What is your method of breaking in a new barrel? I will be breaking in a new Rem. Sendero in .25-06.

There are probably hundreds if not thousands of methods folks use here.

I usually shoot one shot, and clean, and repeat for about a dozen rounds. Then shoot a couple of shots and clean for the next dozen or so.

By then, I'd say you're probably in good shape...

Oh yeah, I forgot, you have to stand on your head and sing "Happy Birthday" in Yiddish every seventh shot... ! Obviously just kidding, but some of the rituals you're likely to hear sound about as useful...

What you basically want to do is smooth the tool marks out in the bore before large deposits of copper fouling build up and become a darn near permanent part of your barrel. These deposits are easily removed while the barrel is warm and the fouling is fresh. The Hoppes number 9 should do nicely, and be sure to allow it to soak in the bore when you put the rifle away. On subsequent days, the Hoppes will have worked out deep seated fouling, safely and effectively. (And with Hoppes number 9, you never have to worry about leaving it in your barrel)...

Good luck! It sounds like you have a rifle I'd be jealous of... ... Let us know how it does. I understand IMR 4350 is the powder to beat in 25-06...

Dan Newberry
green 788

I don't have the patience for barrel break in. I clean, very, very, VERY well, to get all the machining scraps, oil and junk out of the barrel. I follow that with 50 to 100 strokes with Flitz on a tight patch.

Then I shoot the crap out of it. FWIW, Dutch.

Like others have said... you'll get lots of different answers here.

My method is: For the first 10-20 rounds, clean after EVERY shot. Then from 20-50, every third round and from 50-100 every fifth round.

FYI.. I have a M700 Sendero SF in 7mm Rem Mag and a M700 VS SF in .223 Rem for busting varmints. I have follwed this ritual with both guns and I get 1/2 MOA out of both rifles. Can't be happier..

Key, when cleaning is to run the patch with bore cleaner so it is tight running through the barrel (sometimes requires putting 2 patches together) and until it runs a clean patch with absolutely no residue.

P.S.
I also recommend NOT use moly coated bullets during the break-in period as the moly can bond to the barrel and you want to make sure it is broken in properly first. My VS SF I use Hornady V-Max moly in 55gr with exceptional performance... Just my way of doing things.

Good luck...

The patience in following this will pay off in performance.

Thanks for the info Y'all.

Shark Bait

Clean once every shot, for 10 shots.
Clean once every 2 shots, for 20 shots.
Clean once every 3 shots, for 30 shots.
Oil or start regular shooting.

That's Patrick Sweeney's system, but if your barrel don't ever shoot, you can always get rid of any evil spirit that possesses your barrel with a patch of holy water

Try this link , its got all the info you need . I broke in a friends new ruger varmint laminate a few weeks back . sure worked in his rifle .
Good luck with the break in & be patient do not try and do it in one afternoon , as the barrel will get too hot to shoot after the whle ritual.

http://www.bbsindustries.com/breakin.html

Regards
Rudie

Factory bores are shipped with nothing being done to smooth out the tool marks. The bore should be cleaned well before the first round is fired. Some swear by and some swear at the breakin method. Some say it is a total waste of time and cleaning supplies. It is a personal thing with each rifle owner. I belive in the breakin method and believe it eliminates flyers in factory bores. You can still learn volumes from your new rifle during the breakin period. It gives you the chance to see if your new rifle will group while cleaning between shots. Some rifles tend to send the first round from a clean bore out of the group. I find my rifles tend to shoot to point of aim from a clean bore when you practice the breakin period.

I shoot and clean after every round the first 20 shots. From 20 to 100 rounds I clean after each three to five shot group. After the first 100 rounds have been fired the rifle is now ready for action and should give good accuracy up to 25 rounds before it need be cleaned.

It is interesting to note the premium barrel makers have the breakin methods packed with each new barrel shipped. all their barrels are hand lapped before they leave the shop factory bores are not. In any case the choice is yours to breakin or not. If you don't you may always wonder if your rifle would have shot better had you done a breakin period. Breakin takes a little extra time and will only harm the bore if you do not use a good bore guide. I am a big fan of the breakin period and will continue that practice.

sorry if I am skeptical, but both my most accurate rifles are accurate far and beyond 25 rounds. I can take my Savage well beyond 100, and my Shilen in PPC far above 75, before accuracy drops off. Neither has been broken in by any conventional method.

As far as break in procedures supplied with barrels. Lets do the numbers. Say we have 2,000 rounds with competitive accuracy. We suggest you burn up 100 of those "breaking in". That means they get to sell 5% more barrels. If we stretch the numbers to 150 rounds of break-in, with 1500 accuracy rounds..... 10% increase in sales. Are barrel makers that mercenary? IMHO, they aren't, but they aren't going to argue the point with a customer who wants so badly to BELIEVE! JMO, Dutch.

I have never tried this method but have always wondered if it would be a good method with a new barrel.

1. Clean the barrel throughly
2. Very lightly oil the barrel
3. Fire about 100 rounds of CAST bullets loaded to moderate cast velocities and recleaning bore about every 5th shot more or less as needed.

My theory here is base on the idea of the lead being a more suitable medium to actually polish out the barrel. Sort of a "lead lap."

Anyone tried this or think the idea might have merit? Or anyone think it's totally crazy? That's acceptable too!

Dutch,
They say a properly broke-in barrel have longer accuracy life, but I have not shot-out two barrels to tell if it is true.

I was a big believer in the one shot and clean, Burning incense, Gregorian chants. After 35 years of it, I have discovered JBs bore paste, And Kroil.

Before going to the range, 2 wet kroil patches.Then JBs till the bore feels smooth.It may take 50 passes or a 150. Used this method on my .300win mag sendero. shoots 3.368" at 600 yards.

Uh-Oh
Looks like there's two of us.
Here is how I break in all of my barrels, both custom and factory.

One shot and clead - 5X
Three shots and clean - 5x
Five shots and clean - 5x
You should have 5 rounds left for your fist official seasoned barrel group.
I have absolutely no idea if there is any merit to breaking in a new barrel. However, it is not that difficult to do while you begin load development, so why not. It can't hurt.

Some very knowledgeable shoots that I know feel that it is impossible to identify any benefit from this procedure. Kind of like cyro treatment!
VH

Varmint,I spell mine with no n, Guess thats how I got under the radar. I will see about chaging it. You were here first.