My new Christensen Arms Mesa

[DT556]

I just picked it up my Christensen Arms Mesa .308 from jail the other day. I'm new to the bolt gun game, and only have a Ruger Precision Rifle in 6.5 CM besides this. I went with a Vortex HS-T 6-24x50mm and Vortex Precision Matched rings. I think it's something decent for now, if I feel this scope is lacking I'll upgrade it to something better. I also picked up the Spartan Javelin carbon fiber bipod. I usually run Atlas bipods but really like the look of this and thought it fits perfectly on this rifle.

Since this is my first 'sub MOA' precision rifle, what are some things to know? How important is breaking in the rifle? What's the break in process? How should I clean it during the break in process? What ammo should I start with? Sorry for all the questions, I'm just new to this. Thanks!

[golfish]

That's a beauty. I'd sure like to shoot it

[pennstater]

Man, that is nice. Haven't messed with bolt rifles as of late, but, I like that one.
Good pick. Enjoy.

[Gunsrruss]

.308

Many hours of good entertainment there OP. I have many thousands of dollars in precision rifles I just couldn't buy just one... .308, 6.5 X 55, .223, and now 30.06

[Ramsh00ter]

break in

Bartlein Barrels has a pretty good write up about Breaking in a new barrel.

https://bartleinbarrels.com/break-in-and-cleaning/

Pretty close to what I do.

My MO is as follows:
Solvent of choice for me is Butch's Bore Shine. Many others work well.

1 shot
Clean-Patch Only
1 shot
Clean-Patch Only
1 shot
Clean-Patch Only
2 Shots
Clean-Patch, brush, Patch
2 Shots
Clean-Patch, brush, Patch
3 Shots
Clean-Patch, brush, Patch, Isso, Patch
5 shots
Clean-Patch, Brush, Patch
2-3 Fouler Shots
5 Shot for group (never expect anything great on the first group, just consistent).
Now comes a thorough cleaning and bore scope looking for cooper traces.

If the barrel is showing any signs of cooper fouling, I hit it with Isso again, then clean with a product called PROLIX. It has a dry lube suspended in a citrus based solvent, then run two wet patches of Prolix lube/oil down the barrel. Leave it set.

Next trip to the range, two dry patches to take out excess oil.

Never had a barrel to continue to copper foul after that.

Just helped a friend with a New Christian 308 with a 16" barrel. After the initial break in, he some very light copper streaks a few inches in front of the chamber. The above procedure cured it on the next trip to the range.

Regarding Cleaning patches, found these a few years ago and I love them. Good quality material that wraps well around a jag!

https://www.amazon.com/BoreSmith-Triangle-Patches-Premium-Cleaning/dp/B00Q668SCO

Here is their website:

http://store.rigelproducts.com/section5.html

This video shows them in use. Unfortunately they choose to use rifle that needs to be cleaned from the muzzle for the demo, but it gives you the idea.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=utgGZ3QKBaQ

Never been a fan of the heavy ammonia solvents, seen a few too many barrels destroyed with that stuff. One of our members brought me his Cooper 223 to check out the bore because it was shooting 3" groups. The inside the barrel looked like he had used a dremel tool to clean it, worst one I ever seen. Left Sweets in it for three days

Here is another good solvent:

https://ads.midwayusa.com/product/144092/kg-kg-12-big-bore-cleaning-solvent?utm_medium=shopping&utm_source=google&utm_campaign=Shooting%20-%20Gun%20Cleaning&utm_c

Just my procedure that has worked well for me.
There are many other ways to do it, none of them are wrong.

Its like beer, they are all good, just some better than others.

[NorCalFocus]

Very nice rifle sir. The only thing I'd suggest you look into is some type of cheek riser system.

[diver160651]

My new Christensen Arms Mesa

So you have an RPR in 65 creed;

How can the Christian arms be your first sub MO a rifle?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

[DT556]

So you have an RPR in 65 creed;

How can the Christian arms be your first sub MO a rifle?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

[DT556]

Bartlein Barrels has a pretty good write up about Breaking in a new barrel.

https://bartleinbarrels.com/break-in-and-cleaning/

Pretty close to what I do.

