![]() |
|
Forum Rules | Firearms Safety | Firearms Photos | Links | Library | Lost Password | Email Changes |
Register | FAQ | Calendar | Search | Today's Posts | Mark Forums Read |
![]() |
|
Thread Tools | Search this Thread |
![]() |
#26 |
Senior Member
Join Date: June 6, 2000
Location: Job hunting on the road...
Posts: 3,827
|
Maybe if the discussion was about marketing strategies for emerging technology...
|
![]() |
![]() |
#27 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 8, 2001
Location: Virginia
Posts: 3,823
|
Quote:
Wow. I've known that for years, but could never put my finger quite on it. Here a master has put it into words. You can even see the same thing with cars. Ford does it one way, Chevy another, and Chrysler another way yet. Each has its own engineering 'culture' that is differnent and gets passed down over the years. |
|
![]() |
![]() |
#28 |
Senior Member
Join Date: June 29, 1999
Posts: 437
|
Worth a bump as some topics never get old.
|
![]() |
![]() |
#29 |
Senior Member
Join Date: January 26, 2005
Posts: 2,860
|
So, whats the consensus, break in or no break in?
I wish I could start one of those question poles, but I don't know how. Perhaps one of you guys can. It would be very interesting to see how many do, and how many don't break in their barrels. |
![]() |
![]() |
#30 |
Senior Member
Join Date: August 14, 2006
Location: Browns Summit NC
Posts: 2,589
|
This topic comes up from time to time and invariably somebody will pull up an old McMillan post.And most will ridicule anybody that disagrees.
My idiosyncracy is that I clean my barrels until I get the copper out.It's not necessarily an accuracy enhancement,but my thinking is that anything trapped underneath the copper can cause corrosion.If your barrel is easy to clean,great.If not some repetitive firing and cleaning can help.(all barrels are not McMillan BTW). Neither I nor anybody else has anything other than opinion about what this does to accuracy.If you set out to prove what you already believe,that is the result you will get. |
![]() |
![]() |
#31 |
Senior Member
Join Date: January 26, 2005
Posts: 2,860
|
All I can say is this. My son and I bought the same rifles. He broke his in according to a popular method and I didn't. The results, they shot the same, or nearly the same. We switched rifles back and forth on nemerous outings, and the patterns were nearly identical. I shot 1/2 to 1 inch groups with my rifle and his, and he did the same. My opinion, just keep them clean and use good ammo.
|
![]() |
![]() |
#32 |
Senior Member
Join Date: July 29, 2002
Location: North East Texas
Posts: 950
|
Great wisdom from a great man..... I really enjoy the fact that this forum attracts some incredible experts like the late Mr. McMillan.
|
![]() |
![]() |
#33 |
Junior member
Join Date: October 13, 2008
Location: Houston
Posts: 64
|
Thank you GAle
I might have ruined my new rifle with all the products they try to hawk you to buy.
Now I wont. Thank you for caring. Michael |
![]() |
![]() |
#34 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: July 29, 2008
Posts: 949
|
Wow!!! A near 8 year old thread and the argument still rages. I think this says it best:
Quote:
|
|
![]() |
![]() |
#35 |
Senior Member
Join Date: April 18, 2008
Location: Florida, east coast
Posts: 2,106
|
Great post! Most of it just reinforces what my Dad, Grandfathers and a Great-grandfather taught me.
|
![]() |
![]() |
#36 |
Member
Join Date: December 24, 2008
Posts: 78
|
Wonderfully informative post with so much useful information. I never did understand why barrel break in would work and Gale does a fantastic job of stating the obvious and explaining the not so obvious. We learn from an expert that it's not simply a matter of not working when in fact certain barrel break in techniques using abrassives damage rifling, ruin accuracy and shorten barrel life! Gale makes it all seem so obvious by recounting his personal experience. This is information only a world class barrel maker with years of experience would know and he has no real reason to share it with us. In fact he could sell more barrels if he went along with the barrel break in BS many of the other manufacturers advocate. That tells me all I need to know about the character of Gale McMillan. Never met him but I wish I had.
I just bought a brand new Ruger Hawkeye in .270 caliber. I haven't fired it yet. I've never "broken in" any of my rifle barrels. I was wondering if perhaps I should give one of these "modern" break in techniques a try. Now I know better. Many thanks Gale. |
![]() |
![]() |
#37 |
Senior Member
Join Date: April 22, 2007
Location: Pinckney, MI
Posts: 657
|
Thanks for this thread, much appreciated.
__________________
"Which side are we on? We're on the side of the demons, Chief. We're evil men in the gardens of paradise, sent by the forces of death to spread devastation and destruction wherever we go. I'm surprised you didn't know that." --Saul Tigh http://sargesrollcall.blogspot.com/2...s-no-more.html |
![]() |
![]() |
#38 |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 11, 2007
Location: NSW, Australia
Posts: 909
|
A superb collection of wisdom from this obviously passionate gentleman - I count myself unfortunate to have missed crossing paths with him when he was corresponding with others.
