New Rifle Break in ??

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Turkeytider

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Wondering what the general thought is as far as breaking in a new rifle is concerned. Aside from the obligatory zeroing in, is there a thought that a number of rounds ( 200? 300? more? less? ) is necessary/ beneficial in order for a rifle to " settle in" ? My apologies for a question that is both basic and no doubt been asked before, but I`m a newbie with recreational/ hunting rifle shooting. Thanks in advance everyone.
 
I clean and oil from the box, shoot it, run a wet patch followed by dry every magazine, and see what comes out. Most factory barrels will catch copper and fouling so break in for me generally lasts as long as it takes to sight in the scope and work out bugs.

If something shoots particularly dirty or comes that way second-hand I’ll reach for Sweets followed by CLP and Bore Paste. If things aren’t sorted in 30 rounds you should call (post here) for back up.
 
The main reason for break in is to remove burrs and edges left by tooling when the chamber was cut. If you got the rifle that was made right after a new tool was installed, you may not have the same break in period as the last rifle made before the tool change.
I own several Savage 110's and Axis, and they all shoot fine right out of the box. I do clean the chamber and bore every 5 to 10 rds until I've got at least 50rds through, but that's just my preference, maybe not even be necessary.
 
All rifles shoot better after a few rounds have been fired through them. But I don't believe in the routine of cleaning after firing every 1-2 rounds until you have fired X number of rounds, then again after every 3-5 rounds, and again after every 5-10 rounds. You'll end up firing 100-200 rounds and cleaning the barrel 15-20 times. Chances are good it will be more accurate than at the start.

But it won't be any more accurate than if you'd just used the rifle normally and fired the same number of rounds cleaning when it was dirty. Every rifle barrel is different. Some seem to get to peak accuracy after around 10-12 rounds, others may continue to improve until you're over 100 rounds.

The only advantage I see to the clean after every few rounds routine when new, is that the barrel will be easier to clean the 1st few times.
 
I don’t really see any great advantage to the extreme break in routines. It may make a difference on a serious target rifle, but, then again it may not. They start with custom made barrels. Supposedly it does reduce copper fouling

My E R Shaw 250 Savage was cleaned two or three times during the first 50. Or so. Now has over 300 thru it and accuracy has not degraded and little copper fouling shows. However it only burns 34 grains of powder and just makes 2800 fps
 
Over the counter factory rifles...I just clean before shooting, then shoot and clean after 20 rds or so.

Custom barrels, I follow the manufacturers break-in recommendations. My final receipt from PacNor arrived last week and contained their break in recommendations that pretty much mirror those from Bartlein. Break-in for me isn't really the arduous task it is for others. Range is out back, I'm zeroing and working on load development while I'm doing it. First 3 rounds using the OCW method are pressure test rounds anyway, so it's not a waste.

Also it's good to note that most of the recommendations I've followed tell you to watch what the barrel is telling you as to how much cleaning it needs. From Bartlein:

Shoot one round and clean for the first two rounds individually. Look to see what the barrel is telling you. If I’m getting little to no copper out of it, I sit down and shoot the gun. Say 4 – 5 round groups and then clean. If the barrel cleans easily and shoots well, we consider it done.
Click to expand...

https://www.bartleinbarrels.com/how-to-break-a-barrel-in

I've not noticed an increase in accuracy by performing a break in, but I have observed a decrease in the amount of fouling.
 
Break in? Shoot it

A NEW rifle, most likely, has a NEW scope mounted on it.

However many rounds (5-10) you need to get the scope on target, run a couple patches through the barrel.

Shoot a few groups (10-20 rounds) to check accuracy.
Run a couple patches
Shoot a different brand or bullet weight.

Broke in a it gonna get.
Shoot it and gave fun.
Like stringent said, if it isn't a serious target/benchrest rifle, no need to get technical.
 
I like to do a light lapping on a new barrel with JB before shooting it. I figure smoothing out the last few burrs and machine marks (or some of them) can't hurt. I've "saved" a couple of neglected ml and smoke from fire barrels before.
 
