I'm planning on buying a new winchester 25-06 soon. I plan to take my time and break in the barrell correctly. So, how many times should I clean the barrell after every shot?

Johnny,

How about once?

At least that is what I do for the first 20 shots.

I combine with zeroing scope or load testing so it isn't as boring.

What it does is blend the two machined zones at the end of the chamber (rotating machine marks) and the beginning of the bore (longitudinal marks).


jim

Clean the barrel before you shoot it

go to the range and sight in the rifle and take a few three shot groups to convince yourself of it's potential accuracy.

clean the barrel and take another three shot group and go home.

Think about what you saw and load up a few experimental rounds and go back to the range again to try a few different bullets.

Again clean the barrel before leaving the range and again shoot a couple rounds before leaving.

You've broken in the barrel and now you're ready for load developement.

Ideally, you would run a swab through the bore after every shot for the first hundred rounds. I have never done this though. There are some very compulsive people though.

My practice is as follows:

1. Shoot some rounds to get the sights zeroed and clean.

2. Start working up some test loads (usually 3 cartridges of a given powder charge with 3 to 4 incrementally increasing charges) First I will shoot a fouling shot so, all told, 12 to 15 rounds will go down the barrel. Then I clean. I do this until I've shot 100 rounds.

3. After 100 rounds, I clean when I think the barrel is dirty or when I'm going to store the gun for a prolonged period. I also use Microlon Gun Juice after I've shot 100 rounds and not before.

I don't know if my way is "right" but it's a compromise to cleaning after every shot.

Johnny

It's my humble opinion that it's a waste of time "breaking in" a factory barrel. They will either shoot or they won't, and they will either foul or they won't. Your time would be better spent practicing. If you want to help set your mind at ease, buy a few of the fire-lap bullets and shoot them. They will do more good than all the cleaning your arm muscles can take. Finally, by no means, whatever, EVER, look down a factory barrel with a borescope.

Ray

ja, heres what has worked for me, buy some JB bore cleaner,buy a coated 1 piece cleaning rod corect for caliber jags and patches copper bore brushs,a cleaning rod guide and one of the top bore cleaners on the market. clean your new gun before shooting it their shot at the factory and not cleaned,shoot one shot clean barrel with wet brush up and back is one stroke 10 to 15 strokes will do then dry patch barrel 5 to 7 patchs will do. shoot again repeat process for the first 40 rounds fired in your rifle, then clean every 10 to 15 shots, use JB bore cleaner as per directions on lable,this is a labor of love so take another rifle with you to shoot also, many people will not do this thats fine those that do will have better shooting rifles , regards jjmp

Johnny,

I go along with Cheechako and most of the rest. I have the necessary goods for lapping if you want to do it.

I never received your call after sending you my number via pm. Check your private messages and give me a call.

David

There are so many different thoughts on this subject. I have a preferred method I subscribe to, based on the type of guns I own, along with research based on what has worked for those before me and within the professional ranks.

With that said, I recommend some really excellent articles that will help you figure out what should work for you:

Bore Brushing--How Much is Too Much?

Bore Cleaning Methods & Products

How to Break-in a Barrel - A Dissenting Point of View

I read Gale McMillan's article and I don't get his point. When I'm breaking in the barrel, I'm sighting it in and working up loads. I'm not shooting rounds into the air just to make noise. I suppose if you never shot the weapon at all, it would last forever. I understand the part about the potential of damaging the bore with a cleaning rod, but if you don't know what you're doing you're going to wreck it anyway. Here's what I do:
1 shot/clean for 1st five rounds
5 shots/clean for next fifteen rounds.
40 or less shots/clean for the duration.

Because I usually don't shoot more than 40 rds. through any one weapon at any one session, I usually will clean more often than that.

I'm definately not going to try to say I know more than Gale, but he's not making his point very well in the article. Is he saying don't shoot or don't clean?

Well Gale McMillan says it right and guess what he's part of that BR crowd. Now doesn't that seem strange? Lots of folks proclaim using the break in method. But every time you ask them why the general answer is because all the Good Ole Boys do it. When you ask them for scientific data to prove their claim they get irate. Probably because they don’t have any and it’s a bit embarrassing. I’ve always thought that hunters and shooters were thinking men not just ready to swallow something without reason but as I get older I’m not sure that is true. You respond to this if you wish but provide the documented study done by a third party independent lab with the method and the number of guns they used in the test and the description of the standards they used in the test. Short of that you’re blowing wind. Lots of folks these days have gone to what the will describe as a break in. None of them will tell you why other than the "Good Ole Boys" do it.

quote:

Originally posted by Jay Johnson:
. I’ve always thought that hunters and shooters were thinking men not just ready to swallow something without reason but as I get older I’m not sure that is true. You respond to this if you wish but provide the documented study .

Where to start. Well for starters, most people are smarter than this old shooter. I have read a few top barrel makers advise breaking in a barrel, apparently mainly for ease of cleaning over the life of the barrel.
It's there to read on Lilja's web site.

You can take it or leave it, please yourself.

I just love these little homilies like the McMillan's story of the gunsmith advocating running in barrels to sell more.
What nitwit would keep buying barrels that don't go the distance?

More likely would be the gunsmith makeing money replacing barrels that wern't looked after, and wern't cleaned enough to keep their accuracy.
My gunsmith gives 'em a good clean and reuses them.

So, I don't have to prove anything, I'm with Crimson Mister, it's no trouble for me to do it even if it's useless.

