BoydAllen]

I have seen some good groups shot with a Harris bipod. A rear bag helps a lot, and they don't cost much. As far as the wind flags go, I think that more information about what the wind is doing would help. To that end, I suggest that you buy a roll of surveyor's tape (less than $5 last time I bought one) and use any sort of sticks that you can sharpen and drive into the ground, 3-4 ft. tall, and about 25 yards apart (for 100 yd). Tape a piece of the plastic ribbon to the top of each stake, that just touches the ground. Try to shoot when the condition looks the same. You may be surprised as to how much variation there is in the wind at various distances. Some will say that they are hunters, and that there are no flags in the field. At which point I ask them if they would like to have a tunnel to test in. The answer is always yes, to which I reply that the next best thing is to be able to see what the wind is doing, in some detail. The other thing happens on forums. Guys will insist that they only test when the wind is not blowing. A friend once observed, somewhat wryly, that it is funny how putting out a few wind flags always seems to make the wind blow.

 

[Rock Knocker]

I always keep the wind into account, ive been shooting my 223 all winter at 400-500 yards, wind makes or breaks everything. It being MN winter the best wind indicator i had was snow coming down, other wise with the grass blown over and dried crisp and the trees without leaves, there isnt much beside feel.

 

[Erik Cortina]

I am a hunter before i am a target shooter. I am not interested in some sort of fancy bench with levers and levels on them. i also dont look at wind flags, unless you can call grass and trees flags. I will have none of that hunting, i am more interested in being able to shoot the best i can not shoot as good as my rifle can.

And when you hunt, don't the animals become targets?

But after all, who needs accuracy to hunt?

 

[GermanS1]

RK, I see someone posted a link to my "break-in" article earlier in this thread. While it's meant as a laugher, I think you have the right idea overall. Go to the range, work with loads, clean when you can without letting the cleaning rather than the shooting dominate the day. Shoot the barrel till it's a smoothbore, get your money's worth out of it, there's another one waiting for you after this one. Once you go through the first barrel, you'll find that the next one will be responsive to very similar loads.

You said you intend to shoot F-class, that's a lot of fun and you'll make plenty of new friends. Don't get hung up on looking for tiny groups in your testing, get a good solid load and work on your technique and consistency. Above all, have fun!

 

[Rock Knocker]

Yeah Salazar thats exactly my point, i will problably pick up another one of these Criterion barrels in a couple months because it was such a good deal. I have 161 shots down the barrel now and it cleans up great with a nylon brush with Butches and some patches, i used Sweets the other day just to see any left over copper, and there was very little.

Ive shot 43 rounds in load developement and im getting right around .5MOA. I need to torque my action into the stock to spec and i imagine that will help i just dont have a torque rench.

This is going to be a big Fclass weekend so i will add another 130 or so shots to the rifle.

And sorry Mr. Cortina you clearly didnt understand what i was saying.

 

[Erik Cortina]

I understood what you were saying, it was just a sarcastic remark on my part. What I was getting at is that during load development you must strive control as many of the variables as possible, because that's when you are likely to shoot the best groups. No stress, no time limit, etc.

But what you are saying is crystal clear, you are a hunter more than a target shooter and you don't look at wind flags, I get it... Good luck in your upcoming F-Class competition by the way! ??? ;D

 

[Rock Knocker]