New Rifle Barrel "running in"

[Suffolk Shooter]

Guys,

I've been told about running new barrels in, but wondered what others do. I found something on t'internet, but speaking to some it seems abit excessive.

Shoot 1 shot and clean (Chamber and barrel and dry out)
Shoot 2 shots and clean
Shoot 3 shots and clean
Shoot 5 shots and clean
Shoot 5 shots and clean
Shoot 10 shots and clean
Shoot 10 shots and clean

for a total of 36 rounds using ammo from a single batch similar to the type of ammo that you intend to use for future shooting.

I've never done this before and am intrigued as to your thoughts and what you have done.

SS

 

[jack]

I do regard this break in stuff as nonsense.
You are paying for a brand new barrel then you are expected to break it in.
If you have to break it in it is not finished.
So it is not finished, so take it back and get it finished.
Is there a break in period for TV'ss, PC's etc any other product you buy, No.
Bollocks

http://www.6mmbr.com/GailMcMbreakin.html

Or if you want to spend time and money then read this:
http://www.kriegerbarrels.com/Rapid...ommon/viewPage.cfm&PageId=2558&CompanyId=1246

 

[Suffolk Shooter]

Jack,

Thanks for the honest response and the websites.

Has anyone else the same views? or have you "Run in" yours?

SS

 

[EMcC]

I normally put about ten rounds down a new barrel without looking at the target, well hardly.
My idea is to get any rough edges or loose bits smoothed out and get the 'scope settled.
Then check the rifle and 'scope for tightness, if all is well, then settle down to zero the thing.
I've never had a problem with my shooting.

 

[zaitsev]

Look at Borders website. Geoff Kolbe wrote a great piece about running in barrels on there (also might be on jackson rifles). I just ran in a new barrel last night. It stopped coppering at about 16rds (including proof) so I left it at that and will now clean after every use. Everyone will have slightly different methods but you do generally need to run a few bullets through a barrel before all minor imperfections etc are smoothed out. Even the best finished barrels (including Kriegers, Bartleins etc) need running in.
If you don't want to run in then thats fine but as far as I can tell it pays dividends int he long term when it comes to accuracy and particularly cleaning.

Regards

Gareth

 

[DL]

Buy a second hand rifle - the previous owner gets hit for the initial depreciation, & you can forget about breaking it in.
Two of my rifles are second hand & very accurate.

The one I did buy new, I fired a few shots to get zeroed & took it home & cleaned it. Followed by just a couple of shots at most per outing before a mandatory clean at the end of the day.

I have always wondered if I had known to do the fire one, clean routine for the first 40 rounds! If the rifle would shoot smaller groups now, to be honest, I think it's anyone's guess, & whilst I like to keep my rifles in good order, they are working tools, not some cosseted target shooting fair weather rifle.

If in doubt, I would do it the slow way you have described, otherwise you may be left with doubts that things could have been ever so slightly better.
Border barrels have a description on their site recommending bore foam & a week.

 

[Mat]

I do regard this break in stuff as nonsense.
You are paying for a brand new barrel then you are expected to break it in.
If you have to break it in it is not finished.
So it is not finished, so take it back and get it finished.
Is there a break in period for TV'ss, PC's etc any other product you buy, No.
Bollocks

http://www.6mmbr.com/GailMcMbreakin.html

Or if you want to spend time and money then read this:
http://www.kriegerbarrels.com/Rapid...ommon/viewPage.cfm&PageId=2558&CompanyId=1246

The 6mmbr article is all very well, but I don't know anyone who uses 100 rounds for a barrel break in, that's too much IMHO. I do 5 rounds of one shot & clean, then 5 shots & clean 3 times, that's a total of 20 rounds. I use Sweet's which is an aggressive ammonia based copper remover because I can't be arsed to wait forever for bore foam to do its thing.

Cars used to need running in... So why not barrels? Chamber reamers but perpendicular to the barrel grooves, so it's bound to leave burrs, so IMHO you need to at least polish them off.

In any case, it's a matter of personal choice and how many people have the inclination to find out the difference between running in and not? How many people own a bore scope??? And how much difference does it make at the end of the day?

 

[JTO]

http://www.border-barrels.com/shoot-in.htm

This makes sense, but I have never done it.
Better to try it than have any doubts in the future.

 

[Suffolk Shooter]

This makes sense, but I have never done it.

Thats exactly why I'm struggling as to whether you need to or not? The Theory does make sense, but then again is it one of those myths of shooting.

