Reallllllly broken in

I have one I bought for about $250 back in the day. It has north of 15k rounds shot out of it, I only cleaned it once…. the day I got it. I used to store it in a gun safe barrel down (trying to save floor space) and the firing pin stuck out causing a slam fire. That’s the only issue it’s ever had, I shot a little brake cleaner down the firing pin hole and it’s been happy ever since.

Those things were cheap, the finish was terrible, not very accurate, it rattled like nothing was tight but man they run like nothing I’ve ever seen. I’ve seen the hand guard smoking when it had a bump stock on it. I’ve seen it dunked In a bucket of water when it got to hot and someone else wanted to shoot, great for the temper I’m sure. When the bump stock was on it people loved to do a mag dump with a drum mag, pointless I’m aware but it sure turned frowns upside down. It has been treated about as bad as a gun can be treated.

An interesting question, particularly for a new rifle shooter such as myself. Is there really such a thing as a rifle " break in " ? If so, how does that square with the accuracy guarantee that comes with some rifles ? If indeed some/all rifles do " settle in " after so many hundred (? ) rounds, do some owners give up on some guns too soon? Some of you folks that have owned a multitude of rifles for many years can answer this one. Thanks.

Turkeytider said:

An interesting question, particularly for a new rifle shooter such as myself. Is there really such a thing as a rifle " break in " ? If so, how does that square with the accuracy guarantee that comes with some rifles ? If indeed some/all rifles do " settle in " after so many hundred (? ) rounds, do some owners give up on some guns too soon? Some of you folks that have owned a multitude of rifles for many years can answer this one. Thanks.

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Oh boy there are so many things that people do with new rifles, from one shot and clean shot clean....on and on. To running X rounds through and then clean.

Personally I have never done any of that stuff on my new rifles. I will not go crazy and shoot as quick as I can, but shoot, wait a min, generally record just what did what, and shoot again.

Many folk have a procedure they swear by, only thing is there is no solid proof that any of them really do anything, as each rifle is a little different from her brother.

Eaglegunz said:

250$ is good if I can find one at this price

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You'll have to go back to 2005 or so for that kind of a deal.

Eaglegunz said:

250$ is good if I can find one at this price

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Good luck, I havn't seen one for that in 20 years

Turkeytider said:

An interesting question, particularly for a new rifle shooter such as myself. Is there really such a thing as a rifle " break in " ?

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Yes, barrel break in is a real thing. (Not to be confused with any kind of break in “process” or “procedure”). No, that’s not the context of this OP’s particular thread here about a high roundcount AK clone. But yes, barrels do change in their early life - typically barrels will speed up with “break in,” which stabilizes after 100-250 rounds (typical ballpark). Some barrels speed up more than others - I’ve had some pick up 20-40fps, I’ve had others pick up 80-140fps… not sure I’ve ever had one pick up more than that though.

Turkeytider said:

If so, how does that square with the accuracy guarantee that comes with some rifles ?

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In my experience, our effort figuring out loads improves precision during early barrel life is what improves precision, much moreso than barrels breaking in. Most do tighten up a bit as they stabilize, but 1.5” groups don’t shrink to 1’s and 2’s, and again, it’s probably far more to do with our direct input efforts rather than barrels “starting to sing”. If a rifle doesn’t shoot out of the box, it’s never going to shoot.

gotboostvr said:

You'll have to go back to 2005 or so for that kind of a deal.

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On an AK? More like '91....

Do any of you guys check Headspace, with a No-Go gauge?

One of my all-matching Imported AKMs had. no more than about 3,000 rounds total, and Failed the brand-new No-Go gauge I bought.

It was a really attractive stamped (receiver) MAK-90, normally considered very good quality.

This is pretty rare considering the moderate round count and the gun’s origin. A very limited number in that country had barrels inserted either without a final headspace check- or possibly had an oversight when a barrel pin was inserted.

This failure with the gauge was verified Here by seasoned gun shop staff who are very familiar with AKMs and how to use the gauges..

I certainly informed the guy who wanted the gun in order to use the —Other Components— as spare parts.

I know squat about AK assembly.
Is there a specific way to use the gauges, as opposed to other firearms? and what parts changed relationship from when you originally checked it, to when it failed the no-go test?

Varminterror said:

Yes, barrel break in is a real thing. (Not to be confused with any kind of break in “process” or “procedure”). No, that’s not the context of this OP’s particular thread here about a high roundcount AK clone. But yes, barrels do change in their early life - typically barrels will speed up with “break in,” which stabilizes after 100-250 rounds (typical ballpark). Some barrels speed up more than others - I’ve had some pick up 20-40fps, I’ve had others pick up 80-140fps… not sure I’ve ever had one pick up more than that though.



