Break in barrel on AR-15?

[Brennanc]

Just purchased my first AR-15 and need to know what ya'll think about barrel break in for this kind of rifle. I have always broke in my bolt actions but thought maybe it would be unnecessary for this rifle. It will used for target shooting and 3 gun matches not longer than 150 yrds. Thanks

 

[fdshuster]

Brennanc: You made no mention of the manufacturer of the AR or the barrel maker. Chrome lined? Wilson? Krieger? All different types of barrels, different types of break-in procedures. Also will depend on the amount (if any) of reamer marks in the throat from when the chamber was cut. With a new barrel, (AR's included), I'll fire one shot & clean taking note of how much copper comes out. Will also use my borescope to check for reamer marks, common in a factory barrel, but none in a Krieger, Hart, etc. If copper is minimal, will fire 3 & clean, again taking note of how much copper was present. Breaking in an AR barrel is no different from a bolt or single shot: it's the barrel that matters, not the receiver or action.

 

[Brennanc]

The rifle is a Smith&Wesson M&P15T, crome lined.

 

[fdshuster]

Yes, should be a good one. Just take it slow for the first dozen or so shots and when cleaning watch how much copper comes out. Give it (the solvent) time to soak. I like "Butch's", but many good products out there. I would normally shoot 1, clean, shoot 3 clean, 5 etc., 10 etc. With a quality barrel by 15 or 20 shots fired, copper buildup should be minimal or non-existant. Some claim chrome lined barrels are inferior, but that has not been my experience. A Colt H-Bar 1-9 was very accurate and easy to clean. One of my uppers has a Bushmaster chrome lined 1-9 & it too is very accurate & easy to clean. Not benchrest accuracy, but easily moa or slightly less.

 

[people]

I had read that chrome lined barrels just need to be shot. Fire a couple hundred rounds to polish the chrome then clean. Be careful with copper remover as the barrel is copper plated then chromed.

 

[deadlyswift]

I will agree with Frank. I have always believed in the barrel breakin process. Rather it really and truely helps I don't know. None of us probably will. With that said, you defenitly want hurt the barrel by doing a breakin. I have no set process. To add to what Frank was saying let the barrel tell you what it wants. Shoot 1 clean. I do this until copper is at a min. Then the same with 3 shots. Then the same with 5 shots. My most recent breakin was with the savage 10fcp in .308. I cleaned after every shot until 15 shots. Then I done 3 shots. Then 5 shots, then 10 shots. Now I clean after 75 shots. Barrel is currently at 355 rnds. I simply try to just keep up with what the barrel is telling me. Does this help accuracy? Probably not. Is it a waste of my time? Probably so. With me I spend lots of hard earn money for my rifles and Barrels! So I try to take the very best care of them as I can! Making them last as long as I can. A .223 has great barrel life. So you should get a few thousand rnds threw her! Also something else to keep in mind. As you are trying to keep an eye on copper fouling, also keep an eye on carbon build up! It is as bad for a barrel as copper if not worst!