“Break-in” isn’t a process or a round count.
It’s an Event! Bring sandwiches! :)
How does one break in a new motorcycle? By shooting it, I mean, riding it!:D

Get out, use it. See what it likes, clean it. Shoot it some more, look at it. Fiddle with the glass, clean it some. Shoot it cold, shoot it hot. Empty the ammo can, collect the targets and bras.

Take it home, scrub it clean and marvel at the day.

Enjoying the rifle! That is my thought on it. Breaking it in is an excuse for me to go out and play with my new toy. (Or “work with a new tool” for you grown up, serious types. Yes it is to the same thing!:p) Putting in the rounds to know my weapon.

Turkeytider said:
200? 300? more? less?
Click to expand...
I assume this isn’t a 458 Winchester Magnum, right?
How much is 200 rounds of 300 WM? Both of those sound painful, one to my wallet the other to my wallet and shoulder, neck, retinal nerves…;)
 
Demi-human said:
“Break-in” isn’t a process or a round count.
It’s an Event! Bring sandwiches! :)
How does one break in a new motorcycle? By shooting it, I mean, riding it!:D

Get out, use it. See what it likes, clean it. Shoot it some more, look at it. Fiddle with the glass, clean it some. Shoot it cold, shoot it hot. Empty the ammo can, collect the targets and bras.

Take it home, scrub it clean and marvel at the day.

Enjoying the rifle! That is my thought on it. Breaking it in is an excuse for me to go out and play with my new toy. (Or “work with a new tool” for you grown up, serious types. Yes it is to the same thing!:p) Putting in the rounds to know my weapon.


I assume this isn’t a 458 Winchester Magnum, right?
How much is 200 rounds of 300 WM? Both of those sound painful, one to my wallet the other to my wallet and shoulder, neck, retinal nerves…;)
Click to expand...

I like this approach! Not a bad one to apply to life in general for that matter!
 
Love this site for advice, just keep making me more and more customers. I buy the rifles you turn into tomato stakes, and re-barrel them, break them in properly and they become match shooters.
 
Here’s a reality - your rifle will speed up, with the same ammunition, for the first hundred to 200 rounds fired. How and why doesn’t truly matter, only that it can, does, and will.

In most cases, that means powder charge nodes can, do, and will slightly shift or redefine their bounds during that time, and of course, the velocity shift will change the relationship between POA and POI.

So yes, barrel break in does mean something.
 
I just do what it says in the respective owner's manual. Usually it is very basic.
 
Chuck R. said:
Over the counter factory rifles...I just clean before shooting, then shoot and clean after 20 rds or so.

Custom barrels, I follow the manufacturers break-in recommendations. My final receipt from PacNor arrived last week and contained their break in recommendations that pretty much mirror those from Bartlein. Break-in for me isn't really the arduous task it is for others. Range is out back, I'm zeroing and working on load development while I'm doing it. First 3 rounds using the OCW method are pressure test rounds anyway, so it's not a waste.

Also it's good to note that most of the recommendations I've followed tell you to watch what the barrel is telling you as to how much cleaning it needs. From Bartlein:



https://www.bartleinbarrels.com/how-to-break-a-barrel-in

I've not noticed an increase in accuracy by performing a break in, but I have observed a decrease in the amount of fouling.
Click to expand...

Good advice.
 
I'm no rifle guru but I simply don't worry about it much. I clean a new rifle, shoot a few rounds and push a patch or 2 and then just clean as usual. I'm not going for sub moa groups or working with precision rifles but for regular shootin' guns, that's always been just fine for my needs. No fuss , no need to freak out. Just shoot.
 
Well, the ladies around here do especially appreciate accurate rifles…:cool:
Ahem, brass! I mean brass!:D

Armorer 101 said:
I buy the rifles you turn into tomato stakes,
Click to expand...
Not from just break in. And barrels worth rebarreling with usually aren’t harmed from a lack of “break in”.
A Lilja is not going to be damaged from a lack running a bronze brush down it after the first shot…
 
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