Wasnt sure how to go about breaking in the ol sendero sf in 300 win I did push 60 rounds through it at the range within 2 hours got it zero'd at 100 other than that tips? The bullets were 180gr Core-Lokt's. Shot it while it was hot was wondering if I might of damaged the rifles accuracy at all?

Thanks in advanced.

-Mash

Forget the barrel break-in, or if you feel it is that important, call and use your local Voodo doctor before you get to the other kind of majic. If that doesnt work, then you "break it in" or "fire lap it" or whatever the other majic is.

[ 11-14-2003, 11:49: Message edited by: smallfry ]

I'll take the opposite stance.

Since you have already "did what you did" it's too late now.

Only time will tell now.

I'm not a big believer in bizarre barrel break in routines, just shoot it and clean often. I would never shoot a .300 or other hot rifle 60 shots in two hours, that's the kind of stuff that gives them a bad rep. as a barrel burner. I don't ever get a barrel hot, probably not a coincidence my .220 Swift etc last 4000 rounds.

I usually fire a few load testers clean, then when sighting in clean after that. Usually I might pop a couple of grassy's and then clean so it's getting cleaned quite often in the initial 50 shots like every 3-8 shots. A varmint rifle I do the whole kit & caboodle not because I really believe in it but just because "the experts say your supposed to" but for thumpers I am not to concerned. I'd rather shoot game than paper.

I shoot 1 and clean for at least the first 20-30rnds. Then shoot 3 and clean for the next 20-30rnds. This should help to smooth out the bore as good as it will get. you will notice the fouling becoming less and less,..and when you fire 5-10rnds and only get one patch with copper on it,..you have broken it in nicely. It's not about increased accuracy,..it's about keeping it from fouling as often,..and keeping the wear down.

I would say that amount of firing in that period of time would be good for ~.010" or better erosion in the throat. JMO

60rds in 2 hrs!! Big deal! I shoot 60 rds in about 90sec's in my .308!

Actually, that's one shot for two minutes. Not too bad.
I believe its going to take a certain number of shots to smooth out a barrel. As long as you don't heat it up too much, the barrel doen't know if you're shooting groups of one or ten.
I think, however, you'd be better off shooting a five or ten round stick (waiting between each shot)and then put the rifle aside and let it cool completely before going with it again. You can use the cooling time to clean it.

I seriously doubt that you did any real damage to that bore from a hunting stand point...the answer is in how well it shoots..It is certainly broke in for what thats worth, and not much on a hunting gun, not so with a bench gun where every little bit helps...

What will damage a rifle is 60 rounds fired as fast as you can load and fire...given a minute or two between rounds for an all day hunt is only a good rockchuck hunt in Idaho...or was when we had chucks.

The way I look at it the first shot in a clean bore (zero copper in bore) is the one that has the most effect on breaking in a barrel. The areas of the bore that are covered in copper fouling are the areas that need polishing. By this I mean the part of the bore that is under the copper. Roughness in these areas is what has stripped copper off the bullet. Now if you do not remove the copper the next shot will do nothing to remove any roughness since the bore is protected by the copper plate in these areas. A barrel will probably break itself in over time as long one cleans his bore after use and does not allow any pitting to form. I think a lot of people do not realize how quickly a bore can pit if copper is left in the bore and not cleaned (this is a whole other discussion). The bullet going down a clean bore burnishes off any microscopic ridges projecting into the bore (these ridges are what strips off the copper). After a lot of shot this roughness is worn down and the bore should fowl less.

Mash, just clean it well (zero copper!!!) and do a proper break in.

And that's my story and I'm sticking to it, unless someone proves me wrong.

Hart

Just exactly how do you all (showing my TN heritage) clean your rifles during break in? I use a powder solvent such as #9 according to bottle directions, then use a copper cleaner such as CR10. If I know the bore is quite dirty, I'll repeat the process. Am I correct?? Thanks ray

I like to clean the barrel squeeky clean before I fire a shot out of it to get what the barrel maker left behind, that is the most important step of all IMO....

I then fire a couple and clean between them, then 5 and clean, then 10 and clean, thats about it....

I clean with CR-10 or wipe out and finish it off with Kroil and JBs, oil the bore for storage and I'm set...before I shoot again, I dry the bore and shoot a couple of fouling shots.

Anything close to the above should surfice.