Breaking in, the load or just learning the gun?

[Wolfdog91]

Remember that $90 barrel ? Haven't really done anything special to it and it's still clipping on along. Said I'd be happy if it kept around 1MOA @100yd and so far it's been doing that. Been a fun plinker that 6x SWfA is a little bit of a challenge at times.. Less then 80rd total . Was looking at targets from when I started to now ( two different bullets) That being said looks like it's been steady tightening up that being said I'm not sure if it's the load or ,if the barrel kinda just broke in ( bore scoped it after the last cleaning and it looks much nicer now.....i mean...its still a $90 barrel.but not as bad as it was )or if it's me learning how to shoot it better
wish I had someone else around her to shoot it to see if it's me or the gun or load though, because honestly I feel I'm a 1.5MOA shooter in general.

 

[6.5 forever]

80 rounds you might still be breaking it in.....

 

[SecondsCount]

Looks like good progress to me.

AR-15s aren't as easy to shoot compared to a bolt action with a good trigger. You could also try different bullets.

 

[ebb]

Yes all of the above.

 

[Bottom Fodder]

Have fun, enjoy your ride and keep us updated

 

[Coyotefurharvester]

25.5 lt30 has the least vertical dispersion, time for seating depth work.

 

[K22]

I don't want to get into the "barrel break in" debate. I will just say after owning 25 to 30 new rifles of various brands, including aftermarket precision barrels over the past half century+, what I experienced is that after removing all the factory preservatives from the bore using a mild solvent and bronze brush, it only took a few rounds for the POI to settle into consistent pattern to get the scope set on paper, then I began load development.

I cleaned the bore after the first series of load development tests with a mild solvent and bronze brush. Then I proceeded with additional test loads, if necessary, or began using the rifle without further bench shooting, cleaning every 50 to 60 rounds with a mild solvent and bronze brush.

I can only speculate, but I think the first few rounds laid down enough copper to establish a sort of equilibrium that yielded the consistent POI pattern. Of course, in some case, further load development was required to tighten the pattern.