Barrel Break-ins

[vtbluegrass]

Anyone ever have a new rifle that maybe didn't shoot great or how you expected at first get better after completeing the break in procedure. I am about halfway thru the break-in instruction that came with the barrel and am not all that impressed just yet. I ask because the guns I have had in the past just shot well out of the gates. Never was a believer in break-in because mainly you get conflicting answers and what not. My last Remington in 223 shot half moa with first group I shot after getting on paper.
Basically just looking to see if any out there have seen real improvements after the first 50 to 100 rounds. This is a stainless Lothar barrel chambered in 6.5 grendel by the way.

 

[taliv]

yes. i have had custom barrels that shot sub-MOA from the first rounds. I have had others (on the same action) that shot like crap for the first 30+ and then tightened up very nice.

 

[Geno]

The real benefit of breaking in the barrel is to smooth the lands. Smooth lands result in less fouling, thus extended sessions between cleanings. Too, each cleaning is easier, when you do clean. With my Remington M700 Police, after a few dozen rounds, I just run a cloth patch with CLP, then a dry patch. Done. Of course, the police barrels are parkerized inside.

Geno

 

[kimbernut]

Break-in

I'm no barrel expert and I didn't stay in a Holiday Inn Express last night but after trying the break-in procedure on several new rifles I tried just shooting the next few. I could tell no difference. My two rifles that shoot the tightest groups are from the no break-in group.

 

[Damon555]

From what I've seen it makes no difference. Breaking in a barrel will do nothing that following a normal clean and shoot regiment won't do.....

Here is some good info from a man who knew much more about it than all of us combined....

http://www.6mmbr.com/gailmcmbreakin.html

 

[NCsmitty]

Are you shooting factory ammo or reloads? I really doubt that the Lothar Walther barrel is not up to their usual high standards. The ammunition that you're using would be more suspect, but more info is needed.

You may see a small increase in accuracy as the round count increases during break in, but if it's an AR platform, there may be other factors involved causing less than stellar accuracy.


NCsmitty

 

[vtbluegrass]

I am shooting both Hornady Match ammo and some reloads so far with 123gr a-max bullets. AR platform built by a reputable manufacturer. I am getting a vertical group that trends downward about 1.5".

 

[NCsmitty]

Tips for vertical stringing.

http://www.6mmbr.com/verticaltips.html


NCsmitty

 

[DoubleTapDrew]

I don't think the extensive barrel break-ins (like cleaning after every shot for the first 50 rounds or whatever) make any difference. If it did, there would be measurable, quantifiable results somewhere, but there are not. I think manufacturing tolerances make much more difference (in factory barrels anyway, not talking about megabucks hand-lapped barrels).
The only promise I'm seeing so far is with those tubbs bullets. I still need to do more testing, but after about 200 rounds through my RRA LAR-8 (.308 AR-10 design) with a 16" barrel the best groups I was getting from the most accurate factory ammo thus far (federal gold medal match 168gr) was 1.5-2" at 100yds. I did the 50 bullet tubbs system and finally got a break in the weather to try it this weekend and the same best shooting round (FGMM 168) shot a .842" 5-shot group at 100yd (previous groups were 3 shot).
I think I may have gotten it too warm because it started doing some vertical stringing, and excluding shots 4 and 5 the first 3 were .342" I'll try some more later and let it cool (cooling time this round was the time it took me to load another 5 rounds in the mag).

 

[taliv]

Here is some good info from a man who knew much more about it than all of us combined....

what on earth would lead you to that conclusion?

 

[jerkface11]

You don't break in a barrel with a patch or a brush. If its going to break in shooting will do it.