Does Anyone Break-In Their Handgun Barrels?

Absolutely. Start by firing one shot, cleaning, firing another shot, cleaning, and repeat 100 times. You'll need to reassure yourself that the cleaning fluid is somehow magically doing something in between all of those shots, especially after the 10th or 11th shot when it gets really boring and tiring. But don't worry, the cleaning fluid is magic. It'll make the barrel more accurate....somehow.

Just shoot the hell out of it. Get in a lot of practice with that trigger. Now there's some magic......

I am sure that the break-in issue is controversial, but does anyone have an opinion about the subject in regard to handguns (either for accuracy or ease of cleaning)?

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I don't think there is any controversy. I don't think anyone breaks in handgun barrels

No "break in" per se. I clean it, lube it, do any parts polishing or adjustments I think it needs, and then shoot the heck out of it. After a few thousand rounds I consider it broken in.

No "break in" per se. I clean it, lube it, do any parts polishing or adjustments I think it needs, and then shoot the heck out of it. After a few thousand rounds I consider it broken in.

If you think you can discern a difference in the limits of mechanical accuracy between a handgun that has been "broken in properly" and one that has just been cleaned and then shot -- you are shooting too slowly!

Accuracy isn't the reason that barrel break-in is done. The reason is to wear down the machining nubs and burnish the steel, making it foul less readily...and it does seem to work.

Having the mindset from early on that two is one and one is none...I sometimes buy some guns in pairs. That was the case back in ninety-ought-four, when I picked up a pair of Ruger RSI International carbines in .308 caliber. Curious about barrel break-in...I decided to put it to the test.

One rifle was fired normally, cleaning the barrel about every 20-25 rounds. The other one was broken in by firing one shot...cleaning thoroughly...firing two shots...cleaning...and so on until I'd fired 10 rounds. The barrel that was broken in not only showed noticeably less jacket fouling...what was there was removed easier and faster than with the same number of rounds through the barrel that wasn't broken in.
After the test, I broken in the other one in the same manner, and got the same results.

I break in my semi-auto handgun barrels. At least, to burnish them up nicely--not for any other tweaking.

At least on the 1911s. They are fired with jacketed rounds only for the first 300-500 rounds. Although I've done no rigorous comparisons, it is my impression that doing so with the aftermarket (Bar-Sto, Heine) barrels fit to my SA 1911 yielded less leading after that period.

There is no doubt in my mind that doing so yielded less leading in the Kimber Target II 10 mm--not to mention wearing in the rest of the parts nicely.

Jim H.

I don't think there is any controversy. I don't think anyone breaks in handgun barrels

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I agree. Some may go through certain personal rituals with new handguns but in the long run that is all it is,ritual.

back in ninety-ought-four,

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9004? BC? Crimoney, you are old.

no i do not brake in a barrel of any kind unless on a precision long range rifle.

I break mine in by shooting it a lot after initial cleanig and lubrication is done.

I'm still trying to break my handgun barrels in after many thousands and in some cases tens of thousands of rounds. Somebody please let me know how I know when it is broken in? It's getting quite expensive.

No.

rc

No need to .....

Hello friends and neighbors // Other than a .22lr like a 6" S&W 617 with a tight twist, not really.
I treat long barrel .22 handguns like rifles, shoot mostly copper washed then clean ...repeat until I feel it is "seasoned" then I am less meticulous.

My .40s&w barrels I removed and stoned the sharp edges but did not worry about the rifling more than normal cleaning after use.

Don't worry about controversy, we are here to disscuss options, some folks think everyone should choose like they do,, oh well.

We don't all have the exact same background/taste/needs/availability and that is why THR works, nothing is ever settled completely just more light shed here and there.
I know I always learn something here.

Hello all,
The way I do it is I shoot about a thousand rounds of jacketed bullets in a new barrel, clean, then shoot about five hundred lead bullets coated with MICA, then clean.
Then I can shoot lead bullets at jacketed speeds with no leading whatsoever.

I haven't done that on the .22's but everything I'm going to shoot lead bullets in is done that way.

personally I much prefer to use the cheapest possible ammo I can find a wallyworld to break in new revolver barrels
cleaning frequency varies, mostly depends on when my hand gets tired, or run out of ammo
after a few thousand rounds, I will then shoot a box of the "good stuff" every now and then, just to be sure it really is broken in proper
which it always has been, of course

I have never "broken In" a handgun barrel. Just clean and lube it before its first trip to the firing line and shoot the hell out of it. I would never know if breaking in the barrel would do any good for me since my handgun shooting talents are not really great. I just have a lot of fun trying.

Not necessary, IMO. Handgun bullet velocities and accuracy potential are not sufficient to make any theoretical and almost unmeasurable difference.

I feel that the manufacturing processes leave a bit of residual roughness in the barrel. I like to use jacketed bullets to smooth the roughness and burnish the bore before I start shooting lead bullets. I get much less lead fouling that way. With .22s, I like to shoot a bunch of the copper wash stuff to do the same thing.

Your mileage may vary.

YES!!!

I clean the gun and then go to the range. I shoot a bunch of rounds and repeat for a number of years.

Absolutely! I start by limiting my shots to 25', then gradually increase the range as the barrel breaks in. Similar to a new refrigerator. Start by cooling liquids only. Beer is a good choice.

I read the "owner's manual" and proceed according to its recommendations.