I have just bought a S&W 626 7-shot 4inch revolver and am waiting for California 10 day waiting period. I know this might be a dumb question, but I have never owned a firearm before. I have heard people follow certain schedule when they "break in" their guns. Such as firing so many rounds, then cleaning a gun, firing more and then cleaning more, etc. And "so many" is just a few, like five or ten. Is there any reason to do that? Or should I just start shooting as I normally would and clean the gun regularily?
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Revolver break-in.
- Thread starter kosmo
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f4 is certainly correct. However, it isn't a bad idea to also buy some snap-caps and sry fire the heck out of it. It will smooth the action. I recently bought a 625 but unfortunately have only been able to get to the range once since doing so. Fired 90 rounds. But, each night I've been dry firing the revolver at least 50 times. The action is indeed smoothing out for me.
By the way, you can dry fire without snap-caps but it's best not to do so if you're going to dry fire a lot as I've suggested.
And yes, Standing Wolf is also right, clean prior to first shoot.
By the way, you can dry fire without snap-caps but it's best not to do so if you're going to dry fire a lot as I've suggested.
And yes, Standing Wolf is also right, clean prior to first shoot.
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Standing Wolf
Member in memoriam
I always clean guns before taking them to the range the first time.
The "break in" procedure in which you fire a few shots (the version I read said 3 at most) then clean, fire again, etc., is pretty much only for firearms that you expect to be ludicrously accurate, such as a rifle intended for shooting at 1000 yards. You'd never notice any difference with a handgun that you're actually shooting with your hands.
The procedure is supposed to smooth out the barrel a little bit. If the bullet grinds against bare steel in the barrel--that is, if the barrel is totally clean when you fire--it'll scrape away a few microscopic imperfections. But if you shoot a few times, a very thin layer of copper builds up in the bore, preventing the bullet from ever touching the actual steel of the barrel. So cleaning after every few shots is supposed to keep that copper layer from building up until the bore itself is worn smooth and even. Kind of like bore-lapping.
The procedure is supposed to smooth out the barrel a little bit. If the bullet grinds against bare steel in the barrel--that is, if the barrel is totally clean when you fire--it'll scrape away a few microscopic imperfections. But if you shoot a few times, a very thin layer of copper builds up in the bore, preventing the bullet from ever touching the actual steel of the barrel. So cleaning after every few shots is supposed to keep that copper layer from building up until the bore itself is worn smooth and even. Kind of like bore-lapping.
TexasRifleman
Moderator Emeritus
Take that snap cap idea to heart though. Sit in front of the TV and dry fire that thing a couple thousand times while watching TV.
You'll strengthen your muscle memory as well as smooth out the action.
It is surprising how much difference it makes.
You'll strengthen your muscle memory as well as smooth out the action.
It is surprising how much difference it makes.
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