My take on breaking in a barrel is to lay down some foulers then see
if it shoots.
Question For The Competition Guys
- Thread starter Pawnee Bill
- Start date
if it shoots.
Gee, I thought it was a rather simple question. My intent was to find out after a competition shooter installs a premium barrel, (Krieger, Bartlein, Brux, etc.) on his match action, at what point (number of rounds) is he confident that his barrel is ready for competition. I wasn't concerned with barrel maker, as I would assume if you are seriously competing you are using only a top quality barrel. Caliber, type of match and all the other caveats doesn't apply to my question as to me, it doesn't matter what I'm shooting or at what level.
If you screw a new Krieger barrel into your rig you should know from past experience that it will take X amount of rounds to get it to the point you can confidently go to the firing line and be competitive. My question really was what is the X amount of rounds do you anticipate it taking to make your barrel compete.
BTW, I am not a competitive shooter. I only compete against myself.
butchlambert
Site $$ Sponsor
Butch I know there lapped barrels but how about the burs left from the reamer? I work on them with a brush and JB before firing a shot.
Joe Salt
butchlambert
Site $$ Sponsor
Joe, I've described many times how I handle the reamer fluff at the throat and leade. Yes sir, that is all you need to do to "break in" a custom barrel.
All I do to break in a barrel is to clean it a few more times in the first 100 rounds of its life. Normally I clean every 50-100 rounds, alternating between bronze brush and Iosso with nylon every other cleaning. I am intrigued by the idea of heavy scrubbing with JB when it's new......
I rarely am happy with a BR load before 150 rounds. For the Deep Creek Match this weekend my 6 BRA barrel has 120 rounds. My 300 SAUM IMP has about 200--though 150 of those were for fire-forming. However, I still have a day of tuning to do at Deep Creek on Friday, so that will add another 30 rounds or so to each barrel.
I rarely am happy with a BR load before 150 rounds. For the Deep Creek Match this weekend my 6 BRA barrel has 120 rounds. My 300 SAUM IMP has about 200--though 150 of those were for fire-forming. However, I still have a day of tuning to do at Deep Creek on Friday, so that will add another 30 rounds or so to each barrel.
Sandstorm
Gold $$ Contributor
This right here. What Jackie said.
It either shoots or it dont....and after 20 rounds I can usually tell also
Same reamer , same barrel brand...etc.
( so far No tomato stakes )
The issues I listed do matter to upper tier competitors. If you had stated you only compete against yourself that does change things. You might say it doesn't but if you only shoot against yourself what are you using as comparison for am I getting the most out this barrel? I'm honestly not trying to go off the deep end about but having listened to other top level shooters they gauge things with data they all gain from other similar level shooters that say a barrel X brand needs 75rds before being seasoned or Brand Y needs only 20. Each is different. The reason I asked what your level was is someone might be at a level where 3/4" MOA is great where the next person thinks that is unacceptable. My reply wasn't meant to be confusing or sarcastic but when talking about higher end components more and more little details begin to matter.
JEFFPPC
Gold $$ Contributor
I think short range vs long range makes a difference in you perspective. Long range shooters being more concerned about ES. As always but not mentioned is what your accuracy requirements are to be satisfied with a barrel. I see lots of groups displayed on here that some are happy with that are not what I am looking for. A big thing I look for, does it repeat and does it shoot consistent round groups. The first 20 shots out of the barrel does not normally tell me what I want to be assured of. Another factor is the cartridge. A 30BR seems to almost be impossible to be bad as it tunes easily. The cartridges used in LR with bullets sometimes 2/3s the length of the case tend to be s different animal. Thus brings us to the beauty of competition. We can put our ability to tune, load, deliver the shot, and read the conditions to the test against other good shooters. Those who punch holes but don't compete leave a lot of fun on the table.
ronsatspokane
Gold $$ Contributor
Yeah, I think you are correct. However that has not stopped me in the past from dumping several hundred dollars into a rifle and reloading components thinking that the problem was something other than the obvious. One rifle I had with a recent premium barrel swap ate about 300 dollars in reloading components and a considerable amount of time. In the end I swapped the premium barrel out for an off the shelf prefit and the thing was back to shooting 1/4 to 1/2 MOA. I must be getting smarter because that is actually less than I'd dumped into rifles in the past only to discover the same problem.
