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Factory barrel break in

muleman69

USMC -1st marine Div. RVN
What is the procedure for breaking in Factory lite contour barrels? Just received a new Tika and Kimber . Ran scope down both barrels, Kimber had a blue streak full length and small pit marks as well as the normal machine marks. Tika was quite a bit rougher ,machine marks ,worms and small pits.All this is probably the norm. Where should I start with the cleaning/break in process? Should I clean first, then what? I read a lot of the posts but didn't see what I wanted as far as procedure
 
Google ”Kreiger barrel break in” or search it here. What’s good for a custom would be good for a factory.
 
Hell I never even heard of barrel break in till a year ago when I bought the wife a new deer rifle. My buddy mentioned it to me then I did some reading. I honestly can't say you should and I can't say you shouldn't. But I probably would. I'm just now getting around to ordering some JB's. Maybe give em a good rubbing with it to get things started n smooth up some of the stuff your seeing.
 
Precision Shooting Magazine recommends:

STEP 1 (repeated 10 times)

  • Fire one round
  • Push wet patches soaked with a powder solvent through the bore
  • Push a brush through the bore (5 times in each direction)
  • Push dry patches through the bore (2 times)
  • Push wet patches soaked with a copper solvent through the bore
  • Push a brush through the bore (5 times in each direction)
  • Push dry patches through the bore (2 times)
  • Push a patch with 2 drops of oil through the bore
STEP 2 (repeated 5 times)

  • Fire a 3 shot group
  • Repeat the cleaning procedure from STEP 1 after each group
STEP 3 (repeat 5 times)

  • Fire a 5 shot group
  • Repeat the cleaning procedure from STEP 1
They recommend the use of a patch with 2 drops of oil after the cleaning so that you are not shooting with a dry bore. It is also advisable to use a powder solvent and copper solvent from the same manufacturer to be sure they are chemically compatible.
 
I did one on my Savage 10 heavy barrel and it was totally worth the time to do it correctly.... I used the shots to sight the scope in , just use cheap ammo to do it but follow the cleaning steps correctly , barrels must be clean with preferably no to little copper left in it in between shots or strings... Some say yes some no , I will do it to every new factory barrel I own from now on... On a nice hand lapped after market barrel I don't think it's would be worth it but on a factory , I like the results I got from doing it..

Edit... I did it exactly like Chris Butler has posted above... Let the barrel cool down on strings of shots of course , to do this in the Texas summer took two days to do correct... But two days of shooting is better than alot of things...
 
Dusty Stevens said:
I wouldn't do nothing but start shooting them and never ever look inside. clean them when needed and don't worry about the inside. they'll never shoot if you look inside- especially a factory barrel
Click to expand...
Dusty what was the blue streak running down the Kimber barrel? Copper from test firing? Apparently they don't clean them up before shipping
 
muleman69 said:
Dusty what was the blue streak running down the Kimber barrel? Copper from test firing? Apparently they don't clean them up before shipping
Click to expand...

Yes. Keep on moving and clean as you go. Some kimbers shoot- some are awful. If you have the latter you wont waste much time cleaning on it
 
muleman69 said:
What is the procedure for breaking in Factory lite contour barrels? Just received a new Tika and Kimber . Ran scope down both barrels, Kimber had a blue streak full length and small pit marks as well as the normal machine marks. Tika was quite a bit rougher ,machine marks ,worms and small pits.All this is probably the norm. Where should I start with the cleaning/break in process? Should I clean first, then what? I read a lot of the posts but didn't see what I wanted as far as procedure
Click to expand...

This is just me but I never break in factory barrels. With all barrels, before shooting, I clean thoroughly and leave clean barrel with light coating of Lock EEZE/Kroil combo. allowed to dry. For factory barrels, I just shoot. For custom barrels, I break in minimally; about 20 rounds total. I'll shoot 3 initial; clean. Then 5; clean. 6; clean; 6; clean: Done. I have tracked the break in process with a bore scope, have read pros & cons for both methods and that is what I personally do.
 
Dusty Stevens said:
Yes. Keep on moving and clean as you go. Some kimbers shoot- some are awful. If you have the latter you wont waste much time cleaning on it
Click to expand...
Shot ten and cleaned and cooled each shot. Accuracy was not bad with factory A- bonds or the Copper creek ammo 3/4". Recoil real mild (surprised me). I was noticing the firing pin striking primer a bit of center, will this effect anything? Why is this?
 
Chris Butler said:
Precision Shooting Magazine recommends:

STEP 1 (repeated 10 times)

  • Fire one round
  • Push wet patches soaked with a powder solvent through the bore
  • Push a brush through the bore (5 times in each direction)
  • Push dry patches through the bore (2 times)
  • Push wet patches soaked with a copper solvent through the bore
  • Push a brush through the bore (5 times in each direction)
  • Push dry patches through the bore (2 times)
  • Push a patch with 2 drops of oil through the bore
STEP 2 (repeated 5 times)

  • Fire a 3 shot group
  • Repeat the cleaning procedure from STEP 1 after each group
STEP 3 (repeat 5 times)

  • Fire a 5 shot group
  • Repeat the cleaning procedure from STEP 1
They recommend the use of a patch with 2 drops of oil after the cleaning so that you are not shooting with a dry bore. It is also advisable to use a powder solvent and copper solvent from the same manufacturer to be sure they are chemically compatible.
Click to expand...
Well, I copied this and took it to the range today. My friend and I had new barrels to shoot. We followed the procedure to the letter. I hope it works! What a pain in the wrist! I’d almost pay somebody to do my next one! Ignorance was bliss, I guess.;)
 
joshb said:
Well, I copied this and took it to the range today. My friend and I had new barrels to shoot. We followed the procedure to the letter. I hope it works! What a pain in the wrist! I’d almost pay somebody to do my next one! Ignorance was bliss, I guess.;)
Click to expand...
I did the same
 
muleman69 said:
What is the procedure for breaking in Factory lite contour barrels? Just received a new Tika and Kimber . Ran scope down both barrels, Kimber had a blue streak full length and small pit marks as well as the normal machine marks. Tika was quite a bit rougher ,machine marks ,worms and small pits.All this is probably the norm. Where should I start with the cleaning/break in process? Should I clean first, then what? I read a lot of the posts but didn't see what I wanted as far as procedure
Click to expand...
shoot 200 times
 
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