Here is a question ... is the quality of Mcmillan barrels still the same as when he was alive? In other words is his legacy being faithfully continued in manufacturing terms? I shoot 1000 yard match and will be in the market for a new barrel in the near future so ... Cheers, Tiki. |
![]() |
![]() |
#39 |
Senior Member
Join Date: June 1, 1999
Location: Exiled, Fetid Swamp, DC
Posts: 7,548
|
Missing you tonight Gale!
|
![]() |
![]() |
#40 |
Staff in Memoriam
Join Date: November 13, 1998
Location: Terlingua, TX; Thomasville, GA
Posts: 24,798
|
Thanks, dZ.
|
![]() |
![]() |
#41 |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 24, 2011
Posts: 990
|
Interesting read.
No necro thread killers yet? |
![]() |
![]() |
#42 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: December 13, 2009
Location: central Wisconsin
Posts: 2,324
|
Very wise words dZ!!
In my job before retiring (metallurgical engineer) I knew the guru of this cryogenic process and our company did extensive testing on tooling (supposed to last longer) and gear wear (supposed to last longer). The gears treated definitely lasted longer! The tooling did not show any improvement. I don't know why it would make a barrel more accurate. It "should" make them last longer but a 4140 steel barrel might last longer while a stainless (less ferrite) wouldn't. If you're going to try it, test it. Don't take anyone's word for it working or not working. Including the salesman. ![]() Quote:
Last edited by warbirdlover; April 24, 2012 at 11:29 PM. |
|
![]() |
![]() |
#43 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: December 14, 2004
Location: Maine
Posts: 3,700
|
Quote:
Funny thing, though; despite being very pitted, it still shot very well (5/8" prone group at 200 yards). I sold that rifle because I couldn't stand having such a pitted barrel on a rifle. The key is not that oxygen as a gas can get under the copper, but its the moisture (H20) that can provide enough oxygen to cause rust, and will seep under the copper in various locations, probably carrying firing contaminants to create electrolytic corrosion. Regardless, centerfire chrome moly barrels should be cleaned as soon as reasonably possible after firing. Twenty-two LR rimfire barrels are not subjected to the same conditions as centerfire barrels, due to the wax applied to them every shot. There are no .22LR bullets manufactured that do not have a wax coating. Some bullet waxes are harder than others, but they are all coated. That's why it's generally safer to buy a used .22LR rifle that hasn't been cleaned than a centerfire with a dirty bore. (Regardless, I like to run a patch through all used bores before buying.) Last edited by Picher; April 26, 2012 at 12:22 PM. |
|
![]() |
![]() |
#44 |
Staff in Memoriam
Join Date: November 13, 1998
Location: Terlingua, TX; Thomasville, GA
Posts: 24,798
|
Copper or no, a dry and clean piece of steel in a high-humidity climate will rust. My aged FIL had several shotguns and rifles which had been in a hall closet for years. I don't know if he had done any preservative oiling before storage, or what sort of cleaning, but there were rust spots inside and out.
|
![]() |
![]() |
#45 |
Senior Member
Join Date: August 16, 2004
Posts: 516
|
This one was saved a few years ago, but I misplaced it. My bad.
Now, it resides in its own uncluttered folder. Thanks. salty |
![]() |
![]() |
#46 |
Junior Member
Join Date: January 23, 2013
Posts: 1
|
Thanks Gale
Was just going through the 'break-in-barrel' youtubes & articles,
and felt 'hmmm is that right?' do you really need to go through this process that everyone seems to tweek & do a bit different? What of the guys whose guns run fine without any of that? Gale, from years yonder, answered all those questions. Thanks, Gale |
![]() |
![]() |
#47 |
Staff in Memoriam
Join Date: November 13, 1998
Location: Terlingua, TX; Thomasville, GA
Posts: 24,798
|
Worth a bump.
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#48 |
Senior Member
Join Date: February 15, 2009
Posts: 8,927
|
As far as I know, nobody to date has made 22 rimfire match barrels as good as his were. They still hold most of the NRA smallbore records. But then, rimfire match ammo was much better decades ago.
|
![]() |
![]() |
#49 |
Senior Member
Join Date: January 28, 2006
Posts: 1,482
|
Hey Art, probably worth a sticky. I remember this one coming back up and the information is never old, never stale, and just as true today as when Gale wrote them. I feel I really missed out on joining after he departed.
And it really got me thinking about the other really knowledgeable ones who used to be here that we don't see much anymore... Zak Smith, Walt Krulek, I'm sure there are others I am forgetting.
__________________
NRA Life Member "We have enough gun control. What we need is idiot control." |
![]() |
![]() |
#50 |
Senior Member
Join Date: February 15, 2009
Posts: 8,927
|
There are other debates in the rifle shooting sports that come to mind:
* crimping case mouths on bullets; best or worst for accuracy and reliability. * neck only or full length sizing for best accuracy. * what fluting a barrel does for its stiffness. * how telescopic and aperture sights work. |
![]() |
![]() |
Thread Tools | Search this Thread |
|
|