Breaking in a Sako hunting rifle

[BULLET 05]

Sako 7mm 08 any suggestions on breaking in the barrel.

 

[JackT]

I broke my Sako in the same way as my other barrels. Shoot 1 and clean three times, shoot 3 and clean two times, shoot 5 and clean. Must have been at least OK, it shoots consistent 1\3" 5 shot groups. It is a 308, and I tested off sandbags with a Ziess 8-20 power scope. Wish I still had it, but happy my son is enjoying it. We have both shot antelope with it. Beautiful classic rifle with their heavy varmint barrel.0

 

[deadidarren]

Waste of time they are a hammer forged barrel

 

[drover]

Sako 7mm 08 any suggestions on breaking in the barrel.

It is a hunting rifle, just go kill something with it and consider it broken in. Somehow the idea of having to break in a barrel has caught on and just won't go away even though there is no evidence at all that it has any positive attributes.

drover

 

[tsyarnall]

I have a Tikka (made in the same factory, or so they say). I did the shoot 1, clean real good (X5). Then shoot 3 and clean (X2). If it is still showing a lot of copper on your patch, start over. I don’t know if it helped, but it didn’t hurt.

 

[Bugs]

It is a hunting rifle, just go kill something with it and consider it broken in. Somehow the idea of having to break in a barrel has caught on and just won't go away even though there is no evidence at all that it has any positive attributes.

drover

It is a hunting rifle. Save the bullets you would otherwise piss away "breaking it in" for hunting.

 

[K22]

Before shooting it, run several patches of Hoppe's 9 or Mineral spirits down the bore to remove any preservative the mfg coated the bore with then dry patch both the bore and chamber.

Then just sight it in and shoot it so you are familiar with it and gain confidence for your next hunting trip.

After that, clean it as you normally would. There is no need for elaborate so called "break in" procedures especially for a hunting rifle. At least that has been my experience.

The most important thing you can do is clean it in a manner that will not damage the bore. That means using a high quality rod and rod guide. I like Dewey coated rods and Dewey "no harm" bronze brushes. Sinclair and Dewey sale high quality rod guides - get the appropriate size.

 

[Daddymac]

From the Lilja web site​

Break-in Procedure​

For an effective break-in the barrel should be cleaned after every shot for the first 10-12 rounds or until copper fouling stops. Our procedure is to push a cotton patch that is wet with solvent through the barrel. This will remove much of the powder fouling and wet the inside of the barrel with solvent. Next, wet a bronze brush (not a nylon brush) with solvent and stroke the barrel 5-10 times. Follow this by another wet patch and then one dry patch. Now soak the barrel with a strong copper removing solvent until all of the blue mess is removed from the barrel. The copper fouling will be heavy for a few rounds and then taper off quickly in just one or two shots. Once it has stopped or diminished significantly it is time to start shooting 5 shot groups, cleaning after each one. After 25-30 rounds clean at a normal interval of 10-25 rounds. Your barrel is now broken-in.

I think they use 416 stainless or 4140 chrome molly for their barrels.

 

[Brians356]

1. Kill 1 deer; clean

2. Kill 2 more deer; clean

3. Kill 3 more deer; clean

Now it's ready to go hunting.
-

 

[WyleWD]

Sako 7mm 08 any suggestions on breaking in the barrel.

Before you shoot it for the first time clean the barrel thoroughly to get any filings or oil from the manufacturer out of it. After it's cleaned either call the manufacturer and ask them (if) or how it needs a break in proceedure, OR just go shoot it and hopefully there won't be any accuracy issues. JME. WD

 

[Big Mc]

Sako 7mm 08 any suggestions on breaking in the barrel.

Brians is spot on. Just hunt !!! Tommy Mc

 

[243Lapua]

Just use it for what it was meant for. Don't worry about barrel break in. Might as well use the bullets to sight it in instead. And go hunt.

 

[DGP4]

You can break it in while sighting in, so why not? It may not benefit every barrel, but if it reduces fouling in the future, it is worth a shot. I use Bore Tech Carbon and Copper solvents and they do a great job without scrubbing with a brush. It may be coincidental but all rifles I followed the protocol on have been very good in terms of copper fouling.

 

[dryhumor]

You could run a bronze brush from chamber to muzzle 6-8 times, run a couple of alcohol patches through it. Repeat 3-4 times. You’ll notice the patches get pretty clean at the end, and the barrel has been burnished to an extent.