[TheOtherOne]

I finally bought one yesterday and had a couple of questions... First off, the employee at the store told me that there is a breaking in period on AR's and that you should shoot one round, run a brush down the barrel, shoot another round, run a brush down the barrel, etc. for the first ten shots! That sounds kind of strange too me?

Second, are you suppose to oil the stock or anything? It looks kind of bad now because some of the oil has absorbed from the receiver onto it and it's all spotty.

And lastly, are these suppose to come with cleaning kits in the stock? It's a brand new bushmaster and it has a place where you could put one but there's nothing in there.

[AR-15Nutt]

in that case it is just a copy ;) i am a purist, only Colt ever made an AR-15 :D :D

forget that crap of shoot one round & clean forever !!:D if i had a dollar for every bit of bad advice on "breaking in" a new barrel or rifle i'd be the richest man on Earth !!

just shoot the darn thing & do a normal cleaning after, i took a brand new Bushmaster upper, run about 400 rounds thru it in about 2 hours, that upper now has about 2,000 rnds thru it & she still puts 20 holes in a paper plate at 100 out of 20 shots OFFHAND & 4X scope!!

no cleaning kit in stock, i think only Colt ever did that, if your stock is spotty take it back to the dealer or write Bushmaster a note, better yet call them i do when ever i need a question answered, they are good at replies........

[rugerfreak]

Don't worry about that break in nonsence---I don't even do that with my bolt actions and never had a problem----the Bushies chrome lined bore would make anyones excuses even less so.

The oil spots go away with use---just use it and don't worry about it----keep it wiped down----its not like you bought some wood-stocked beauty queen.

Colt's used to package cleaning kits with their guns----not any more. If you really have to have one---get a copy of the Shotgun News and start searching----plenty pf places selling the kits in there.

[RTFM]

Counter point.
Break in of an Olympic Arms Rifle/Barrel
http://www.olyarms.com/bblbreakin.html

The Fire, clean, treat/lubricate, and fire method.

1. Clean the barrel well. Make sure the patches come out clean and white. Use the cleaner of your choice, although we do not recommend ammonia-based cleaners. Use of a lead or copper solvent is OK; just make sure you have it cleaned/neutralized in the bore. Apply the lubricant/bore treatment. Dry the bore with a clean dry patch. Use the quality ammunition of your choice (some preferred brands mentioned above) and fire ONE round.

2. Repeat this process for the next 24 rounds. 3. At round 25, repeat step 1, instead firing 3 (three) rounds before cleaning and treating the barrel.

4. Repeat step 3 until you have fired 50 rounds total.

5. At round 51, repeat step 1, instead firing 5 (five) rounds between cleaning/treating the bore.

6. Repeat step 5 until you have fired 100 rounds total.

7. After firing round 100 (100 rounds total), clean and treat the bore as in step 1, and fire for group. Your barrel is now broken in, in accordance to our recommended method.


You may choose to use another method if you wish. Again, if you do choose a different method, or choose to accelerate the process this does not void your warranty. We do not recommend lapping of the barrel.

If you are interested, additional information can be found at www.riflebarrels.com.

I hope that this helps. If you have any further questions, or any comments please feel free to call us at 800-228-3471.


Counter point number 2
http://www.armalite.com/library/techNotes/tnote28.htm


February 5, 2003

TECHNICAL NOTE 28, Breaking in Match Barrels

PURPOSE: To instruct purchasers of ArmaLite® match rifles of proper break in procedures.

BACKGROUND: All new rifle barrels suffer from internal machine marks that can scratch passing bullets. Bullet jacket metal can foul the pores of the new barrel. Leading competitive shooters believe that breaking their barrels in properly can lead to better accuracy and longer life.

ArmaLite® has consulted with several barrel manufacturers. All with whom we have spoken advise us that breaking a barrel in with an abrasive of any sort reduces the accurate life of a barrel. This matches ArmaLite’s own observations: normal firing serves as a satisfactory break-in process if the barrel is properly cleaned during the process. We therefore no longer recommend the use of any abrasive for breaking in a barrel.

BREAK IN: ArmaLite® Match Rifle barrels are produced from a custom, target grade blank. For optimum accuracy and improved life expectancy, it MUST be properly broken in. We recommend the following procedure:

Remove any existing copper fouling from the barrel by using a high-quality copper-removing solvent like Hoppe’s No. 9.

