Breaking in a new rifle

Picked up my new 30.06 a few weeks ago and it has sat in the safe untouched until now....

With a range session booked, first job was to clean the barrel. Boy was there some crud in there.



Then fit my old 6x24x56 off my .243 on her. My new 3x12x56 went on the .243.



Went to the 100m underground range at Kynamco, Thetford with some pals for a four hour range slot. Three of us with 10 guns would have been an interesting conversation had we been pulled over on the drive up there...

I know that there is a lot of debate about the need to clean a barrel when breaking in a barrel and to be honest I was in two minds, until David, the owner of the range and maker of Kynoch big game ammunition said clean it after every shot for the first ten shots, then five, clean and another five and you are done. Who was I to argue...



Zeroed the 30.06 and .243, rechecked the zero on the HMR, but didn't get a chance to play with the rimmy. Hey ho, shes quiet so can play anywhere on my permissions with her.



Anyway time flew and even though I could have done with another couple of hours to fine tune, I'm relatively pleased with the results using factory federals.

30.06
]
.243

.17HMR


All in all a very enjoyable morning.

Ps - yes I did have permission to use the kitchen table, as I cleaned the bore at 5 am when the boss was asleep...

 

[Buckle]

Interesting post thanks.

I recently broke in a . 243 and was advised to start zeroing at 50m which I did. It helped me prevent time wasting at 100m.

 

[FISH BOY]

Interesting post thanks.

I recently broke in a . 243 and was advised to start zeroing at 50m which I did. It helped me prevent time wasting at 100m.

Sorry didnt mention that. Both sighted at 50 yards, in a satsuma in three shots then on to 100m to fine tune.

 

[Richiepolecat]

Can you just pay to use the range at thetford or need to be in a club?

thanks

 

[FISH BOY]

Can you just pay to use the range at thetford or need to be in a club?

thanks

Pay and play, just need to show your FAC.

£45 an hour.

Its an underground tunnel with a light above the target so your eyes go a bit squiffy after a while, so worth sharing with pals.

 

[Heym SR20]

I am constantly amazed at the cost of using ranges in the UK. Especially when the owners grumble that they have to keep cost high as they are not getting much use.

£45 an hour, means that a lot of people won’t bother, or certainly think twice and only use it occasionally. If it was £10 or £15 people would be using it all the time. And be using it for general practice rather than one off load development or zeroing.

 

[Kalahari]

Well Calton Moor is £15/hour. I have no connection and have never tried it.

David.

 

[oxfordshirestalker]

Much as though people were grumpy about the membership prices at the new Silverstone range when they first opened, they let lanes at £30 for 3 hours to non members. I have no connection to anyone involved but have certainly been impressed the two times I have been. Well worth a look for those in the middle of the country!

 

[Alantoo]

Makes the range day BDS West Branch organised at the railway tunnel MDRC range at Monmouth last Sunday excellent value...£10 for members and most were shooting / had the opportunity to shoot for over an hour.

More days planned over the summer 24. June, 22nd July and 26. August....book in with the branch secretary.

Check what your local BDS are arranging?

Alan

 

[sy247]

Can you just pay to use the range at thetford or need to be in a club?

thanks

If you mean the 600 yard Thetford Gallery range my understanding is the club needs book it. You also need a valid SCC.

http://grovesmallarms.com/thetford-gallery

 

[FISH BOY]

I am constantly amazed at the cost of using ranges in the UK. Especially when the owners grumble that they have to keep cost high as they are not getting much use.

£45 an hour, means that a lot of people won’t bother, or certainly think twice and only use it occasionally. If it was £10 or £15 people would be using it all the time. And be using it for general practice rather than one off load development or zeroing.

Agree it's a bit toppy, but needs must as I'm not allowed to zero on my ground. Cost split three ways also helps. Doing my NRA course soon so hopefully will open up other venues.

Not being funny but normally have to book at least two weeks in advance.....

 

[John Gryphon]

In the UK are you allowed to 'range' shoot on a home made range if living on a few hundred acres or more?
We dont have any problems here unless some idiot wants to sight in a 338Lap on 20 acres.

 

[Harry mac]

In the UK are you allowed to 'range' shoot on a home made range if living on a few hundred acres or more?
We dont have any problems here unless some idiot wants to sight in a 338Lap on 20 acres.

Provided you're sensible about it, and you have the right or permission to be on the land, it shouldn't be a problem, it's certainly not illegal; BUT, we live on a "little" island with a lot of people on it. There's always a chance of someone "lurking unseen" where you want to be.

 

[scoby3030]

Well Calton Moor is £15/hour. I have no connection and have never tried it.

David.

Used Calton Moor a few times and it is a good underground range up to 100 yds, I think Mike can also do up to 500 yds outside but you would have to check with him on that one.

scoby270

 

[JTO]

Border Barrels used to advise something along the lines of: Fire one and fill with Forest Bore Foam overnight then clean. Fire two and repeat. Fire three and repeat. Fire four and repeat. Fire five and repeat....... They reckoned it took a week to run in a barrel.
On the other hand, you will be told by some SD members not to bother.

 

[smullery]

I am constantly amazed at the cost of using ranges in the UK. Especially when the owners grumble that they have to keep cost high as they are not getting much use.

£45 an hour, means that a lot of people won’t bother, or certainly think twice and only use it occasionally. If it was £10 or £15 people would be using it all the time. And be using it for general practice rather than one off load development or zeroing.

I’m a member of a Lincolnshire Club that has a tube range available 24/7. We all have keys for it. £140 a year.

I reckon that I use it only 3-4 times a year. Worth it, yes.

Stan

P.S. They also have a 25m outdoor range available 24/7 but it’s open air and I really wouldn’t want to disturb the neighbors. Calibres up to .50 on both.

We also have a 75 metre for .22, also outdoor and 24/7, again I still have selfless issues about other people’s sleep.

Stan

 

[NigelM]

I'm breaking in a barrel every couple of weeks and have been for some time. The metal swarf you get out for the first few shots on the cleaning patch clearly shows the need for the process. I fire one and clean for the first 5. Then shoot 2 and clean for the next 10. After that the barrels clean without any sign of metal on the patches and I go to 5 shots between cleans.

Mine are all high quality after market barrels that have been hand lapped, so much better than factory standard. You definitely need to break barrels in if you want the best out of them.

 

[Cottis]

This is basically how I do it, via an extended zero session on the first outing. I don't put this many shots through on such a string though. 3-5 is max for me before letting things cool a little but the theory is the same. Bullets are great barrel cleaners but that is only my opinion. I just make sure the bore is spotless prior to shooting it the first time. So many differing views on this. Potentially for BR shooters who want exacting precision, I can understand the particular approach when chasing thousandths of an inch in accuracy but most don't want or need this. I am an accuracy junkie but amazing accuracy can be attained straight off the shelf with good hand loads and a solid technique and practice.

I doubt it is even possible to prove whether one way is better than another as you would need identical components and environments and shooter and cartridges and conditions etc. Just not possible. For me, it is just not worth the time, hassle and expense. You are just wearing away a perfectly good barrel. There are countless examples of people just shooting the thing and it performing superbly for a long long time and the same can be said for a very particular "shoot, clean, shoot, clean" procedure. Just do what makes you happy. If you need to practice lots and want to drag your cleaning stuff to the range, knock yourself out. If you want an accurate rifle that will shoot animals for years, just zero it and shoot it and take care of it.

 

[Cottis]

It would appear rifles can be pretty tough

 

[FISH BOY]

It would appear rifles can be pretty tough

Ha ha one careful owner.