New Barrel Break In

[terrapinflyer25]

I'm sorry if this has been posted before I did a search and came up short on CGN.
So I am getting two different stances on breaking in a new barrel. Some say that you need to clean after ever 5-10 rds and some say that this is some new fad that makes no difference. I have never heard this till about 10 days ago and have been in this sport for over 12 years. What is your stance?

[Mail Clerk]

terrapinflyer25,

There is a method to breaking in a new barrel. Many bench rest shooters use the method in which they clean the bore every 5 rounds of fire in order to ring out the best for every shot made. Look up on the internet and you'll find many articles and opinions on the method described. Some people modify the method a little but the ending is basically the same.

Mail Clerk

[stangman86gt]

I just did 1 shot clean 1 shot clean, until it stopped fouling so much after each shot. Then i went to 3s and clean until the fouling was down, then i went to 5s and clean until the fouling wasn't there.

From what I've read you're not really breaking in the barrel, but taking the crossways ridges out of the throat.

[terrapinflyer25]

terrapinflyer25,

There is a method to breaking in a new barrel. Many bench rest shooters use the method in which they clean the bore every 5 rounds of fire in order to ring out the best for every shot made. Look up on the internet and you'll find many articles and opinions on the method described. Some people modify the method a little but the ending is basically the same.

Mail Clerk

I read tuns of different people say lots of different stuff but I am wondering if its even necessary. What exactly is this "break in" doing?

[prob]

Barrel break in = Voodoo

Shoot your gun and take advantage of the new barrel.

Barrel break in can be a valuable tool - to barrel maintenance product manufacturers. Not so much to you.

I've done it both ways and have come to the conclusion that the time breaking in a barrel is much better spent developing accurate handloads.

[Jonathan Doe]

Many experts say that modern match barrels doesn't need to be broken in. But, I just do it for my own satisfaction.

[terrapinflyer25]

Thats what I thought. I cant see any real reason to break in a barrel, just wanted some confirmation.

[Merc1138]

Thats what I thought. I cant see any real reason to break in a barrel, just wanted some confirmation.

Exactly, no one has ever come up with anything to prove that barrel break in accomplishes anything other than using up more cleaning supplies.

[kurac]

I have never "broken in" a barrel. When they are new sometimes they foul a little bit more so I just cleam them us usual after each range session. Basically I let them break in through normal use. I go to the range to enjoy myself not spend hours cleaning a new barrel.

[Merc1138]

Oh, and just because it hasn't been posted yet..

Barrel break-in:

[wooger]

Shoot, load, repeat.

[PressCheck]

Just Shoot It.

[jak77]

You did a search and nothing came up?

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=416540

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=452585

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=333560

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=291711

Someone asks this question every week.

Shoot the damn thing, that is your break in. These special procedures are a bunch of rubbish.

[voiceofreason]

I don't know nearly as much about such matters as others on this forum.

The only real advice I've ever been given in regards to breaking in/shooting RIFLE barrels is to not let them heat up too much ever, unless you're using it for serious social occasions. No less than 3 minutes between strings of 5. Just a "rule of thumb" I've heard from more than a few places, sometimes it's 5 minutes.

Never heard of anyone breaking in a handgun.

some reading for anyone interested:

http://combatrifle.net/barrel_break-in.htm

[RandyD]

Look at 6mmbr.com, that is a benchrest site, its has numerous threads and posts on theories and personal experiences of breaking in barrels. Benchrest shooters replace barrels when their barrels begin shooting groups most rifle shooters would hope to achieve.

My personal opinion is, I would not take the time to break in a factory hunting rifle's barrel, but if I had an expensive match grade barrel, I would follow the manufacturer's recommended break in procedure.