Fire 11 single shots, each followed by about 20 strokes of a tight fitting patch bearing bore cleaner. Use a Parker Hale or other wrap-around style jag rather than a slotted jag. From 12 to 30 shots, clean after each 3 shots. From 31 to 50 shots, clean after each 5 shots. Clean thoroughly with a high quality bore cleaner every 10 shots until 100 shots. This time-consuming process will allow the barrel to smooth out without an accumulation of copper fouling in the pores of the steel. The barrel should thereafter be cleaned every 20 rounds for best match accuracy. Accuracy continues to improve for several hundred rounds.

ArmaLite® recommends the use of Black Hills moly coated .308 Win Match ammunition for both break-in and competition. We have believe that Black Hills moly coated ammunition reduces the break in period by half and lengthens the period between cleaning in matches. ArmaLite® stocks Black Hills brand ammunition.

VIRTUALLY EVERY ACCURACY PROBLEM IS CAUSED BY FAILURE TO CAREFULLY BREAK THE RIFLE IN, FAILURE TO USE HIGH GRADE MATCH AMMUNITION, OR POOR MARKSMANSHIP.





RTFM

[RTFM]

-rugerfreak-
Don't worry about that break in nonsence---I don't even do that with my bolt actions and never had a problem----the Bushies chrome lined bore would make anyones excuses even less so.


rugerfreak here is Bushmaster response for breaking in their barrels.

http://www.bushmaster.com/faqnew/content_by_cat.asp?contentid=136&catid=100

(Counter point number 3)
Breaking in a Stainless Steel barrel (published: 7/25/2003 11:37:25 AM)
Article # 136
Title Breaking in a Stainless Steel barrel

Abstract Breaking in a Stainless Steel barrel

Start by firing one shot and cleaning the barrel.
Do this five times.
Fouling between shots should be reduced.
If no improvement in fouling is seen then fire one shot and clean barrel for five more times. Then fire a string of three shots before cleaning barrel. Repeat this five times. After that fire a string of five shots before cleaning barrel. Repeat this five times. This should be enough to "polish" out the barrel so that it will have good accuracy and cleaning will be easier. Recommended procedure for thorough cleaning: In all cases it is vital that cleaning tools (brushes, patches, etc.) be pushed from the breech toward the muzzle and then removed from the rod at the muzzle end. DO NOT drag anything back through the muzzle. Clean the bore with a good bore solvent and patch dry. Run an oil patch through the barrel if putting the rifle up for any length of time.


RTFM

[geekWithA.45]

Don't bother.

I'm serious. I called them when earlier versions of their tech faqs weren't clear.

The guy said that the chrome lined barrels definately don't need break in, and you really only need to clean them when you notice a change in accuracy. :what: :what: (This sort of offends my sensibilities, so I give it a light cleanup after each trip to the range)

[Texas Gunman]

I just started shooting my new Bushy, no problems before or afterwards.
The oil spots, had the same problem, just take some cLP on a black cloth & wipe entire stock with CLP, end of spot problem.
You can get a entire GI cleaning kit for $15 to $20, that fits in your stock.

Happy shooting. :)

TG

[Nero Steptoe]

The posted bad advice about breaking in stainless barrels is irrelevant to rifles like the Bushy with chrome-lined barrels. Bushy says to shoot a couple of hundred rounds of fmj through them to polish the chrome.

I'll defer to the late Gale McMillan for advice on barrel break-in! :)

As to a Bushy just being a copy...it's a better copy than the copy that a Colt is...at least as far as being closer to mil-spec than Colts. It's no secret that Colt's are just clones also. They didn't build the first AR/M16-type rifles.

[Brian Dale]

VIRTUALLY EVERY ACCURACY PROBLEM IS CAUSED BY {a, b, or - here's the big one...} OR POOR MARKSMANSHIP.

Now THAT'S funny! :D I'm gonna have to remember that...

[BigG]

Colt... They didn't build the first AR/M16-type rifles. 'Smatter, jealous? Yes they did. The Colt Co. commercialized the AR15, which was more than Armalite could. The AR15 would be an abject failure except for the efforts of Colt.

[Omaha-BeenGlockin]

VIRTUALLY EVERY ACCURACY PROBLEM IS CAUSED BY FAILURE TO CAREFULLY BREAK THE RIFLE IN, FAILURE TO USE HIGH GRADE MATCH AMMUNITION, OR POOR MARKSMANSHIP.


Notice how they forgot to mention sometimes its a crappy manufacturor who puts out a lemon here and there???????????

