Barrel Break-in Why?

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dimecovers3

New member
My last couple of rifles got the full treatment where it took me half the afternoon to shoot the first twenty shots.

I read all the guys that should know say this is important for accuracy and less fouling.

Why? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused1.gif

I do this ritual and I can't even explain it to myself nor have I ever read a good explanation why it would make any difference....and yet I still do it.

Somebody please explain why I have not been wasting my time.
 
I have never broke in a rifle and I have rifles that shoot better then I can, well all of mine can. Its all BS i read a barrel maker that said that its great for them they get to have people buy more barrels. I wish I could find it.
 
It would take a post the length of a book to totally explain the "theory" behind the "seasoning" of a rifle bore.

I will say that most of the rifles I build will shoot better groups after they have 50 rounds thru them, no matter how you get that 50 rounds thru them.
 
Quote:
I have never broke in a rifle and I have rifles that shoot better then I can, well all of mine can. Its all BS i read a barrel maker that said that its great for them they get to have people buy more barrels. I wish I could find it.




You are referencing an article written by the late Gale McMillan about barrel break in. You might do a web search on him.
 
From Gale McMillian


This is total hogwash! It all got started when a barrel maker that I
know started putting break in instructions in the box with each barrel
he shipped a few years ago. I asked him how he figured it would help
and his reply was If they shoot 100 rounds breaking in this barrel
that's total life is 3000 rounds and I make 1000 barrels a year just
figure how many more barrels I will get to make. He had a point it
defiantly will shorten the barrel life. I have been a barrel maker a
fair amount of time and my barrels have set and reset bench rest world
records so many times I quit keeping track (at one time they held 7 at
one time) along with HighPower,Silloett,smallbore national and world
records and my instructions were to clean as often as posable preferably
every 10 rounds. I inspect every barrel taken off and every new barrel
before it is shipped with a bore scope and I will tell you all that I
see far more barrels ruined by cleaning rods than I see worn out from
normal wear and tear.

Gale Mc.
 
Barrels do break in. But they do it just as well being shot normally as with any special procedure that only uses up barrel life.

For example: In my experience, the 223s I use shooting colony varmints are best both for accuracy and for ease of cleaning after about 1000 rounds. All of those rounds were used on live targets.

Clean the barrel well before the first shot, then use it normally.

Jack
 
That's about what I figured.

Got any ideas on making a cold bore shot hit sighted in point of impact.

What I have done is clean the gun real good. Shoot one shot and run one patch of oil down the bore after the shot and then two dry patches. I only do this if I plan to hunt within the month. Otherwise I clean and oil with no shot.

Any advice appreciated
 
this is what I was told about that and it makes some sence. when you shot a new barrel,clean, shot clean, you are makeing sure that any fowlings, stuff or burs are shot out and clean up the rifleing machineing, that made sence to me if I explained it right, besides just more excuse to shoot it I guess, can't hurt a couple hundred rnds is all it takes and if that shortens barrel life I would not want that barrel any way.
 
I am sometimes ashamed to admit it, but even on my bench guns, I don't do much of a break-in procedure. Barrel life is too short anyway. Of course, I don't win many matches either.
 
why ?

incurable desire to waste time

follow directions whereever they take you (right or wrong)

have too much money laying around for bullets, powder etc.

believe that speeding copper jacketed bullets over come their inherent soft qualities to somehow smooth chrome moly steel flaws

love the feel of a cleaning rod in your hands

like shoving skinny thin shafts into little holes
 
I've never paid much attention to barrel break in. I've never put much faith in it. But, I have a 17 Remington fireball that seems to shoot better the more I shoot it. Without checking my records, I must have about 100- 125 rds through it now.
 
I asked this questions and was told to clean after everytime I go to the range or after every 20-25 shots. I did notice the gun becoming more accurate after about 75 rounds, and without a specific break-in regime, have recorded less than 1" groups at 200 yds with factory ammo and nothing done to the gun except adjusting the trigger. Running patches down the barrel shouldn't hurt it, but the procedures that state, to Shoot, solvent and brush, oil, etc... will eventually wear out the barrel just a little faster. My 2 cents, is shoot your gun, and clean after every hunt, or every 20 rounds at the range.
 
I like to clean when I need too, I can't do it just to do it. Had a few rifles that acc would start going south with just 50 rnds....Have a few others that will go much much much longer between cleanings....and one that has prolly 800rnds since it last seen anything down the bore other than a bullet. Rifles are like women, some require you to spend much more time and attention on them than do others... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smiliesmack.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

I quit "breaking in" rifles as well.
 
Believe it or not, I use to really enjoy cleaning rifles and my friends had no problems letting me clean theirs, but I would have to go along with Dan Carey, he probably has forgot more than I know about barrels and shooting!!
 


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