Barrel Breaking

[Covelo-NdN]

Hello the highroad this message and is in regards to a barrel Breakin on a new rifle. The rifle is a Winchester model 70 extreme all weather chambered in the 7 mm magnum. I will be shooting Barnes TTSX. My question is how do I break in the barrel? I have never performed a barrel break-in however would like to with this rifle. Any help with this project is appreciated thanks.

If you could please provide a website with any research or data that may have helped you along the way I would appreciate it.

 

[Acera]

Check out this link.

http://criterionbarrels.com/barrel-break-in-procedure


Hope it helps.


.

 

[ford8nr]

The Criterion link gives a basic idea how I do it. Savage also has a breakin procedure on their site.
You'll get lots of just go shoot it replys on your question here.
My understanding is the cheaper the barrel the more breakin is required. My S&W AR15 was so rough it pulled tufts off a bore mop. Took 40 rounds to break in before I had limited copper fouling. My Howa 223 bolt only took 10 rounds.

 

[ford8nr]

My process is shoot 1 and clean with a copper solvent for the first 10 rounds. Then shoot 3 and clean until little to no copper shows up on the patch.
Howa has a interesting breakin procedure as it also has to do with initial barrel temp.
I've been told while breaking in a barrel may not be needed on some barrels it will definitely help others.
My Howa is a just over .7 MOA rifle with hand loads

 

[jmr40]

Clean the barrel before firing. Take to range and shoot. Clean barrel when dirty. All guns shoot better after they have had 50-200 rounds through them. It just depends on the individual barrel. The barrel can't count. It doesn't know or care whether you clean it once after 200 rounds or some crazy schedule where you clean after every 1, 3, 5, or 10 shots. Some barrels are rougher and need to be cleaned more often to prevent copper fouling from building up.

 

[ford8nr]

It doesn't know or care whether you clean it once after 200 rounds or somecrazy schedule where you cleanafter every 1, 3, 5, or 10 shots.

Actually it WILL know if you fire 200 rds through a rough barrel. At that point it will be so copper fouled you'll be hard pressed to de-foul it.
The process of break in has to do with not packing every imperfection with copper.
It's your gun do with it what you want.
Does Winchester have a procedure ?

 

[someguy2800]

For a hunting rifle I would clean first, then shoot 1 and clean for the first 5 shots, then shoot 5 times and clean and repeat 3 times. Go nuts after that. If it still copper fouls after that it was always going to.

 

[ford8nr]

Per Winchesters technical site

1. Home
   
2. Support
3. Frequently Asked Questions
4. What is the recommended procedure for breaking in a new barrel?

What is the recommended procedure for breaking in a new barrel?


For the first ten shots we recommend, if possible, using jacketed bullets with a nitro powder load. After firing each bullet, use a good copper cleaner (one that has ammonia) to remove copper fouling in the barrel. If you look into the end of the barrel after firing a shot, you will see a light copper-colored wash in the barrel. This must be removed before firing the next shot. Somewhere in the procedure at around shot 6 or 7, it will be obvious that the copper color is no longer appearing in the barrel. Continue applications through shot 10.

If you have any ammunition left, you then may shoot two rounds and clean it for the next ten shots. This is simply insurance that the burnishing process has been completed.

In theory what you have just accomplished is the closing of the pores of the barrel metal which have been opened and exposed through the cutting and lapping procedures.

The same process may be used with firing lead bullets and black powder to do the break-in procedure with the exception that in this case you should shoot 2 bullets before cleaning for the first 30 rounds. You could use harder lead if available. This will accelerate the break-in. This will accomplish the same thing as the jacketed bullets.

After following the procedure, your barrel's interior surface will be sealed and should shoot cleaner and develop less fouling for the rest of its shooting life.

 

[amflyer]

"In theory what you have just accomplished is the closing of the pores of the barrel metal which have been opened and exposed through the cutting and lapping procedures."

Aren't the Winchester barrels hammer-forged? And I would be surprised if any were lapped. I did find this on the Winchester site though. Interesting line, "If you have any ammunition left..."

 

[Damon555]

Everything you need to know......

http://yarchive.net/gun/barrel/break_in.html

 

[VoodooMountain]

Shoot it. That's how.

Barrel life starts to decrease after shot #1
There is verifiable evidence showing the break in procedure was put forth by barrel makers. One in particular whose name escapes me at the moment.

It may take a few shots to "settle" as there are going to be some rough spots that will smooth out but this whole voodoo of shoot 1 clean one etc. has zero statistical data or evidence to back it up and only serves to cause the shooter to spend way too much time cleaning and opening his wallet.

The barrel will also perform better with some copper fouling but for a hunting rifle all you need to worry about is the first shot or 2.

Not trying to be rude or judgmental and to each their own.

 

[Corn-Picker]

I shot about 500 rounds over two years before cleaning my Weatherby Vanguard S2 in 308 for the first time. Since then, I haven't cleaned it in a year and several hundred rounds. I haven't noticed any change in accuracy (it's MOA with Federal Match ammo and Barnes TSX factory ammo).

Maybe I could do better with hand loads and frequent cleaning, but if I were to list the top 100 reasons that I don't get a deer I doubt that the inherent accuracy of my rifle would make the list

 

[WVRJ]

The last barrel I bought was a Shilen stainless.In Ed Shilen's words,which said"A lot of shooters seem to be worried about breaking in a barrel,and ask how to do it.If you really feel you must have a procedure,clean every shot for 10 shots,then every five for 20 shots".He more or less said there isn't much to be gained.But,he's also talking about custom barrels that are most likely smoother to begin with.I have some really good shooting rifles that were never broke in.The new guns or barrels I get do get broken in by cleaning every shot for the first 10 rounds.I seriously doubt accuracy is any different,but I do it to be sure.

 

[Bart B.]

I've never broke in a barrel. Even arsenal broach rifled 7.62 barrels (not lapped but air gauged to .3076" to .3078" groove specs) in Garands shot sub MOA through 600 yards with commercial match ammo from the first shot fired.

All barrel's throats start eroding away down the barrel starting with the first shot and every one thereafter. .001" for every 10 shots for some way overbore cartridges.

 

[webrx]

i did clean with bore cleaner, then copper cleaner, then light oil every shot for 10 shots if no indication of copper fouling, then bore cleaner and oil every 3 shots for 15, then bore cleaner and oil every 5 shots for 25. That puts 50 rounds through the gun as break in. Not sure if all this is really needed, but, I did it and the last two rifles i did this with (6.5 stealth and .223 Howa Varmint) are both capable of .5 moa 5 shot groups at 100 (if the shooter is capable).

 

[pert near]

It's like the atheist caught praying just before his death - said it can't hurt any.

I recommend Shilen's procedure listed in post #13.

FWIW...

 

[RugerOldArmy]

Barrel break in?

I think this is a religious question, and I'm an atheist.

Once you no longer get copper fouling, god is on your side. Until then, drink the wine and eat the wafers.