[444]

Hard chrome is a very hard material. I seriously doubt that firing a few rounds through the barrel is going to do anything to it. Breaking in a barrel is the idea that as you shoot it, it smooths out the rough spots in the bore. Your bore has been chrome lined and I personally don't think it is going to "break in ".
The spots on the stock are no big deal to me. Like you said, it is just oil that got on the stock and since the stock is black, you notice it. Just wipe the stock off with a rag. If you still arn't happy then wipe more oil on the stock to make it an even coat. This will only result in the oil attracting dust and dirt along with making a mess of your shirt.
You can order a buttstock cleaning kit from Bushmaster, or you can buy them at the gunshow. I personally own one, but keep it in my range bag and not in the stock. I don't really want to add any more weight to the rifle than I have to. And, I don't want to use a jointed, steel cleaning rod in my rifle bores. However, there might come a time when you need a cleaning rod, so I bought the little GI kit and keep one in my range bag. It has never been opened.
Bushmaster makes a superior quality rifle. They also manufacture far more AR15s than anyone else. I believe they manufacture more AR15s than everyone else combined.
Everything you need to know about your rifle is in the instruction manual that came with it. The manual is very good if you are unfamiliar with the AR15 platform.
I have found the AR15 to be totally reliable. I have never had a malfuction that was not magazine induced other than one bad round of ammo. However, I keep my rifle clean and well maintained. Follow the instructions in the manual for cleaning it. Disassemble the bolt just like they say, and keep everything cleaned and lubed. It won't let you down.

[Quintin Likely]

Armalite, Olympic Arms, and Bushmaster list break in procedures mainly for their non-chrome lined match guns.

Wanna know how I broke in my 20" A3 Bushmaster? Patch down the bore, load magazines, fire. :)

Edited: Re. cleaning kits. You can buy an M16 cleaning kit that fits in the buttstock, although it uses a multi piece cleaning rod. I prefer the coated one piece cleaning rods myself, although I've been thinking about keeping a small bottle of CLP in the buttstock compartment.

[TheOtherOne]

Thanks for all the info! Here she is by the way:

http://www.layitlow.com/x/Guns/AR-15-A2-16inch-case.jpg
http://www.layitlow.com/x/Guns/AR-15-A2-16inch-1.jpg


Now I just need to wait for my regular magazines to get here. I did some searching on what kind to get and pretty much the consensus was USGI mags, but I ended up not liking the prices of the ones I did find and ordered five 30 round British Steel mags from ammoman.com and a couple of the 40 rounders from Bushmaster (even though I heard the bushmaster ones kind of suck -- but I just want them for the range anyways).

[Texas Gunman]

Here the one I have. :)



http://www.metrophotohost.com/gallery_0010/gallery_albums/TMO-Member-Favorite-Battle-Rifles/BUSHYreddot.jpg

Gotta lovem.


TG

[444]

TheOtherOne: I had that same rifle. Really nice rifle, I loved mine. I ended up sending the upper in to KKF and having it turned down to an ultra lightweight configuration and am using the lower on another set-up.
Magazines. The best all around magazines are the USGI. They arn't all that expensive. I recommend that you order one or two every payday until you get a dozen or so. Take six (or whatever you think is nessessary) and test fire them, then put them away as your serious business mags. The rest are practice. I held off buying the British, steel magazines until fairly recently. About a month ago I ordered six to try them out. I have probably fired close to a case of Wolf ammo through them since that time (including about 120 rounds tonight and more than that yesterday) and they seem to run great. I have only two complaints; twice the bolt didn't lock back when the mag was empty, and they have a tendency to jettison a round or two when they hit the ground during a speed reload. But, I bought them as my primary range magazines. I do a lot of practice involving speed reloads and it takes a toll on the magazines. I figured the steel ones would hold up a little better and I wouldn't care as much if I ruined them. I liked them well enough to order another six.
I have a couple of the 40 round mags and they don't run for me. I hope yours do better.
I buy all my magazines from CDNNinvestments.com I have been buying from them for years and have purchased easily a hundred mags of various types. I am not sure if they have the absolute best prices, but they usually have what I want and it gets here in a reasonable time. I would rather order from someone I know and trust than spend time shopping around to save five bucks. That being said, there are often good deals on the Equipment Exchange board at AR15.com

[MaxSE PT99]

TheOtherOne: How did you get ahold of my rifle.....;) ?