Brand new gun

[mmcauliffe]

I'm new to this board and trying to educate myself with regard to proper break-in and cleaning techniques.
I'm getting a brand new rifle, probably get here in a day or two max and I was wondering about how you bench rest shooters break in a new gun? I want to do it right, right out of the box.
I've settled on a Savage Model 12 long range varminter chambered for 22-250. I'ts got a 1" dia. ss barrel.

 

[ReedG]

The Savage LRPV is a good rifle to get "educated" with and you should get lots of enjoyment from it. There are probably as many opinions about "proper" break-in as there are shooters. Here's mine:

Get yourself a good quality boreguide,I like the white delrin ones from Sinclair), a good quality cleaning rod for .22 to .24 caliber at least 40" or 42" long,I like Tipton) so the handle doesn't interfere with the stock, and some cotton flannel patches 1-1/8" square.

With a factory rifle and uncoated bullets my usual break-in procedure is to shoot one, clean thoroughly checking for copper, and repeat three times. To clean, I prefer to use brushes as a last resort only and clean with two or three wet patches of Butch's, a couple clean patches, a thoroughly wet patch of Sweet's and let it set for 10 minutes; a couple more clean patches inspected for signs of blue/green and repeat the Sweet's until no more blue/green shows on the clean patches. I like to follow with a clean patch with just a drop or two of Kroil to prevent a dry bore.

Then I shoot three 3-shot groups cleaning with the same process after each group. Hopefully you will get to a point where the copper will be minimal or non-existent. Factory barrels are unpredictable but some of my Savages copper very little, some a whole lot, all seem to shoot well.

This should get you ready to do some 5-shot groups and load development if you handload. I usually clean after 20 rounds because I'm finicky that way.

I have seen some LRPVs in .22-250 that were extremely accurate and I think they are a very good bargain. Enjoy, and keep us posted on how you do.

 

[M700]

The good bore guide should help keep the cleaning solvent out of your rifle action during the break in. It's real easy to accidentally end up with a wet chamber, which can result in bad things. Worth swabbing out the action to make sure it's good and dry every time you clean during that break-in period.

The factory barrels are usually rougher than the match grade custom barrels used by the competition shooters. They can be very accurate, but are usually rougher and foul quicker.

I like about the same break-in as recommended above. Your choice of rifle should prove very accurate.

Regards, Guy