Everyone has a certain way top break in and most barrels that are hand lapped don't need much. I clean for the first 5 shoots mainly to get rid of the reamer marks at the throat then I may fire from 3 to 5 shots depending on caliber clean then use sweets to see about the copper fouling if much very much then I consider barrel broke in, if alot will repeat.
I just got my new 280AI with Kreiger barrel and 300mag with Kostyshyn barrel both rifle broke in with around 15rds. I use to spend all day breaking in a barrel now the most I do is around 15rds.
I used to read McMillian post on barrel break in on benchrest site and agreed with some of his post and at one time they made a pretty good barrel but in time the other guys got better with barrel manufactoring and those barrels that McMillian made before he sold out weren't all that hot or when he teamed up with Wiseman(spelling) they make SS or CM.

quote:

Originally posted by JAL:

quote:

Originally posted by Jay Johnson:
. I’ve always thought that hunters and shooters were thinking men not just ready to swallow something without reason but as I get older I’m not sure that is true. You respond to this if you wish but provide the documented study .

Where to start. Well for starters, most people are smarter than this old shooter. I have read a few top barrel makers advise breaking in a barrel, apparently mainly for ease of cleaning over the life of the barrel.
It's there to read on Lilja's web site.

JAL you contact Lilja or Kreiger and ask them what scientific testing they base their break in method on. I will tell you they are likely no to even respond that's a fact. If they had any real data they would share it with you in a heart beat.

Nothing beyond good normal maintenance is of any good. You can yammer on but the fact remains you have no proof to back your old wives tail. I've used both methods. Then one day I asked myself the question what was I basing my action on? So I looked high and low and asked many questions of some very knowledgeable people none of them could come up with an answer. Until someone does I'll stand my ground on the subject. But the rest of you can do as you please.

As for being smarter than me since you proclaim that you are. Lay the facts and evidence on me oh smart one you're using to back your claim. Not your the good ole boys do it because that holds no water here.

Now if you find or have that real data lots of guys here just like me would love you to share it with us just to get us on the right track.

Not this again!!!Scientific data????

quote:

Originally posted by Pegleg:
Not this again!!!Scientific data????

Yes Pegleg when someone just asks you to supply some simple data things get real foggy. BS is always easy to supply.

Hey Jay Johnson,
How about stowing the "attitude" with those who do or do not break in their barrels. It is not becoming of you or anyone else for that matter. What scientific facts do you offer that disclaim break in for barrels?? Can you produce any???
You quote McMillan and that is certainly no scientific fact for far more say break in is suggested than do not!! Furthermore, are you a qualified shooter with credentials to back up your knowledge of shooting, barrels, etc.?? If so produce them, but mind you they must be "scientific..." You are the one insisting on no BS, so get with the program.

Again, stow the attitude and rudness and if someone wants to break in his barrel, God Bless them, it is none of your business nor mine. If it works for them, so much the better.

quote:

Originally posted by driver:
Hey Jay Johnson,
How about stowing the "attitude" with those who do or do not break in their barrels. It is not becoming of you or anyone else for that matter. What scientific facts do you offer that disclaim break in for barrels?? Can you produce any???
You quote McMillan and that is certainly no scientific fact for far more say break in is suggested than do not!! Furthermore, are you a qualified shooter with credentials to back up your knowledge of shooting, barrels, etc.?? If so produce them, but mind you they must be "scientific..." You are the one insisting on no BS, so get with the program.

Again, stow the attitude and rudness and if someone wants to break in his barrel, God Bless them, it is none of your business nor mine. If it works for them, so much the better.

I don't need to offer any the burden of proof is on those that believe. Since we have the masterful artist of shooting on here now I'm sure you're going to impress us with that bounty of knowledge. LOL.

Or

Hello Jay Johnson,
Well, don't believe you are offering any verifiable data for us to go on here, so as many have told me, just ignore you and with any luck at all, you, your attitude, and rudness will go away. One can always hope.

PS By the way, I do hold High Master Classification at Long Range and Master at High Power/XC (that means across the course Jay) and DE in Small Bore. I am slow for it took me some 40 plus years in shooting civilian and military to reach those levels. How about your verifiable knowledge and skill?? Go ahead and write them all down, we will not tire of reading about your accomplishments.

Anyone who holds a Master AND a High Master rating is a pretty good indication that they know when to call a spade a spade about as good as they can call there own shots on or off the X-ring. Jay- don't get your panties in a bunch over this. It isn't worth it. I'm pretty sure "driver" is done with you and this worthless discussion.

If it's all that cut and dried just lay the facts on me Boy Scouts

Good info. except from the 2 guys who are yaa yaaing with each other.

I ended up bore lapping the barrell and will begin working up a load soon.

quote:

Originally posted by Jay Johnson:

As for being smarter than me since you proclaim that you are. Lay the facts and evidence on me oh smart one you're using to back your claim.

Jay, just to set things straight, I do not advocate running in a barrel to others.
My last two new ones I did a short and sweet break-in while sighting in and load testing.

This was just in case it helped in some way that I certainly don't realy understand, worry about, or care much. I don't BELIEVE all that barrel makers say, but I thought I made it clear that 1. I wasn't all that smart.
2. The barrel makers would be smarter than ME.
3. I made no reference to being smarter than you, or anyone else.

My opinion on the matter is if I do a short break-in and it helps, OK. If not, I certainly didn't wear the barrel out with a few extra swipes while it cooled between a few groups. Heck, most of my rifles are bought second hand and who knows what has been done to them?