In my experience, our effort figuring out loads improves precision during early barrel life is what improves precision, much moreso than barrels breaking in. Most do tighten up a bit as they stabilize, but 1.5” groups don’t shrink to 1’s and 2’s, and again, it’s probably far more to do with our direct input efforts rather than barrels “starting to sing”. If a rifle doesn’t shoot out of the box, it’s never going to shoot.

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Appreciate it, sir. So, it may be ( and probably is ) more about finding gun load/bullet preferences early on that leads to a rifle " hitting its stride ". I think for me it`s been a combo of that plus working on my shooting technique, particularly with my .17HMR. It`s been much more challenging than my .223.

Turkeytider said:

Appreciate it, sir. So, it may be ( and probably is ) more about finding gun load/bullet preferences early on that leads to a rifle " hitting its stride "

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Finding a load the barrel likes, and breaking it in are two different things.

It has been observed that a new barrel will shoot the same load to higher velocities during/after break in (and then lower velocities once it's "shot out").

gotboostvr said:

Finding a load the barrel likes, and breaking it in are two different things.

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Which I described in my post above which he was quoting:

Varminterror said:

barrels do change in their early life - typically barrels will speed up with “break in,” which stabilizes after 100-250 rounds (typical ballpark). Some barrels speed up more than others - I’ve had some pick up 20-40fps, I’ve had others pick up 80-140fps… not sure I’ve ever had one pick up more than that though.

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Varminterror said:

In my experience, our effort figuring out loads improves precision during early barrel life is what improves precision, much moreso than barrels breaking in. Most do tighten up a bit as they stabilize, but 1.5” groups don’t shrink to 1’s and 2’s, and again, it’s probably far more to do with our direct input efforts rather than barrels “starting to sing”. If a rifle doesn’t shoot out of the box, it’s never going to shoot.

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NIGHTLORD40K said:

On an AK? More like '91....

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Bought my first AK in either 06 or 07, it was $320 out the door after taxes and some ammo. At a lgs not known for low prices.it was a WASR with black plastic furniture, no wood.

DeepSouth said:

Bought my first AK in either 06 or 07, it was $320 out the door after taxes and some ammo. At a lgs not known for low prices.it was a WASR with black plastic furniture, no wood.

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I used to see NIB Norincos stacked 10 high at the gunshows back in the early '90s. Gun, 3 mags, 200 rounds of ammo, bayonet, oil bottle, sling, and cleaning kit......for $250, lol.

SKS the same way were $89 each or 2/$150!

Varminterror said:

Which I described in my post above which he was quoting:

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Sorry, I'm curled up sick on the couch. My reading comprehension isn't what it normally is.

NIGHTLORD40K said:

I used to see NIB Norincos stacked 10 high at the gunshows back in the early '90s. Gun, 3 mags, 200 rounds of ammo, bayonet, oil bottle, sling, and cleaning kit......for $250, lol.

SKS the same way were $89 each or 2/$150!

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Yep, I miss those days. I bought a new SKS for under a $100 around 95/96. Ended up trading it for a CD player, that guy sold it back the same pawn shop who put it back up for sale used at $300 after the Clinton ban.

gotboostvr said:

Sorry, I'm curled up sick on the couch. My reading comprehension isn't what it normally is.

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Hope you’re up and around soon!

Unconverted saigas up until they were banned from import were pretty darn cheap. It was the conversion process that could get pricey, especially if you went down the Klone Korrect rabbit hole.

I have a Romainian M-69 .22lr Trainer with a pretty dang high round count, easily 25,000 +
When Im brain shooting Caribou from 50 feet in a boat, and adding that to all the small game I hunt, I make that rifle there the number # meat maker I have.
Slathered in primer paint to keep the Ocean rust away, the bore is crisp and sweet, all functions are good, but i find myself tipping the gun to be sure the shell clears apon ejection, as 1 in 10 willl go straight up and back down in the action, about 6 inches...LOL!!

I also have a 9mm Hungarian PR9 pistol that was measured "No Go" about 2,000 rounds ago. I measured it around the 5,000 round mark about 10 years back, but figured, "Who me, worrie?" LOL!!
It sat in a safe for 5 years and a few years back I bought a couple cartons of 9mm and now Im out. No split cases, no backed primers, no wash along the case, no peening or set back in the lugs or slide breech face, just a happy hungy and me popping targets 50 yards+.