How do I break in a new barrel?
- Thread starter mugsie
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rustymaggot
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USSR
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mugsie,
I use Krieger's recommendation: clean after each of the first 5 shots; clean after the next 3 shot group; and finally, clean after the next 5 shot group. Don't drink the koolaid - 13 shots for a proper barrel breakin ain't gonna shorten your barrels life.
Don
I use Krieger's recommendation: clean after each of the first 5 shots; clean after the next 3 shot group; and finally, clean after the next 5 shot group. Don't drink the koolaid - 13 shots for a proper barrel breakin ain't gonna shorten your barrels life.
Don
atblis
Member
Not soo much
Not really to do with barrel life.
I can understand the argument that the idea is to smooth the barrel out. I wouldn't call it break in, but rather that perhaps newer barrel require cleaning more often? A good barrel shouldn't require anything.
Not really to do with barrel life.
I can understand the argument that the idea is to smooth the barrel out. I wouldn't call it break in, but rather that perhaps newer barrel require cleaning more often? A good barrel shouldn't require anything.
Last edited:
wanderinwalker
Member
I'd shoot it, be careful not to get it too hot, and clean it after only 15 or 20 rounds (and clean it well). I don't buy into the idea of barrel break in except that smoothing the barrel does make cleaning easier.
Actually, the first 50-100 shots are the only ones I get really picky about cleaning my rifles. Yet it's always seemed to me that most of my rifles haven't reached peak accuracy until 300-500 rounds have gone down. Then they either stabilize or kind of wander around that level. Eventually they'll fall off.
I've only "worn out" one .223 barrel, and even at the end it still shot well, but not consistently enough. It wasn't a major crash, but a steady decline with an increasing frequency of fliers downrange.
Actually, the first 50-100 shots are the only ones I get really picky about cleaning my rifles. Yet it's always seemed to me that most of my rifles haven't reached peak accuracy until 300-500 rounds have gone down. Then they either stabilize or kind of wander around that level. Eventually they'll fall off.
I've only "worn out" one .223 barrel, and even at the end it still shot well, but not consistently enough. It wasn't a major crash, but a steady decline with an increasing frequency of fliers downrange.
ocabj
Member
I also use this method.
If you think you have to fire 20 rounds with cleaning after each of the 20 shots, then you should have bought a better barrel. That or hand lapped it.
I wouldn't put too much effort into breaking in the Savage factory barrel. It's a mass produced button rifled barrel. Depending on how many barrels were already produced by the specific button that made your barrel, the chatter marks could be fairly significant. Even then, the barrel will shoot fine. It's just going to copper foul quite quickly. But it's nothing a decent copper solvent and bronze brushes can't solve. Just use the previously mentioned method defined by Krieger and be happy.
mljdeckard
Member
I won't pretend my marksmanship skills are good enough to definitively say there is a difference. But when I have broken in new barrels by the book, slowly increasing the number of shots in between cleanings, up to 100, I have had great performance. Would it have been just as good if I had been a little less stringent? Dunno. But I would rather be redundant and get it right the first time. If I am going to complain to a manufacturer about accuracy, I should be able to tell them I did everything I was supposed to. Maybe one day I can get two identical rifles and do a Mythbusters style comparison to see if there is a difference. That's two Saturdays, two rifles, and a couple hundred rounds extra that I don't have right now.
Also, it's a matter of discipline. taking the novelty and jitters out of having a new gun, and forcing myself to be serious about using, learning, and maintaining it. Like I learned in the army (and I will have my kids learn as well,) that having a gun is about carrying, maintaining, and securing it as well as firing it. Kind of a ritual to remember the important stuff.
Also, it's a matter of discipline. taking the novelty and jitters out of having a new gun, and forcing myself to be serious about using, learning, and maintaining it. Like I learned in the army (and I will have my kids learn as well,) that having a gun is about carrying, maintaining, and securing it as well as firing it. Kind of a ritual to remember the important stuff.
Art Eatman
Moderator In Memoriam
I had never heard of "barrel break-in" until I signed on at The Firing Line, back in 1998. I'm pretty much with Gale McMillan, since I've always been able to get inside of an MOA with my rifles; some down around 1/2 to 3/8 MOA. But I'd spent some 48 centerfire years in total ignorance of break-in. 
I don't shoot many rounds at any one session. At most 20 rounds, I guess, and I've never shot so quickly the barrel gets all that hot. So, a patch through the barrel after any shooting session, and a thorough bore-cleaning from time to time as I feel like it.
Not like the old daze, with soap and water after any shooting with corrosive primers.
, Art
I don't shoot many rounds at any one session. At most 20 rounds, I guess, and I've never shot so quickly the barrel gets all that hot. So, a patch through the barrel after any shooting session, and a thorough bore-cleaning from time to time as I feel like it.
Not like the old daze, with soap and water after any shooting with corrosive primers.
, ArtUSSR
Member
Therein lies the problem, when dealing with this question. How would it be shooting, and how easily would it be cleaning if I had or had not broke in the barrel. Since no two rifles straight off the production line are "identical", it is something that can never be proven one way or the other. However, if you understand that when the throat is cut, it is the one part of the barrel that cannot be polished by hand lapping the bore, then you understand why the break-in procedure is employed.
Don
SUBMOAS
Member
From Lilja Barrels Recommends....
Break-in Procedure
For an effective break-in the barrel should be cleaned after every shot for the first 10-12 rounds or until copper fouling stops. Our procedure is to push a cotton patch that is wet with solvent through the barrel. This will remove much of the powder fouling and wet the inside of the barrel with solvent. Next, wet a bronze brush with solvent and stroke the barrel 5-10 times. Follow this by another wet patch and then one dry patch. Now soak the barrel with a strong copper removing solvent until all of the blue mess is removed from the barrel. The copper fouling will be heavy for a few rounds and then taper off quickly in just one or two shots. Once it has stopped or diminished significantly it is time to start shooting 5 shot groups, cleaning after each one. After 25-30 rounds clean at a normal interval of 10-25 rounds. Your barrel is now broken-in
Break-in Procedure
For an effective break-in the barrel should be cleaned after every shot for the first 10-12 rounds or until copper fouling stops. Our procedure is to push a cotton patch that is wet with solvent through the barrel. This will remove much of the powder fouling and wet the inside of the barrel with solvent. Next, wet a bronze brush with solvent and stroke the barrel 5-10 times. Follow this by another wet patch and then one dry patch. Now soak the barrel with a strong copper removing solvent until all of the blue mess is removed from the barrel. The copper fouling will be heavy for a few rounds and then taper off quickly in just one or two shots. Once it has stopped or diminished significantly it is time to start shooting 5 shot groups, cleaning after each one. After 25-30 rounds clean at a normal interval of 10-25 rounds. Your barrel is now broken-in
07Lway
Member
I never did anything special to break in a new barrel. However, all my rifles are issued mil-surp or .22lr, so I didn't think it mattered much. Even though I never do anything special with them, I still treat them the normal way... Normal is barrel cleaning every time I get home (with a rough field cleaning if using corrosive), and full strip every 250-500 rounds depending on how the rifle is shooting.
So far I have had no problem with any of my rifles. However I also am not a sharpshooter who would notice the difference in a 1.5 MOA and a 2 MOA rifle since I cannot shoot that well.
So far I have had no problem with any of my rifles. However I also am not a sharpshooter who would notice the difference in a 1.5 MOA and a 2 MOA rifle since I cannot shoot that well.
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