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Rifles, Reloading, Optics, Equipment
Rifles, Bullets, Barrels & Ballistics
Barrel Break-in...necessary or not needed?
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<blockquote data-quote="J E Custom" data-source="post: 1701962" data-attributes="member: 2736"><p>This is just my experience with brake in.</p><p></p><p>Time was, That I didn't practice break in for barrels. I just shot and cleaned when convenient. When I did clean, I planed on spending quite a bit of time to get it back to what it was in the beginning and then re zeroing before going hunting.</p><p></p><p>After buying my first custom match rifle with instructions to do a simple break in, I decided I was going to follow the instructions and take good care of this rifle.</p><p></p><p>The first thing I noticed after break in was it's ease in cleaning. I thought it had more to do with the quality of the barrel than anything else. The rifle not only cleaned up fast (2 or 3 patches) but it retained it's zero. Some of the matches were 100 shots without any possibility of cleaning. Some of my other rifles took hours of scrubbing with strong solvents and patching after only shooting 40+ rounds.</p><p></p><p>Not convinced that break in had anything to do with this difference. I decided to do a break in on one of my other rifles that was notorious</p><p>for fouling and see if it made any difference. so every time I went to the range , I carried this rifle and continued the break in until I felt that It was as good as it would ever get. My records show that It took 60+</p><p>shoot and cleans and many trips to the range. At some point, I though Break in would never be over.</p><p></p><p>Finally, I went to the range to test the rifle to see if it realy made any difference. It was a different rifle. It went from a 11/2 to 2 MOA rifle to a consistent 3/4 to 1 MOA and the zero did not change. Armed with this information I was not looking forward to breaking in all of my other rifles, so I started with the worst.</p><p></p><p>Being a note taker and record keeper I noticed a huge improvement/decrease in the amount of patches and solvent used And in overall accuracy with all rifles that had been through the break in process. So in reality, even though I was cleaning more often, I was doing less brushing per 100 rounds so cleaning was reduced and some didn't need brushing at all just a swab.</p><p></p><p>A raw barrel bore has machine marks and discontinuities in it and lapping is the first step in making everything consistent. Break in puts the finishing touches on these differences as stated earlier. A factory barrel needs a lot more break in than a custom barrel does.</p><p></p><p>Cleaning a barrel doesn't automatically mean hurting a barrel. like anything else, improper procedures can do harm, while proper procedures can actually prevent harm. Also once I started using a bore scope I realized that fouling was worse in areas that had machine marks or discontinuities and areas that were smooth were clean and subject to more wear by the bullet. And the more frequent this fouling was removed, the longer it remained accurate.</p><p></p><p>When I started building and repairing firearms, I saw the results of things that were deemed to much trouble. And now I can look at a barrel bore and with almost 100% accuracy tell the person what he had done and what he had not done to cause the problem.</p><p></p><p>So cleaning and/or breaking in is up to the individual and what he wants from his barrel. I for one break in every barrel now whether it is a custom or factory barrel because I have seen the benefits. And the trouble to me is worth It.</p><p></p><p>Sorry about the long post.</p><p></p><p>J E CUSTOM</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="J E Custom, post: 1701962, member: 2736"] This is just my experience with brake in. Time was, That I didn't practice break in for barrels. I just shot and cleaned when convenient. When I did clean, I planed on spending quite a bit of time to get it back to what it was in the beginning and then re zeroing before going hunting. After buying my first custom match rifle with instructions to do a simple break in, I decided I was going to follow the instructions and take good care of this rifle. The first thing I noticed after break in was it's ease in cleaning. I thought it had more to do with the quality of the barrel than anything else. The rifle not only cleaned up fast (2 or 3 patches) but it retained it's zero. Some of the matches were 100 shots without any possibility of cleaning. Some of my other rifles took hours of scrubbing with strong solvents and patching after only shooting 40+ rounds. Not convinced that break in had anything to do with this difference. I decided to do a break in on one of my other rifles that was notorious for fouling and see if it made any difference. so every time I went to the range , I carried this rifle and continued the break in until I felt that It was as good as it would ever get. My records show that It took 60+ shoot and cleans and many trips to the range. At some point, I though Break in would never be over. Finally, I went to the range to test the rifle to see if it realy made any difference. It was a different rifle. It went from a 11/2 to 2 MOA rifle to a consistent 3/4 to 1 MOA and the zero did not change. Armed with this information I was not looking forward to breaking in all of my other rifles, so I started with the worst. Being a note taker and record keeper I noticed a huge improvement/decrease in the amount of patches and solvent used And in overall accuracy with all rifles that had been through the break in process. So in reality, even though I was cleaning more often, I was doing less brushing per 100 rounds so cleaning was reduced and some didn't need brushing at all just a swab. A raw barrel bore has machine marks and discontinuities in it and lapping is the first step in making everything consistent. Break in puts the finishing touches on these differences as stated earlier. A factory barrel needs a lot more break in than a custom barrel does. Cleaning a barrel doesn't automatically mean hurting a barrel. like anything else, improper procedures can do harm, while proper procedures can actually prevent harm. Also once I started using a bore scope I realized that fouling was worse in areas that had machine marks or discontinuities and areas that were smooth were clean and subject to more wear by the bullet. And the more frequent this fouling was removed, the longer it remained accurate. When I started building and repairing firearms, I saw the results of things that were deemed to much trouble. And now I can look at a barrel bore and with almost 100% accuracy tell the person what he had done and what he had not done to cause the problem. So cleaning and/or breaking in is up to the individual and what he wants from his barrel. I for one break in every barrel now whether it is a custom or factory barrel because I have seen the benefits. And the trouble to me is worth It. Sorry about the long post. J E CUSTOM [/QUOTE]
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Barrel Break-in...necessary or not needed?
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