best way to break in new barrel

[high plaines]

Gentlemen, new to forum, I have a CA legal AR and would like to know best way or resource to refer to about barrel break in . TIA Sean

[dave]

That has been debated here time and again and you will get many answers. I am not the most experianced guy when it comes to new target type rifles, but I would just shoot the rifle and clean it as you would normally. I think "barrel break-in" is allot of hype, regardless that some of the best shooters do it. They MAY notice a difference but I have never shot with their skill so it would make little difference to me! Heck, you do not even have to break cars in anymore!

[PhillipM]

From Shilen faqs page: http://www.shilen.com/faq.html#question9

How should I break-in my new Shilen barrel?
Break-in procedures are as diverse as cleaning techniques. Shilen, Inc. introduced a break-in procedure mostly because customers seemed to think that we should have one. By and large, we don't think breaking-in a new barrel is a big deal. All our stainless steel barrels have been hand lapped as part of their production, as well as any chrome moly barrel we install. Hand lapping a barrel polishes the interior of the barrel and eliminates sharp edges or burrs that could cause jacket deformity. This, in fact, is what you are doing when you break-in a new barrel through firing and cleaning.
Here is our standard recommendation: Clean after each shot for the first 5 shots. The remainder of the break-in is to clean every 5 shots for the next 50 shots. During this time, don't just shoot bullets down the barrel during this 50 shot procedure. This is a great time to begin load development. Zero the scope over the first 5 shots, and start shooting for accuracy with 5-shot groups for the next 50 shots. Same thing applies to fire forming cases for improved or wildcat cartridges. Just firing rounds down a barrel to form brass without any regard to their accuracy is a mistake. It is a waste of time and barrel life.

[remus]

If the idea of breaking in a barrel is significant to you, by all means try a break in system. Some folks swear by it. If it doesn't really excite you to do the break in deal, I don't think one needs to worry about it or feel that they are not getting the most out of their barrel.

I always thought that when I got ahold of a rifle that it was up to me to put the bullet in the middle. A good barrell is necessary, but just how steady can I hold the thing. I've made some pretty awful shots with excellent barrels, and some really good ones with questionable barrels. What are you comfortable with?

[Gyrene]

Keep in mind that everything that goes through your barrel wears it at least a little (patches brushes, etc.) I have never used a break-in procedure, and in over 50 years of shooting, I have never had to replace a barrel, in part, because I only clean the barrel when it has lost accuracy, thus very few patches and brushes have passed through my barrels (no wear from them). I do not doubt that if I had shot in competition regularly (weekly or is that weakly HEHEHE), I would have had to replace barrels, but my competition shooting was limited to several times a year, and that was not enough to wear out any barrels.

With modern powders and primers (read noncorrosive) the need to clean the bore really comes down to the barrels' accuracy. Absolutely clean out the receiver, and oil it or grease it where the wear points are (semi-autos are machines and need grease in addition to some oil). The usual lead or copper deposits in the barrel need cleaning when they cause the accuracy to begin to fall off.

Gyrene VSM - OFC

semper fi



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[45 Caliber]

Go to http://www.kriegerbarrels.com/Break_In__Cleaning-c1246-wp2558.htm to see what Krieger(Barrel Manufacturer) recommends.

[John Sukey]

If you are one of those bench rest shooters, the break-in process MIGHT be worth the effort, otherwise don't bother. I have no interest in shooting one hole groups from something that weighs several times more than the rifle.

[Maury Krupp]

When I rebarrel an M1 and have to finish ream the chamber I shoot one/clean x5, shoot 5/clean x1, shoot 10 then go home and give it a good scrubbing with JB's. One box of ammo, one range session.

Does it really help? Maybe; maybe not. I think it may polish off some of the tool marks and smooth some edges. Clean-up for the life of the barrel seems to be quick and easy with little copper fouling.

On a ratgun or other rifle where there's no finish reaming required my version of "break-in" would be to go shoot a match with it.

Maury

[Karl]

I filed this away a long time ago...

Quote: The break-in fad was started by a fellow I helped get started in the barrel business . He started putting a set of break-in instructions in ever barrel he shipped. One came into the shop to be installed and I read it and the next time I saw him I asked him What was with this break-in crap? His answer was Mac, My share of the market is about 700 barrels a year. I cater to the target crowd and they shoot a barrel about 3,000 rounds before they change it. If each one uses up 100 rounds of each barrel breaking it in, you can figure out how many more barrels I will get to make each year. If you will stop and think that the barrel doesn't know whether you are cleaning it every shot, or every 5 shots, and if you are removing all foreign material that has been deposited in it since the last time you cleaned it, what more can you do? When I ship a barrel I send a recommendation with it that you clean it ever chance you get with a brass brush pushed through it at least 12 times with a good solvent and followed by two and only 2 soft patches. This means if you are a bench rest shooter you clean ever 7 or 8 rounds. If you are a high power shooter you clean it when you come off the line after 20 rounds. If you follow the fad of cleaning every shot for X amount and every 2 shots for X amount and so on the only thing you are accomplishing is shortening the life of the barrel by the amount of rounds you shot during this process. I always say, Monkey see, Monkey do, now I will wait on the flames but before you write them, Please include what you think is happening inside your barrel during break in that is worth the expense and time you are spending during break in. End quote.

Pls don't flame me, I am only passing along what one excellent barrel-maker has said about "breaking-in" a barrel. But, it should make you at least think about the process...

HTH, Karl

[inland44]

This topic ran 15-20 pages on another forum and it ran the gammut from NONE just shoot it to clean after every round for the first 100 rds. No chance of anyone coming to an agreement here. I will however run down my process with any rifle new to me brand new or used. I like, it its not overly laborious but it gets me used to the rifle and allows me to work on sighting it in as well. First of all I like to swager up to the bench like Steve McQueen in the Sand Pebbles and say "Hello rifle".

I shoot one and clean.
shoot two and clean.
shoot three and clean.
shoot four and clean.
shoot five and clean and repeat the shoot five and clean process five more times. That equals 2 boxes of shells and a few hours on the range. Even with a larger caliber its not that punishing. Does it make the rifle shoot better, maybe. Does it extent the life of the barrel, probably. Does it make me a better shooter with the rifle, YES. (IMHO)

[RED]

... first, I invite my neighbors and friends over. Then I light up the barbee and tap the barrel. The colder the better. Rock salt in the ice helps keep the contents of the barrel at under 40 degrees, again the colder the better.

As far as cleaning the barrel goes, after a few rounds, who gives a s***!

[Major Tom]

Get some medium valve grinding paste and go to it with brushes and patches. 8-)

[SMOKEY]

Shoot it, enjoy it and clean it. Always worked for me and I have never had any adverse reaction with anything I shoot. Now granted I may not be as great a shot as some of these boys but I do bring home the meat each year.