New Rifle -What you do before use
- Thread starter doigan
- Start date
Thanks that sounds a sensible approach, did think Tikka may have provided information in paperwork but not obvious if it is
6pt-sika
Well-Known Member
My typical procedure with rifles are this . New rifle I run a brass brush with Hoppes on it back and forth about twenty times , then run a couple dry patches through and take to the range . If the guns used I’ll typically follow the same procedure twenty passes wipe out and repeat until I get to about one hundred passes I also use a bore guide in the chamber . I’m color blind so typically I’ll ask someone what color the residue on the dry patch is . If after 100 passes I’m still getting copper I’ll use something along the lines of “Sweets 7.62” but use a nylon brush with this stuff , after I’ve done enough to suit me with Sweets I go back behind the dry patch and swab it out again 10 or 12 strokes to get any Sweets the dry patch may have missed . May sound a bit excessive but it’s worked for me for the last forty or so years .
Nothing concerning really, just give it a good clean and go shooting, don’t rag the ar$e out of it for the first few sessions and employ a good cleaning regime that works for you. Factory Tikkas generally shoot very well. It does highlight the fact that even with a new rifle, you dont know how its been looked after/stored between manufacture and sale, or how long thats been. If you opt for a decent barrel fitted by a reputable UK rifle builder your much more likely to get a much better, well looked after product and the results will be quite apparent if you do your bit.
I first read something similar on the old Border Barrels website. They advocated filling the barrel with Forrest Bore Foam overnight between each shooting session. It took them over a week to 'run in' a new barrel. Their barrels were 'cut', not hammer forged like Tikkas, of course!
paulbshooting
Well-Known Member
From what I remember, it was shoot 1 and clean for about 2 days, then shoot 2 and clean, then shoot 3 and clean, then shoot 5 and clean for a few days. I always thought the patches should be pushed through from the muzzle, because the copper from the bullets would build up on the breech side of any burrs, so more easily pushed off from the muzzle. We all have theories, of course!
6pt-sika
Well-Known Member
Barrel makers here in the states will tell you with a brand new “custom barrel” to shoot once clean , shoot twice clean , shoot three clean etc until you get up to I think ten shots then reverse the process until you’re back down to one . That’s 145 shots which to my way of thinking is just 145 shots closer to an eroded throat . I don’t agree with this practice ! I’m of the opinion scrub it out well once at the range shoot a fouler let sit a minute then a three shot group , clean fouler and another group . I’ll follow that procedure through four or five groups and then clean again a fouler and shoot four 3 shot groups of course lettting the barrel cool between groups which equates into 13 rounds clean 13 rounds clean for the duration of the time I own the gun . With a 20 or 22 cal gun I might switch that to fouler two groups and clean with 3 shot groups . If it’s a HB I may go to five shot groups and if that’s the case I’ll shoot a fouler one group clean and repeat . I used to shoot quite often with several shooters who were very much into bench rest 100 and 200 yards . So over time their practices kinda rubbed off on me .
A bullet leaves the barrel at the muzzle, so unless those admittedly 'disturbing' fire-cracked-like fishers are at the pointy end rather than just ahead of the freebore you'll probably not experience an accuracy issue.
That said, if it was my new rifle and the marks prove to be other than simply crude and/or congealed lube, I'd be returning it to the RFD with a strongly worded letter.
K
That said, if it was my new rifle and the marks prove to be other than simply crude and/or congealed lube, I'd be returning it to the RFD with a strongly worded letter.
K
TringSaint
Well-Known Member
I’ve bought 4 rifles from brand new and I have just shot them. No special process, no specific cleaning regime, just shot them.
Funnily enough they all shoot just fine.
Funnily enough they all shoot just fine.
SikaSeeker
Well-Known Member
I didn’t think hammer forged barrels needed a break in regime.
I doubt any rifles do.
HonestJohn
Well-Known Member
If a cut barrel is carefully hand lapped, it won’t need shooting in. A hammer forged does not and is a waste of money and wear. A button pulled barrel is somewhere in between in my view, not worth a big investment, but benefits from a shooting in procedure of at least 20 rounds and cleaning between
Many years ago, we were unaware of "breaking in" barrels. We just went out and shot them. I never had a rifle that wouldn't shoot well.
enfieldspares
Well-Known Member
I take it out the box it came in. Look through the barrel from the breech end to see if the bore is clear and not blocked with anything or needs a clean. Then fit a 'scope to it, put it in a gunslip, take it to a range and shoot it. Adjust the zero, fire a check group of five to confirm the desired zero and then clean it if relevant (so not with and air rifle) and put it away until next needed for use. End of.
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