My MO is as follows:
Solvent of choice for me is Butch's Bore Shine. Many others work well.

1 shot
Clean-Patch Only
1 shot
Clean-Patch Only
1 shot
Clean-Patch Only
2 Shots
Clean-Patch, brush, Patch
2 Shots
Clean-Patch, brush, Patch
3 Shots
Clean-Patch, brush, Patch, Isso, Patch
5 shots
Clean-Patch, Brush, Patch
2-3 Fouler Shots
5 Shot for group (never expect anything great on the first group, just consistent).
Now comes a thorough cleaning and bore scope looking for cooper traces.

If the barrel is showing any signs of cooper fouling, I hit it with Isso again, then clean with a product called PROLIX. It has a dry lube suspended in a citrus based solvent, then run two wet patches of Prolix lube/oil down the barrel. Leave it set.

Next trip to the range, two dry patches to take out excess oil.

Never had a barrel to continue to copper foul after that.

Just helped a friend with a New Christian 308 with a 16" barrel. After the initial break in, he some very light copper streaks a few inches in front of the chamber. The above procedure cured it on the next trip to the range.

Regarding Cleaning patches, found these a few years ago and I love them. Good quality material that wraps well around a jag!

https://www.amazon.com/BoreSmith-Triangle-Patches-Premium-Cleaning/dp/B00Q668SCO

Here is their website:

http://store.rigelproducts.com/section5.html

This video shows them in use. Unfortunately they choose to use rifle that needs to be cleaned from the muzzle for the demo, but it gives you the idea.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=utgGZ3QKBaQ

Never been a fan of the heavy ammonia solvents, seen a few too many barrels destroyed with that stuff. One of our members brought me his Cooper 223 to check out the bore because it was shooting 3" groups. The inside the barrel looked like he had used a dremel tool to clean it, worst one I ever seen. Left Sweets in it for three days

Here is another good solvent:

https://ads.midwayusa.com/product/144092/kg-kg-12-big-bore-cleaning-solvent?utm_medium=shopping&utm_source=google&utm_campaign=Shooting%20-%20Gun%20Cleaning&utm_c

Just my procedure that has worked well for me.
There are many other ways to do it, none of them are wrong.

Its like beer, they are all good, just some better than others.

Thank you!!

[sawyc2]

I have the same rifle but in a 6.5 Creedmoor. When you received the rifle it should have had factory instructions on their procedure to break in the barrel. If not contact CA and they will send it to you.

[Stumpfenhammer]

Congrats, nice rifle: Barrel break-in is covered at the end of the linked document: https://www.proofresearch.com/wp-con...tionManual.pdf

Don't get to stressed over barrel break-in, in my experience it's not unusual for someone to over-clean their precision rifle barrel. Some barrels (Bartlein, Proof Research, Krieger) need very little break-in, while some (Savage and other button rifled) can require significantly more.

[DT556]

I have the same rifle but in a 6.5 Creedmoor. When you received the rifle it should have had factory instructions on their procedure to break in the barrel. If not contact CA and they will send it to you.

I originally wanted this rifle in 6.5 creedmoor, but their distributor was out of stock. I'm impatient so I got the .308.

Okay thanks, I'll take a look in the box.

[Ridin Dirty]

Congrats on the beauty.

[Scottie15]

Looks great!

My friend has a Ridgeline and did the procedure described by CA here:

https://christensenarms.com/barrel-break-in/

You'll need to bring a piece of carpet or shooting mat to put under the muzzle because the 360* break loves to kick up dirt... never understood the reasoning behind a 360* break on a hunting rifle.

Given the height of your 2 piece base+rings, you will need a cheek rest of some sort to get your eye high enough to see through the scope with a good cheek weld. I use the triad stock packs or a Karsten adjustable cheek rest.

If you are just going to use this as a paper/steel rifle, I'd pick up some Federal GMM 175 grain and see how it shoots. Enjoy!