Barrel break in

[1shot]

I agree with rpriece in that I have owned barrels that shot "light out" from the 1st shot. Case in point, I received as a Christmas present a box stock Rem. 700 VFS in 308. My shooting partner and I burned 25 rounds prior to a 600 yrd. match known as the "ice cube match". 17.4 deg. on the firing line . The point to be made is this rifle shot a 200-9x clean with old SMK 168's and even older IMR-4064 at a scorching 2,580 fps.
I've had some barrels that shot from day one, others that needed some TLC.
I hope this helps,
Lloyd

 

[dkhunt14]

Don't we have a search function on the forums anymore? There are many many threads on this and the same"stuff" is posted every time.

Yes, but if everybody used this we wouldn't need a Forum. Matt

 

[dkhunt14]

I believe most times it is not the barrel but the little grooves made by the reamer. I always Iosso the throat a little to try and smooth them out some. I have had barrels shoot right out of the gate. I had some copper and some not very much. I always run a couple of shots with a cleaning to smooth the throat out. What does it hurt? I take one case and load it and shoot it. While the gun is soaking to loosen the copper, I reload it and go up in powder. That way I can find out how far I can go while breaking it in. Matt

 

[Paddyd]

I'd love to see some pictures with a bore scope of a new clean unfired barrel and a picture of the bore, clean, after every round through during break in. That there would show the average guy like me just what goes on during the break in process.

 

[taliv]

I'd love to see some pictures with a bore scope of a new clean unfired barrel and a picture of the bore, clean, after every round through during break in. That there would show the average guy like me just what goes on during the break in process.

ask and ye shall receive...

these before and after break-in pics were posted by user molon on arfcom. I believe the barrel is a krieger

http://www.ar15.com/forums/t_16_17/3371_Barrel_Break_in.html

 

[Joe Salt]

Well I have never seen a new barrel without tool marks unless you know of a new way other than with a reamer and pumping oil down the barrel cause I've seen them all! So I guess if just shooting works for you, Have at it. But I am in no hurry to start putting bullet down the barrel till its time, kind of like a fine wine.
hogapatrol I told you need more pop-corn!

Joe Salt

 

[Damon555]

Below is my detailed break in procedure.















That's it. After that, I just shoot it. Hope this helped.

This is the best answer ever!

 

[JBO]

Up until last year, I used to load "reasonably full power loads" and fire, clean, fire, clean etc.. til the copper stopped. But the barrels have become so good as of the last 2 years that I simply fire and clean as if it was an already "broke in" barrel.. I find NO IMPROVEMENTS in barrel life or accuracy for doing it the way I used to..

I was told by a barrel maker the old cleaning way is just wear and tear on your barrel and not really required if the barrel was lapped and chambered correctly. I don't know, but I know that he does so I do the same as ShootDots now and it saves a bunch of time too.

 

[Joe Salt]

All I have is time, what I don't want is Copper build up in my barrels. And My Gunsmith does the best chambers I have had in 40 years. I'm done.

Joe Salt

 

[bsumoba]

Can't remember who said this, but once you shoot the first round out of the gun, the barrel is going downhill. As much as I agree with this statement, I can't help but shoot 3 and clean, shoot 3 and clean. Then, it's usually ready to go. At least it isn't shoot 1 and clean for 10 shots

 

[taliv]

Can't remember who said this, but once you shoot the first round out of the gun, the barrel is going downhill. As much as I agree with this statement, I can't help but shoot 3 and clean, shoot 3 and clean. Then, it's usually ready to go. At least it isn't shoot 1 and clean for 10 shots

What's the difference in shoot one vs shoot 3? What do you think one does that the other doesn't?

 

[ShootDots]

The bottom line is, is that there is NOTHING wrong with doing a "break-in".. 20 years ago, it was an absolute MUST. I had a .220 Swift that took hours and hours over a 3 day period to get it to stop coppering up. This was on a Hart barrel, which at the time was the darling of the short-range benchrest crew. Once it was broke in, it was fabulous. But in the last 2 years, I get almost NO copper. So I see no reason to do what I used to do.. But just because someone decides to continue down that road, there is not a thing wrong with it.. The various opinions are just that, opinions..

 

[bsumoba]

What's the difference in shoot one vs shoot 3? What do you think one does that the other doesn't?

I just didn't want to shoot 1 and clean because I would waste my cleaning supplies, so i chose to shoot a 3 shot group, then clean. I have no clue what shooting one vs three will do. LOL.

 

[Dshooter]

Do whatever makes you feel warm and fuzzy inside. As Shootdots said, doesn't make a two shits either way. Done it both ways and now i just shoot it from round 1-200 or so. Much more fun that way

 

[Chad280]

Well first off to the few guys on here that seem to be smart a$$es who do you think you are? A person comes here to ask questions for advice and gain knowledge. If I wanted your Richard cranium comments I would ask you personally! If you have a problem with a guy asking a question instead of searching maybe start your own site! I'm sorry I'm not like you and .. Ah hell no I'm not!! As for the question asked it was to shoot a reduced load or a normal load to break in the barrel , not a break in process. But I do appreciate the guys that were decent and respectful enough to reply with help. Thank you to the ones who added something constructive to my post. I enjoy this site but like others there are them ones that just pat there selfs on there backs.

 

[dryhumor]

Well first off to the few guys on here that seem to be smart a$$es who do you think you are? A person comes here to ask questions for advice and gain knowledge. If I wanted your Richard cranium comments I would ask you personally! If you have a problem with a guy asking a question instead of searching maybe start your own site! I'm sorry I'm not like you and .. Ah hell no I'm not!! As for the question asked it was to shoot a reduced load or a normal load to break in the barrel , not a break in process. But I do appreciate the guys that were decent and respectful enough to reply with help. Thank you to the ones who added something constructive to my post. I enjoy this site but like others there are them ones that just pat there selfs on there backs.

I shot 8 rounds through a newly built 220 Swift last week. It was a reduced load; just under halfway in the powder min max scale. Barrel stayed cool, got the scope zeroed, and cleaned after every shot.

A lot of carbon, minimal copper. No copper the last 3 rounds. Mild recoil, coyote accurate.

 

[JRS]

Can't remember who said this, but once you shoot the first round out of the gun, the barrel is going downhill. As much as I agree with this statement, I can't help but shoot 3 and clean, shoot 3 and clean. Then, it's usually ready to go. At least it isn't shoot 1 and clean for 10 shots

That was Gale McMillan, also known as the "dean of barrel making".

 

[Spike A]

I was just pondering this same question i thought lighter might be better. But after talking to a couple of different gunsmiths i agree with them, its not the speed of the bullet that changes things, its the bullet its self going down the riffling. After some searching i am going to use a box of factory rounds, and do the break in that the barrel company suggest. This will cover me in 2 ways, one if something goes astray they cant come back on me for my reloads, and second i do not think the extra 10 min of cleaning is going to kill me, is it necessary ? , maybe, maybe not. But i do agree that if something does go astray with the barrel, than by using factory loads for break in, and using their process i feel better covered.

 

[hogpatrol]

This thread reminds me of the discussions about automobile engine "break-in". Some old timers still insist on driving like grannies for 600 or so miles before they really get in to the accelerator. I guess if they saw their beloved babies at the assembly plant on dynos screaming max RPM for a minute, they'd have a coronary. Having said that, I believe a lot of this barrel break-in is related to the old days of barrel making. In any event, do what you're comfortable with and enjoy the process.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

I say grab a method and stick with it. Either way is good and will be ok. Everybody needs a mentor so i say do as your mentor says