I mean how do you prove that a barrel's been "shot out" quicker by not doing this method than one that has!!!!?!?!?!?!?!

We're talking over X000 of rounds at different temperatures, conditions, over X years, and X different things that could be different between one barrel and the next just in terms of the actual manufacturing process, let alone bullet/powder type, method of cleaning and type of cleaning products used, storage of weapon etc. etc.

There are so many variables that I can't comprehend how this has been calculated to be so.

Still, to be "safe", I'll fire a couple through and clean, then another couple and clean, then 3 and clean then 3 and clean and thats it. Ten rounds through, and if the Burr's etc aren't sorted by then, then they never will.

SS

 

[Monkey Spanker]

I reckon that should do it. Might as well stick them through a target too. It might not be super accurate to start with, but you should be able to have it pretty much zeroed by the end of your 'run-in'.

 

[Muir]

You can run in a barrel if you want and it makes you feel good. PErsonally I think it's nonsense.~Muir

 

[ejg]

I don't believe in running in either. But! I like a smooth finish in my barrel. On my last two rifles Howa 22-250 and now a remmy 243 I polished the barrel with peek on a patch. Both rifles only needed about 15-20 strokes , exiting the muzzle when the patch is changed about 3 times. I stop when a fresh tight patch runs very smooth and with the same resistance all the way down. Then only did I fire the first shot. Mostly five six shots to zero, check a group and go hunting. Clean every now and then, If I shoot a lot maybe once a month. Both these rifles shoot so well that I wouldn't want a custom barrel on them.
I know many will not approve.

edi

 

[JTO]

I spoke to a bloke in a gunshop last week. He reckoned the most boring afternoon he ever had was 'shooting in' a barrel to customers spec.
1 shot then clean, 5 times.
2 shots then clean, 5 times.
3 shots then clean, 5 times.
4 shots then clean, 5 times.
10 shots then clean, 5 times.

I think that was the sequence, it took 100 rounds anyway.

I've got a .223 Tikka SS Varmint that's not fired 20 shots yet. I'm going to give it the Border Barrels treatment just for the craic. Fortunately I can fire the shots not far from the back door.

 

[JTO]

OOOPPPS!

 

[smullery]

I found myself in the position of picking up my FIRST rifle two days before going off to Africa for a week.

I too was worried about this. I took the simple effort of talking to an american, Chuck Hawks, on the telephone ( a device that seems to have fallen out of fashion this Century).

Bottom line is, if you shoot paper then the word Anal has an application.

If you hunt, clean it once you stop hitting where you're shooting...

I used 20 rounds to "sight in" and then had a good 7 day hunt. Cleaned the rifle after 1 year and 100 rounds later....

Stan

 

[User00014]

evening all ,

Ive been listening to all this tosh about cleaning rifles , and breaking in etc for donkeys years as have most of us on this site.

i have a relatively new rifle its probably now 8 months old i, bought it new and i got fell in straight away , no messing about .

i clean it after every 100 rounds religiously , that's about every 6 months depending on how much shooting I'm doing !

and thats it simple as .

ATB

lee 8)

 

[Ronin]

Have to say I just shoot the rifle and enjoy!


I clean as and when accuracy diminishes.

 

[griff]

If you leave your rifle uncleaned then the copper becomes extremely diffcult to remove, and accuracy is degraded.
Carbon on the throat area if not cleaned burns hotter and erodes the throat and again accuracy is degraded..

There isn't a long range shooter in the county that does not break his gun on to obtain the best out of his investment..
Cleaning a rifle when you only shoot at 100-200yds is probably irrelevant, but the accuracy that is needed for longer shots doesn't come from a dirty gun..
Dismissing outright that cleaning/breaking in your gun is a load of nonsense or tosh shows a complete lack of understanding in the relationship between a clean barrel and accuracy..

I suppose it all depends on what standard of accuracy you find acceptable.

regards
griff

 

[Muir]

Can anyone prove that a shoot and clean cadence improve accuracy? I doubt it.

My .222 is 25 years old and I can guarantee you that it hadn't been cleaned for a decade down on the indian reservation it came from when I bought it second or third hand. It shoots 1/4 MOA and I clean it sparingly, if at all. I have 100 year old rifles that will shoot sub MOA with their copper-encrusted barrels.

I just can't be convinced that the "running in" or frequent cleaning is necessary.~Muir

 

[finnbear270]

running in

On the flip side, Some tubes are cast off as "shot out", when they are just badly fouled, some absolute gems can be discovered languishing on dusty shelves just needing a bit of attention!