peacemaker45
Member
Hi guys. I've got a Green Mountain replacement barrel coming for my T/C Hawken, for better round ball shooting. At any rate, is there anything in particular I should do with a new barrel to break it in right? Season it? Treat it?
I've read all sorts of wild stuff, but sort of wanted a reality check. One suggestion I heard was to clean it up, then fire the first two patches soaked with valve lapping compound, rather than the more customary lube. Then repeat cleaning step. Voila, instant barrel polishing, deburring and break in, in only two shots.
From a theoretical point of view, I'm leery of treating a brand new barrel with abrasives. I can see where it might work, but I can also see where it could only create a zillion tiny little scratches for fouling to hide in. Any input?
I also seem to recall someone else saying not to swab it too often during the first few shooting sessions, as that would slow the break-in process.
Still another person recommended never using a bore brush to clean it, but only patches. Said that the use of the brush prevents the barrel from "seasoning like a fine cast iron skillet, the way it should."
This is actually going to be my first new BP rifle barrel. Given the nature of BP, the old saw about how well one cares for one's tools dictates how they take care of one holds even more true. Kind of exciting, actually, like a blank canvas.
~~~Mat
I've read all sorts of wild stuff, but sort of wanted a reality check. One suggestion I heard was to clean it up, then fire the first two patches soaked with valve lapping compound, rather than the more customary lube. Then repeat cleaning step. Voila, instant barrel polishing, deburring and break in, in only two shots.
From a theoretical point of view, I'm leery of treating a brand new barrel with abrasives. I can see where it might work, but I can also see where it could only create a zillion tiny little scratches for fouling to hide in. Any input?
I also seem to recall someone else saying not to swab it too often during the first few shooting sessions, as that would slow the break-in process.
Still another person recommended never using a bore brush to clean it, but only patches. Said that the use of the brush prevents the barrel from "seasoning like a fine cast iron skillet, the way it should."
This is actually going to be my first new BP rifle barrel. Given the nature of BP, the old saw about how well one cares for one's tools dictates how they take care of one holds even more true. Kind of exciting, actually, like a blank canvas.
~~~Mat
