Barrell break in, 6mmBr or Brx

[Bluto65]

How many shots does it take to complete a barrel break in for 6mm BR or BRX?

 

[Jason Boersma]

It all depends on when the barrel starts to clean up really easy but I usually find it takes about 20 rounds. shoot one then clean for ten shots then I go to two shot groups for another ten.

 

[butchlambert]

Barrel break in?

 

[savageshooter86]

the barrel will tell you

My CBI 308 win took around 5 rounds

 

[Bluto65]

Barrel break in?

Hi Butch,

Yes, break-in, or whatever people call it. When the barrel accuracy, groups, get betterwithout changing load or brass manipulations.

It just surprised me at the range the other day when I was doing load development and a fellow shooter said it took him 100 rounds for the barrel to start shooting GOOD.

I dunno, I shot my first ladder, 3 shot groups, for six different loads.
Found a node at 33.2 grains VV N140, BRX. Thats 18 rounds. Went back the next day, tweaked at 0.1 gr down and up from 33.2. Shot 5 rounds into a single hole at 200 yds with 33.2 gr. Thats 10 plus 18, 28shots. My barrel is a laser at 20 shots. What the heck was wrong with the 100 round guy's barrel???

I am extremely happy with my brand spanking new Bartlein. My fire formed brass was done on my old barrel/chamber, The VV N140 cleans up way way faster and better than VARGET. Screw Hogdon, they aint
keeping me from shooting with their hard to get powders!!!

 

[Jay Christopherson]

I stopped doing "barrel break-in" around the same time I stopped believing in the tooth fairy... ;-)

 

[Judd]

My barrels tend to pick up speed around 100 rounds...I typically don't try and do to much load development until after it picks up speed.

But I'm normally fireforming until then anyway. The initial rounds I break in as the barrel manufacturer states...if you have trouble with a barrel they will as that question. Not worth it to me not to break one in.

 

[eddief]

I think barrel break in has some merit with a rough factory bore, but shouldn't have much or any break in with a good custom tube, where the chamber was cut properly.

Your not breaking in the barrel, your smoothing out the throat area

 

[johara1]

Barrel break in to me is one shot and clean till it doesn't make copper,using a bore scope to verify it…….. jim

 

[Erik Cortina]

zfast, what if you shot all 10 shots in a row and then cleaned it? Would it accomplish the same thing or do they have to be done individually?

 

[Erik Cortina]

They must be done individually. Doing 10 would be skipping break in. I have done this many times, as I hate break in. Every time I skip it I am plagued with a barrel that shows blue at every cleaning. My barrels that I did proper break in do not show any blue no matter how many rounds I fire. Its a real PITA. I dont think most do it right, you must get ALL the copper out between shots. For me break in can take 4 hours or more and you only fired 5 shots. Copper takes a while to soak out.

I think you have more time than I do.

I just shoot mine and clean them after 50-100 rounds. All barrels shoot fine, and I do get some blue when I clean. Keep in mind that we shoot 60-75 rounds per day, so some blue is expected.

 

[butchlambert]

No way I would wear out a good barrel doing a "so call breakin". I would like some one to tell me why a barrel would shoot better after this "so called breakin"?

 

[wolley]

To answer the question above about what we are using to not need barrel break in.
A good smith uses sharp reamers with plenty of coolant/oil and feeds it slowly.
He will then clean it and lightly lap the throat area. Viola, no break in required.

 

[eddief]

Some reamers will leave a fine wire edge at the throat, this can be verified with a borescope. This is what will cause some excessive copper fouling at the beginning. Once burnished by shooting or lightly bumping/lapping the the throat, copper fouling will be greatly diminished or eliminated.

Less is better, more barrels are ruined by improper cleaning.

 

[Bob Sebold]

I think, assuming you have a good barrel and it was put on by a good gunsmith-they are not all created equal- you need exactly one round for barrel break in.

 

[rpierce]

I agree barrel break in is a waste of time if you have a quality hand lapped barrel. I took a brand new barrel, under 20 rounds through it to a match and was one x off the national record on my first relay. Barrel break in for me consists of load development and shooting it. First time a new barrel is cleaned its only 5-7 wet patches and its spotless no copper. Yes I have a borescope. Ask Sebold about his "breakin" groups with his brx barrels Ive done for him.

 

[hogpatrol]

No way I would wear out a good barrel doing a "so call breakin". I would like some one to tell me why a barrel would shoot better after this "so called breakin"?

Be patient. The "expert" will soon chime in with his dissertation on barrel "brake" in. ;D

 

[savageshooter86]

Jim/Donovan advice is what I used and it worked great. So I will be sticking to that.

My barrel "broke in" fast and shoots well and goes a good number of rounds before coppering up

 

[Erik Cortina]

Jim/Donovan advice is what I used and it worked great. So I will be sticking to that.

My barrel "broke in" fast and shoots well and goes a good number of rounds before coppering up

The question is, would it have behaved the same way had you not broke it in? Makes you wonder doesn't it? ;D

 

[Erik Cortina]

Advocates of break in always tell me the same.
"I clean vigorously for hours because it keeps me from cleaning my barrel as much". ???