Barrel broke in?

[RockyMtnMT]

This subject gets beat up a lot. I'm not asking opinions on whether or not to break in. I want to know how you all determine when a barrel is successfully broken in. Round count or fouling or something else?

 

[sp6x6]

After I shoot a 6x6,ha coulnt resist Steve

 

[Jud96]

When the barrel stops speeding up and velocity plateaus is when I consider a barrel broke in. That may take 50 shots or 150 shots.

 

[RockyMtnMT]

When the barrel stops speeding up and velocity plateaus is when I consider a barrel broke in. That may take 50 shots or 150 shots.

Are you cleaning constantly during this process?

 

[Jud96]

Are you cleaning constantly during this process?

No more than usual. If the barrel stops shooting or if the fouling looks visibly excessive, I'll clean it. Then continue to shoot until it needs cleaned. I don't clean excessively. Once it's broke in I'll clean every 100-150 shots or clean if the gun gets rained on or really dirty hunting.

 

[Shane Lindsey]

My recent RUM barrel was my first REMAGE.
I loaded up ten to get some velocity and do a
break in.
Cleaned it well prior to shooting.
Shot three over the magneeto speed then cleaned. Shot three more and cleaned. Shot four more and cleaned.
That was all I did. Don't know if it needed more or not.

Accuracy and fouling were consistent and done at round 11.

It sped up about 50 FPS at around 100 rounds.

I think I am done doing the 30 round "break ins".

 

[Shane Lindsey]

No more than usual. If the barrel stops shooting or if the fouling looks visibly excessive, I'll clean it. Then continue to shoot until it needs cleaned. I don't clean excessively. Once it's broke in I'll clean every 100-150 shots or clean if the gun gets rained on or really dirty hunting.

Is this generally what you do or cartridge dependent?

I have a hard time putting a rifle up that has that many rounds down it.
I feel guilty with the above RUM with 25 down it.

 

[milo-2]

I say a barrel is broken in after it speeds up. I chrono every rd until I know, anywhere from 30 - 125rds, though most are done by around 70.
Not getting into the specifics, but I will have cleaned a barrel 3 times by the time I have 150 rds down it, Then I try get 2-300 rds before cleaning again.
I am monitoring the barrel with either a Teslong or Hawkeye borescope before I clean, looking for Hot spots.

 

[MagnumManiac]

On a custom LAPPED barrel, breaking in is virtually not needed...however, shooting a NEW barrel, does need some care.
I have heard it mentioned that the throat needs running in...I don't see how because all of my chambers are polished after cutting them, should be no burrs after this.
On a factory BUTTON RIFLED barrel, some break in is required. I normally shoot 1/clean for a total of 10 times, and only with patches and good solvent like Hoppe's Benchrest.
Hammer forged barrels may never break in, however, if you know a good smith that can lap a barrel properly, then you could have this done.
I believe a barrel is seasoned when it speeds up and becomes stable.
Just like a racing engine block may take several heatings and cooling's before the bores fully stay round.

Cheers.

 

[Painless300]

My regiment on a new barrel is always clean before the first shot to make sure all cutting oil and debris is removed. Then load up 50 rounds at minimum book loads. Remove ejection plunger to fire form all brass. Shoot 1 and clean, shoot 5 and clean, shoot 10 and clean. Shoot the remaining 34 rounds then clean. I always run my magneto speed to monitor speed. I will then load up another 20 rounds and run a pressure test, again over magneto speed and record all MV's. I will usually start my load work up and by the end the barrel is pretty much broken in. 100 - 150 rounds.

 

[RockyMtnMT]

We have been cleaning before shooting then shooting a few and cleaning to see if there is any copper fouling. If fouling is present then staying with several shots then clean until fouling ends.

With our bullets we rarely see copper fouling so we have pretty much abandoned any formal procedure. I will try and monitor vel farther in the load count to see if I can see any further gain in vel. Seems to be a consensus that the barrel will continue to gain speed until finished.

I have always felt like I am cleaning life out of a barrel when following a full break in procedure. Particularly if there us no copper fouling present.

 

[Shane Lindsey]

We have been cleaning before shooting then shooting a few and cleaning to see if there is any copper fouling. If fouling is present then staying with several shots then clean until fouling ends.

With our bullets we rarely see copper fouling so we have pretty much abandoned any formal procedure. I will try and monitor vel farther in the load count to see if I can see any further gain in vel. Seems to be a consensus that the barrel will continue to gain speed until finished.

I have always felt like I am cleaning life out of a barrel when following a full break in procedure. Particularly if there us no copper fouling present.

I tend to think the opposite...Like not cleaning I am reducing life of the barrel... I just can't let myself let a barrel have more than 100 rounds through it before cleaning.

 

[Painless300]

Once my barrels are broken in and speed levels out I normally clean every 100 rounds unless accuracy falls off or its going to sit a while. If I'm putting the rifle away for several months I always run a little coated oil patch down the bore.

 

[milo-2]

I tend to think the opposite...Like not cleaning I am reducing life of the barrel... I just can't let myself let a barrel have more than 100 rounds through it before cleaning.

Once my barrels are broken in and speed levels out I normally clean every 100 rounds unless accuracy falls off or its going to sit a while. If I'm putting the rifle away for several moths I always run a little coated oil patch down the bore.

Cleaning regimens are unique to the individual, as is load development.
I have owned a Hawkeye borescope for 8-9 yrs, plus a teslong, I would not advocate to anyone to do what I do.
Spending just a short time cleaning a rifle after a range session would eliminate issues for a lot of us. Unfortunately I usually do not have the enthusiasm to do so.
Powder choice alone will dictate how and when one cleans.