Dusty Stevens
Shiner
Holes. Look at the holes
Mulligan
Silver $$ Contributor
Your killing me Smalls
CW
jackieschmidt
Gold $$ Contributor
Here is how I treat a new 6PPC or 30BR barrel.
first, I am very meticulous about my reaming. I do not do barrels the way most do, in that after truing the blank and roughing out the tenon, I establish the best chamber I know how. the last cuts are taking just a very small amount to establish as smooth of a throat as possible. I then do all of the other work.
at the range, I shoot 5 rounds, cleaning after each round. I then shoot 2 rounds then clean. Then I shoot 3 and clean.
I then shoot a clearing round and load 3 rounds with my “pet” load, 30.4 grns of 133 at the seating depth my bullet likes. Shooting over my flags, I take my time and shoot a three shot group. If it is .200 or better, I load five and taking my time, I shoot another group. If it shows too much verticAl, or seems too horizontal sensitive, I will tweak the tuner and shoot another 3 shot group. If it shows promise. I repeat it with five. If it is hovering in a .200 level or better, I figure it is a good barrel.
I then do the majority of adjustments with the tuner.
A lot of shooters go by the mantra……”feed the barrel what it wants”. Yeh, we’ll, how many different bullets and powder combo’s are you going to waste on it. I simply go by the theory that if a Krieger or Bartlien will not shoot that load, it’s just not worth messing with. And as a note, I get very few that won’t.
I am aware that being able to do my own barrels, with the same reamer, in the same manner is an advantage. But since I am really not that good of a shooter, I need all the help the Rifle can give me.
Mulligan
Silver $$ Contributor
Thanks Jackie
CW
I tend to have a pretty good idea of what a barrels potential is early on. Sometimes I can even tell during the break in process. If it doesn’t show any unexplained shots during the first 15-20 or so 100 yard break in shots, I know the barrel has potential.
I will then go straight to a 600 or 1K powder ladder depending on the distance I am tuning for. I don’t have a problem taking a low round count barrel to a match. I will however load towards the bottom of the accuracy node, knowing it will speed up. I did that a couple times last year and was fortunate enough to do well.
Dave.
I will then go straight to a 600 or 1K powder ladder depending on the distance I am tuning for. I don’t have a problem taking a low round count barrel to a match. I will however load towards the bottom of the accuracy node, knowing it will speed up. I did that a couple times last year and was fortunate enough to do well.
Dave.
karrarararararar
USAF Shooting Team
As others have stated, depends on the discipline and level of accuracy you're looking for. I screwed a new barrel on my service rifle last summer and took it to Camp Perry with 60 rounds on it.
JEFFPPC
Gold $$ Contributor
Jackie, for years my go to load was 30.3 of 133. Just a bit of a pain to load depending on the lot. What I do differently than you is I do not move the tuner until I have a load that suits me. I will give one bump either way to see if it gets smaller or rounder. From that point I use the tuner to keep it sharp as needed. After 25 years of Hammond 68s I am facing a new experience this year with bullets. Should be fun....I hope.
Dusty Stevens
Shiner
Next time you have your best load shooting real good shoot one bullet into the target then throw a random load next to it and see what the holes look like. You can see the difference in the scope at 100. Like jackie i have been shooting the same barrels, reamer, bullets and powder for 15+yrs. I can put a 29.5 and a 30.4 in there 2 shots each and ill tell you after i foul and shoot those 4 if its good or not. Even better if the wind is switchy
Upgrades & Donations
This Forum's expenses are primarily paid by member contributions. You can upgrade your Forum membership in seconds. Gold and Silver members get unlimited FREE classifieds for one year. Gold members can upload custom avatars.
Click Upgrade Membership Button ABOVE to get Gold or Silver Status.
You can also donate any amount, large or small, with the button below. Include your Forum Name in the PayPal Notes field.
To DONATE by CHECK, or make a recurring donation, CLICK HERE to learn how.
Click Upgrade Membership Button ABOVE to get Gold or Silver Status.
You can also donate any amount, large or small, with the button below. Include your Forum Name in the PayPal Notes field.
To DONATE by CHECK, or make a recurring donation, CLICK HERE to learn how.