General precision gun setup

[longrange1]

bsumoba ive had two bad barrels in 10yrs...one criterion and the krieger...the criterion was a dud from the start...i shot 800 rounds through that barrel and threw every combo at it i could think of.

the krieger was a laser right from the start but went south for some reason...ive shot out 7 or 8 shilens and 5(almost 6)bartleins and every one of them have shot better than me...for me the bartleins have been the most consistent...cold,clean or fouled they just shoot.

[longrange1]

So, regarding barrel break in, I've heard many different theories. Everything from wet patch, followed by dry patch after each shot for the first 10 shots, then every 5 shots to 20, then every 10 shots to 50, all the way to doing absolutely nothing special for break in.

you opened a can of worms now LOL!!!

[jrpowell3]

you opened a can of worms now LOL!!!

It had to be asked! I'm used to chrome lined barrels that don't really require a break in.

[longrange1]

Ok I'll start...I don't believe in barrel break in. I've done it by the book shoot one clean for 5 then shoot 5 and clean for 50 total and I've also just shot with no break in cleaning.

I now shoot 1 and clean for 3 rounds then shoot 10 fast fire and clean and I'm done...I do this only to see if the barrel is a fowler or not then I shoot until I notice accuracy drop off then clean.
I keep strict notes on everything I do...my current barrel hasn't been cleaned in at least 800 rounds.

I'm out now testing some 107g SMKs and will post a few pics in a bit but it's still shooting pretty small groups.


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[bsumoba]

Break-In...I used to believe in one and clean for like 5 shots, then switch to 3 and clean, but that was because I was a newbie and did as the "pros" did it.

Now that I have had quite a few barrels, break-in is minimal. Partly because I think that method of 1 and clean is not needed and it just adds more rounds down my barrel and more time on the range than needed. I still clean a bit because I do believe in smoothing out the throat a bit (even though my smith does an excellent job) and cleaning out the carbon and copper fouling allows for the bullet to burnish the throat a bit. My last few barrels which were the same mfg, same barrel length and contour, shot nearly the same load well. Here is my newest barrel load workup.

* Shot 6 rounds with a Magneto on and got some general velocity numbers and looking for pressure, which I saw ever so slight ejector marks at 57.4 gr.

* Did a light clean for carbon fouling and worked on the throat a bit to clean it out and then fouled the barrel out with 1 shot and started shooting for groups, going in 0.4 gr increments (less if it is a smaller caliber. In this case, I am shooting a 284 Shehane with H4831SC and 180gr hybrids).

* Went from 55-57 grains, 3-shot groups. Node appears to start around 55.8 and ends probably around 55.6 grains. My previous load was 56.3 grains.

* I cleaned the barrel and bit more thoroughly and decided to shoot some old ammo that was made for my previous barrel that was loaded at 56.3 gr. took a fouler shot and then shot (2) 3-shot groups.

I would say that this is going to be a shooter AND it shoots essentially the same load as my previous barrel. It is nice when it works out that way.

[kendog4570]

Jewell triggers are the gold standard that all the others are compared against.
The Calvin Elite is a Camaro and the Jewell is a Corvette.

Have to agree with this right here. I have a Calvin on my silhouette gun. It is no better than a 510 and it's going back. I do not own one, but a quite a few guys have Tubbs triggers and they love them.

[longrange1]

nice shooting bsumoba and feel the same in regards to break in.

[ar15barrels]

No offense taken. I know what I'm used to is nowhere close to ideal. So, timney vs jewell, what's the difference?

Timney 510 series are single lever which are reliable in all conditions, but only adjust down to about 1.25-1.5lbs on the low end of the scale.
The calvin elite or the Jewel are double lever triggers which are not as reliable in dirty conditions, but can adjusted down into the single-digit ounces.

[jrpowell3]

So, extensive barrel break in sequences are primarily superstition, eh?

[ar15barrels]

any trigger that isn't set correctly or is allowed to get crap inside it won't work.

Any DOUBLE LEVER trigger will lock up when dirty.
Any SINGLE LEVER trigger can simply be cleared by grabbing the trigger show and raking it front-back a few times until it clears up.

That same fix does not work on double lever triggers due to the extra lever inside that the trigger shoe can not force to move.

[jrpowell3]

Timney 510 series are single lever which are reliable in all conditions, but only adjust down to about 1.25-1.5lbs on the low end of the scale.
The calvin elite or the Jewel are double lever triggers which are not as reliable in dirty conditions, but can adjusted down into the single-digit ounces.

Interesting, I'd probably err on the side of reliability, personally, to me, a 1.25lb trigger is insanely light.

[bsumoba]

Interesting, I'd probably err on the side of reliability, personally, to me, a 1.25lb trigger is insanely light.

Then you'll be shocked to hear the BR and F-Class shooters typically run 1 oz triggers...

On that note, my tactical rifle is 10 oz.

[longrange1]

so i looked back in my notes and this barrel hasnt been cleaned in 850 rounds.
my bullet of choice is a 115g DTAC but the big problem with a 6mm is that they are so easy to load for and just stupid accurate that they get boring LOL!!

i love the load development part of shooting just as much as the one hole groups...as i said i was out earlier playing with some 107g SMKs at 100yds....ive shot 3 bullets in this barrel now 115g DTACs,105g berger hybrids and now the 107g SMKs and everyone of those bullets will shoot 1 hole groups at 3050FPS +or- a few FPS...the top row(#4)is 42g of H4350 at 3048FPS 2- 3 shot groups.

[jrpowell3]

Then you'll be shocked to hear the BR and F-Class shooters typically run 1 oz triggers...

On that note, my tactical rifle is 10 oz.

Blowing on the trigger would set it off...

[jrpowell3]

so i looked back in my notes and this barrel hasnt been cleaned in 850 rounds.
my bullet of choice is a 115g DTAC but the big problem with a 6mm is that they are so easy to load for and just stupid accurate that they get boring LOL!!

i love the load development part of shooting just as much as the one hole groups...as i said i was out earlier playing with some 107g SMKs at 100yds....ive shot 3 bullets in this barrel now 115g DTACs,105g berger hybrids and now the 107g SMKs and everyone of those bullets will shoot 1 hole groups at 3050FPS +or- a few FPS...the top row(#4)is 42g of H4350 at 3048FPS 2- 3 shot groups.

Reloading and load development are next year's goal for me