Barrel break-in "recipe"

[06Shooter]

My Garand (6XXXXX, April '42) is at Springfield Armory having a new barrel installed (Yes! They still do that! For only $125!). When I get it back, I don't want to use my regular load of IMR4895 and 147 Gr FMJBT (I consider rounds fired for break-in to be wasted but necessary).

I have some
- 150 Gr Speer Flatnose
- 170 Gr Hornady Flat Point
- 150 Gr Hornady Spire Point
- 150 Gr Hornady BTSP

These are all lead-tipped bullets I inherited and really have no plans for them, under the assumption that they're low BC projectiles. I only hunt paper and prefer FMJBT or match bullets.

For alternate powders, I have H and IMR 4831, IMR4064, IMR 4350, IMR4320, IMR3031, W680, W748, and W760. The array of loads one finds via Google is mind boggling, but I'll bet someone here has been in my shoes before and has a quick answer.

I'd appreciate any thoughts/ideas/opinions on the subject.

About the "new" barrel (for those that may be interested). T'was listed on Ammogarand.com a few months back, unissued SA-6-52 barrel, still packed in cosmolene and wrapped in cheesecloth. It's replacing a '49 SA barrel with "EXEL" stamped on the side, which means it was in Korea that the muzzle was worn before being reimported.

Thanks all!

[gorblimey]

Welcome to Calguns!

I was going to write something humorously crude and vitriolic before realizing that a new poster's tender sensibilities may be adversely affected, so instead I will offer this.

If you haven't already, please look into Gale McMillan's thoughts on the matter. He was (RIP) an expert's expert, and happily unafflicted by barrel break-in concerns, other than that people do it and waste their time, ammo, and barrel life.

[NotEnufGarage]

In other words, "Just Shoot It"!

Cleaning between rounds can do more harm than good.

If the barrel is properly installed, chambered and headspace, it's ready to go from the gunsmith. The only possible reason it might need breaking in is if the smith used less than ideal reamers and left a burr in the rifling, which will burn off with round count.

Your cleaning rod might actually damage the rifling. Be sure to use a barrel guide to minimize it or use a wood cleaning rod and if you're really worried use something like a bore snake or nylon brush instead of bronze/brass/copper brushes.

[problemchild]

In other words, "Just Shoot It"!

Cleaning between rounds can do more harm than good.

If the barrel is properly installed, chambered and headspace, it's ready to go from the gunsmith. The only possible reason it might need breaking in is if the smith used less than ideal reamers and left a burr in the rifling, which will burn off with round count.

Your cleaning rod might actually damage the rifling. Be sure to use a barrel guide to minimize it or use a wood cleaning rod and if you're really worried use something like a bore snake or nylon brush instead of bronze/brass/copper brushes.

Seems the ones I break in shoot like crud and the ones I "just shot" shoot very well. Never again.

[brianinca]

I've rebarreled 3 Garands and had another rebarrled when it was built up into a match rifle. Breaking the barrel in is not an issue. Just don't shoot it so fast it gets real hot. I use a muzzle guide on everything I have to clean from the muzzle, your crown is important. I also don't use brushes any more, just foamy cleaner and patches.

Whatever you use, make sure it's clean before you go, if they had to finish ream it there may be residue/metal left over. I'd clean the whole rifle thoroughly, for that matter. It's already been out of the stock and will take a half dozen clips to settle back in anyway, so you won't lose anything there.

How's the fit of the stock?

Regards,
Brian in CA

[GeoffLinder]

+1 to just shoot it. Break-in is a myth started by some barrel makers to get you to use your barrels up faster

[oddjob]

Another vote for shootin' her. My gunsmith said the same thing about the "myth" of breaking a barrel in.

[uscbigdawg]

Another for just shooting it. From JP, it's a relic of a need to do so. That said, the hypocrite in me took until my last barrel swap to do this. My old recipe FWIW was:

1 round & clean x 5
3 rounds & clean x 5
5 rounds & clean x 5

Done.

Rich

[06Shooter]

Thanks all for the good info, especially the Gale McMillan pointer, - clearly I don't need to concern myself with break-in, and I won't.

So what the heck do I do with all of these hunting projectiles?

BrianInCA - you asked about the fit of the stock - I guess it's OK. I've never noticed excessive play, but I'm sure it's not as snug as it should be. It'd be helpful to have access to other M1s for comparison.

[brianinca]

Having a solid lockup when you close the trigger guard means you want appreciable resistance when you've moved it up to close it. Having to give the trigger guard a good smack to seat it is desirable. If if closes easily, that's a problem for any kind of accuracy work. There are a bunch of other detail issues that affect accuracy. Feel free to PM me, don't want to crowd your barrel breakin thread. I like that ammogarand.com, that's PackRat's, right? Didn't catch that first time 'round.

Regards,
Brian in CA