Question For The Competition Guys

[Pawnee Bill]

After you install a new barrel, how many rounds do you put through it before you consider it ready to take it to a match?

 

[gunsandgunsmithing]

After you install a new barrel, how many rounds do you put through it before you consider it ready to take it to a match?

Mostly, by the time I have settled on a load..it's ready to go. That's somewhere between 25 and 125 rounds.

 

[JEFFPPC]

Takes a minimum of 50 to 75 rounds to reach stable velocity and ES. That's a great time to fireform. Now you can develop a load. If your satisfied for .3 or .4 to be your good groups it might not matter. If you want .1 plus or minus you get the velocity stabilized first.

 

[Sandstorm]

I fireform my loads in Competions and find them to be very competitive.
I had less than 70 rounds on my barrel when I won a mid range match.
Were not talkin National events here...but Club level.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Less than 100 itll be ready

 

[D-4297]

After I go through my break-in process , (about 50 rounds ) It's usually another 25 to 50 rounds . Load adjustment from previous barrel to get back to where it was .

 

[Jory45acp]

This is a very vague question as you gave no details on caliber, type of match, level of match you are competing in, and what is your competition level, barrel make...etc.

 

[Damfino]

After you install a new barrel, how many rounds do you put through it before you consider it ready to take it to a match?

35 rounds. Krieger straight contour 6.5X47L. Barrel break-in, which was very promising, then confirmed the accuracy/velocity of a known load with a couple of 5 shot groups. Then off to a Mid-Range F-Class match and shot a 596/600 with new brass. YMMV.

 

[jackieschmidt]

You did not specify a shooting Discipline.

As a Short Range Benchrest Shooter, I can tell in 20 rounds if it’s any good.

I don’t waste premium components hoping a average barrel will suddenly get religion.

 

[Alex Wheeler]

At 1k Im nervous with less than 150. Even if I find a good load in 20 rounds its gonna speed up. So if your going to take that green barrel to 1k dont clean it until the match is over.

 

[Dave M.]

After you install a new barrel, how many rounds do you put through it before you consider it ready to take it to a match?

Gotta get those first 40-55 rounds on it before the speed stabilizes. In the beginning you are smoothing over machining burrs and the barrel is in the process of speeding up.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Ive unscrewed a ton of barrels in less than 35rds, and none of those revisited any better after a couple hundred more in club matches

 

[Mulligan]

Ive unscrewed a ton of barrels in less than 35rds, and none of those revisited any better after a couple hundred more in club matches

Dusty,
What sort of performance from a barrel would cause you to pull it and render it a tomato stake for the future? I ask because I had a bad barrel that I chased and chased, and in the end, the frustration level was near enough to make golf palatable.
CW

 

[jimmymac]

As a Short Range Benchrest Shooter, I can tell in 20 rounds if it’s any good.

I wish I could do that.

 

[jackieschmidt]

I wish I could do that.

In my short range rifles, both group and score. I shoot one type of barrel, either a Bartlien or a Krieger.

I shoot one type of bullet.

I shoot one load.

I know that combo is competitive. If a barrel will not shoot it, I am not going to waste bullets, powder, brass, primers and range time trying to find what it likes.

I am not the only Short Range Competitor that does this.

Since I do my own barrels, all I am out is the cost of the blank if it doesn’t perform like I want it too.

 

[liseo]

In my short range rifles, both group and score. I shoot one type of barrel, either a Bartlien or a Krieger.

I shoot one type of bullet.

I shoot one load.

I know that combo is competitive. If a barrel will not shoot it, I am not going to waste bullets, powder, brass, and primers trying to find what it likes.

I am not the only Short Range Competitor that does this.

Since I do my own barrels, all I am out is the cost of the blank if it doesn’t perform like I want it too.

On average, how many barrels do you test to find one that groups with your specific load?

 

[jimmymac]

In my short range rifles, both group and score. I shoot one type of barrel, either a Bartlien or a Krieger.

I shoot one type of bullet.

I shoot one load.

I know that combo is competitive. If a barrel will not shoot it, I am not going to waste bullets, powder, brass, primers and range time trying to find what it likes.

I am not the only Short Range Competitor that does this.

Since I do my own barrels, all I am out is the cost of the blank if it doesn’t perform like I want it too.

I still wish I could do that. With 133, I find my load today is not the same as yesterday. 30.2 may hammer today, but tomorrow it is 29.5. That’s why I don’t understand how you can determine whether or not a barrel is good in 20 rounds.

 

[OMW57]

sweet jesus mulligan, NOT GOLF!!!!

 

[JEFFPPC]

Interesting discussion. What Jacki does is also what Tony Boyer does I believe. I understand as my long time usage of the 6BRX has shown most barrels using the same powder bullet combination with only tweaking of seating depth and often that is not required and when it is only a couple of thousands. I also think using the same reamer and having the same machinest do the barrel is a contributing factor. I shoot mostly Bartline and Kriger both cut. I have had a few buttoned to try and they did not fit into the norm. Like Jimmymac I wish I could discard barrels but that is not the case normally. I have given a couple barrels to friends that I could not make competitive, I am only will to beat my head against the wall so long. If one has the means this method obviously works.

 

[butchlambert]

Many years ago I gave a barrel that I didn't performed as I thought. My friend's first 2 groups were in the .090s.
Go figure.
I don't understand the term "breaking in". What are you breaking in with a new custom lapped barrel?