Barrel Break-in

scwhitetail · November 23, 2011, 10:10 AM

There are a lot of people out there who claim that in order to make your new rifle as accurate as possible, you have to break in the barrel by firing, then cleaning over and over. I understand that this is supposed to help polish the barrel, but does it really make a difference? If so, what is the proper way to do it?

ZeroJunk · November 23, 2011, 11:08 AM

Do a search on barrel break in. You will find all you want, and more.

tobnpr · November 23, 2011, 12:50 PM

^^^
Please...

firefyter55 · November 23, 2011, 01:02 PM

Two good articles to read.

http://www.snipercountry.com/Article...el_BreakIn.asp

http://www.snipercountry.com/Article...BreakIn_II.asp

tim s · November 23, 2011, 01:30 PM

There is no credible source that has ever said a barrel will be more accurate, some start out great, some take some time, the biggest advocates of the breakin process do so because a lot of guns foul more because of rough throats/leades and this may help from heavier initial fouling more than anything else.

New barrels often have tool marks in the throat, they pick up gilding metal until a bit of shooting smoothes them out and fouling reduces. All you're doing is keeping it minimal initially.

At the end of the day, some do, some don't, there's no downside. When I get a new SS benchrest barrel I'll shoot something like 3,5,5,5 with cleaning between then go shoot it.

darkgael · November 23, 2011, 04:29 PM

+3 about the search engine.

Pete

golfnutrlv · November 23, 2011, 10:11 PM

It's one of those things...everyone has an opinion. THe real answer, whatever it is, is lost to history...and the internet

I break in my barrels. Has it made my rifles more accurate? Don't know...

Just have to read, and form your own opinion about the procedure...

Tim R · November 24, 2011, 06:12 AM

:deadhorse:

I have treated a new barrels both ways. Ican not say one way or the other. If you want to do a bunch of extra cleaning........and wear out the bore with your cleaning rod...........

Sport45 · November 24, 2011, 07:03 AM

What barrel do you have? Does the maker recommend a break-in procedure?

White Oak says theirs are ready to go when you get them.

scwhitetail · November 24, 2011, 09:32 AM

thanks for all of the replies. i have a Remington model 700, I think im going to break it. I mean it can't HURT anything can it?

BPowderkeg · November 24, 2011, 09:53 AM

for AR-15's and similar weapons, my "break in" is one dry patch thru the bore twice, then just shoot and shoot and shoot some more, i rarely ever "clean" the bore after that, just regular FCG cleaning.

if shooting a gas impingement rifle/carbine NEVER EVER try cleaning the gas tube, it is self cleaning.

zfk55 · November 24, 2011, 09:55 AM

http://www.davidtubb.com/final-finish-tms

Scorch · November 24, 2011, 04:06 PM

A lot of the "myth" about barrel break-in stems from the fact that the process was developed back when most barrels were broached, not button-rifled. With a broach-cut barrel, you would fire and clean in a sequence until you had no more copper shavings visible on the patch, typically 25-50 rounds. By doing so, you would burnish the barrel and remove any slight burrs left from the rifling process. Today, most barrels are either button-rifled or hammer-forged, neither of which will take much to "break in", possibly 10-20 rounds max, as all you are trying to do is smooth out the leades.

So, is barrel break-in a myth? Not in my opinion, when it was developed it was a real benefit. Today, with hand-lapped barrels, it is just another one of those things that is becoming obsolete (like cleaning your rifle right after shooting it) and will soon go the way of the dodo.

Durty · November 24, 2011, 04:47 PM

I love what's on Shilen's website... "Shilen, Inc. introduced a break-in procedure mostly because customers seemed to think that we should have one."

November 23, 2011, 10:10 AM	#1
scwhitetail Member Join Date: November 6, 2011 Location: Northern South Carolina Posts: 43	Barrel Break-in There are a lot of people out there who claim that in order to make your new rifle as accurate as possible, you have to break in the barrel by firing, then cleaning over and over. I understand that this is supposed to help polish the barrel, but does it really make a difference? If so, what is the proper way to do it?

November 23, 2011, 01:30 PM	#5
tim s Senior Member Join Date: February 8, 2011 Posts: 223	There is no credible source that has ever said a barrel will be more accurate, some start out great, some take some time, the biggest advocates of the breakin process do so because a lot of guns foul more because of rough throats/leades and this may help from heavier initial fouling more than anything else. New barrels often have tool marks in the throat, they pick up gilding metal until a bit of shooting smoothes them out and fouling reduces. All you're doing is keeping it minimal initially. At the end of the day, some do, some don't, there's no downside. When I get a new SS benchrest barrel I'll shoot something like 3,5,5,5 with cleaning between then go shoot it. Last edited by tim s; November 23, 2011 at 08:03 PM.

