Barrel break in

04 November 2018, 01:10

lshopper

Breaking in a barrel is a questionable exercise at best for a custom barrel. You might as well try to convert a far left wing liberal to a Trump supporter as to achieve any gains with a hammer forged one. Just for reference, I used to shoot on the Army Rifle Team and have wasted my last minutes breaking in any barrel. Just clean it back to the bare steel every time you shoot it(10,15,20 shots) for the first hundred rounds and then treat it like you do any of your other barrels. Oh, and unless you are having a problem with the barrel, don't look at it with a bore scope. Most good shooting factory barrels look like hell. It will only put unfounded doubts in your head.

04 November 2018, 02:22

Duane Wiebe (CG&R)

Realisically, breaking in a barrel is mostly "Breaking in the throat"

Take a look at Kreiger"s website. These folks have forgotten more about barrels than most of us will ever know.

And...yes, they recommend "Break in"

04 November 2018, 08:03

Fjold

quote:
Originally posted by Duane Wiebe (CG&R):
Realisically, breaking in a barrel is mostly "Breaking in the throat"

Take a look at Kreiger"s website. These folks have forgotten more about barrels than most of us will ever know.

And...yes, they recommend "Break in"

+1, it's not the barrel finish that needs breaking in, it's the fresh reamer marks in the throat.

04 November 2018, 16:28

Paul K

Thanks for the input.
I had a Barlein barrel
installed on a Sako action in 222 a few years back, when they cared about the little guy, and did the barrel break in thing and it seemed like a waste of time and ammo. It shot one hole from the get go, with little or no copper fouling. I just purchased a Tikka T3 Tac A1 in 308 And was wondering about break in.

Thank you
Paul K

04 November 2018, 20:23

Duane Wiebe (CG&R)

I would think it depends if that hammer forged barrel was lapped. It may have had the chamber hammer forged too..in which case, it probably was most certainly not lapped.

Seems like you really don't want to fool around with break in..in that case..don't do it

08 November 2018, 02:29

MyNameIsEarl

Interesting. I do not have near the experience some others do but the few guns I have put new barrels on I did a 50 round break in. Two of them did not group for shit until after about 30 rounds, now they are tack drivers.

I shoot 5 slowly then clean. Shoot 5 more then clean. after 25 I clean after 10 rounds. Very careful not to overheat barrel. I decopper after 20 rounds. The other cleanings are just a couple wet Hoppes patches.

But some rifles I have done shot great right after install.

08 November 2018, 04:51

CISCO

Krieger's instructions are pretty damn good but if you have a bore scope, shoot 3 rounds then scope and if no copper, clean then clean again about 300 rounds later, and every 300 after that.

Chris

08 November 2018, 17:25

gasgunner

quote:
Originally posted by lshopper:
Breaking in a barrel is a questionable exercise at best for a custom barrel. You might as well try to convert a far left wing liberal to a Trump supporter as to achieve any gains with a hammer forged one. Just for reference, I used to shoot on the Army Rifle Team and have wasted my last minutes breaking in any barrel. Just clean it back to the bare steel every time you shoot it(10,15,20 shots) for the first hundred rounds and then treat it like you do any of your other barrels. Oh, and unless you are having a problem with the barrel, don't look at it with a bore scope. Most good shooting factory barrels look like hell. It will only put unfounded doubts in your head.

Is that you Lance?

I was once talking to John Krieger about this topic. He said Nancy Tompkins once came to him and said that people were telling her that she needed to break-in her barrels or they would not shoot. She was concerned because she never did it. John asked if they were beating her, she said no, John said maybe they should be asking her what she does rather than telling her what to do.

John Holliger

08 November 2018, 19:05

dpcd

There are as many break in techniques as there are barrel makers and shooters. Many are relics from the days of rough cut rifled barrels, and rough lapped ones. Take your pick and do that, from just shooting it, to shoot one, clean, shoot ten, clean, etc. Personally, I just shoot them. Successfully.

09 November 2018, 22:19

Wstrnhuntr

Is there actually a wrong way to break in a barrel? How much damage can a copper bullet do to a steel barrel by normal shooting in the short term? Unless there are serious flaws with the barrel to begin with I dont understand the concern. It seems to me that specific chamberings will have a far greater effect on barrel longevity then any break in routine.