November 23, 2011, 04:29 PM	#6
darkgael Senior Member Join Date: February 9, 2006 Location: Homes in Brooklyn, NY and in Pennsylvania. Posts: 5,473	Not again! +3 about the search engine. Pete __________________ “Auto racing, bull fighting, and mountain climbing are the only real sports ... all others are games.” Ernest Hemingway ... NRA Life Member

November 23, 2011, 10:11 PM	#7
golfnutrlv Senior Member Join Date: November 5, 2008 Location: Spokane, WA Posts: 1,347	It's one of those things...everyone has an opinion. THe real answer, whatever it is, is lost to history...and the internet I break in my barrels. Has it made my rifles more accurate? Don't know... Just have to read, and form your own opinion about the procedure... __________________ ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ VIGILIA PRETIUM LIBERTATIS "The price of liberty is vigilance" America is at an awkward stage. It's too late to work within the system, but too early to shoot the bastards.

November 24, 2011, 06:12 AM	#8
Tim R Senior Member Join Date: November 30, 2004 Location: God's side of Washington State Posts: 1,601	:deadhorse: I have treated a new barrels both ways. Ican not say one way or the other. If you want to do a bunch of extra cleaning........and wear out the bore with your cleaning rod........... __________________ God Bless our Troops especially our Snipers.

November 23, 2011, 11:08 AM	#2
ZeroJunk Senior Member Join Date: August 14, 2006 Location: Browns Summit NC Posts: 2,589	Do a search on barrel break in. You will find all you want, and more.

November 23, 2011, 12:50 PM	#3
tobnpr Senior Member Join Date: August 1, 2010 Location: Tampa Bay Posts: 4,556	^^^ Please...

November 23, 2011, 01:02 PM	#4
firefyter55 Junior Member Join Date: November 15, 2011 Location: Afghan-a-banana-stan Posts: 5	Two good articles to read. http://www.snipercountry.com/Article...el_BreakIn.asp http://www.snipercountry.com/Article...BreakIn_II.asp

November 24, 2011, 07:03 AM	#9
Sport45 Senior Member Join Date: May 25, 1999 Location: Too close to Houston Posts: 4,196	What barrel do you have? Does the maker recommend a break-in procedure? White Oak says theirs are ready to go when you get them. __________________ Proud member of the NRA and Texas State Rifle Association. Registered and active voter.

November 24, 2011, 09:32 AM	#10
scwhitetail Member Join Date: November 6, 2011 Location: Northern South Carolina Posts: 43	thanks for all of the replies. i have a Remington model 700, I think im going to break it. I mean it can't HURT anything can it?

November 24, 2011, 09:53 AM	#11
BPowderkeg Junior member Join Date: September 27, 2011 Posts: 382	for AR-15's and similar weapons, my "break in" is one dry patch thru the bore twice, then just shoot and shoot and shoot some more, i rarely ever "clean" the bore after that, just regular FCG cleaning. if shooting a gas impingement rifle/carbine NEVER EVER try cleaning the gas tube, it is self cleaning.

November 24, 2011, 09:55 AM	#12
zfk55 Senior Member Join Date: December 24, 2009 Location: Lost Prairie Montana Posts: 391	http://www.davidtubb.com/final-finish-tms __________________ www.swissproductsllc.com An'' ole' Brer' Rabbit, he set in de bushes, he watch an' he wait, lay low an' he don' say nuffin'

November 24, 2011, 04:06 PM	#13
Scorch Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2006 Location: Washington state Posts: 15,248	A lot of the "myth" about barrel break-in stems from the fact that the process was developed back when most barrels were broached, not button-rifled. With a broach-cut barrel, you would fire and clean in a sequence until you had no more copper shavings visible on the patch, typically 25-50 rounds. By doing so, you would burnish the barrel and remove any slight burrs left from the rifling process. Today, most barrels are either button-rifled or hammer-forged, neither of which will take much to "break in", possibly 10-20 rounds max, as all you are trying to do is smooth out the leades. So, is barrel break-in a myth? Not in my opinion, when it was developed it was a real benefit. Today, with hand-lapped barrels, it is just another one of those things that is becoming obsolete (like cleaning your rifle right after shooting it) and will soon go the way of the dodo. __________________ Never try to educate someone who resists knowledge at all costs. But what do I know? Summit Arms Services

November 24, 2011, 04:47 PM	#14
Durty Member Join Date: January 16, 2011 Location: San Antonio, TX Posts: 34	I love what's on Shilen's website... "Shilen, Inc. introduced a break-in procedure mostly because customers seemed to think that we should have one."