Barrel Break-In

[eagle10]

I have heard both sides of the story here, yes and no. I have had several new rifless in my lifetime and have never broken in a barrel, they have always been accurate too. What do you guys think this? I have shot 5 whole rds through mine as of this writing, so don't really think it matters at this point, but then again, it can be all "rocket scientry".......

[edgecrusher]

I do it, why not? I spent the money, and the time earning it, why throw it away by taking a chance that would otherwise cost me what, an hour or two?

[Zebra644]

I have always done it. There is a reason most bench rest shooters swear by it. As I understand it, ( and anyone feel free to correct me ) , unless the the barrel manufacture hand laps the barrel and then uses a bore scope to ensure its totally concentric. That's why you fire lap or season the barrel. By doing so, the copper fills in, and  smooths out the imperfections in the rifling and allowing it  to get a good smooth grip on the bullet thus obtaining  the proper spin or twist and stabilize the bullet. But then again I war a helmet when I ride my Harley but I hate wearing a seat belt lol.  

[planeflyer21]

I don't do it.  Certain premium barrel makers demand it, other premium barrel makers call it hooey.

 

A couple of years ago I'd found an article online by a benchrest shooter, who set out to demonstrate what happens when you don't break in a barrel properly...just to shut-up all the naysayers.

 

He ended up converting himself to the "no break-in required" camp.

 

If you choose to purchase a rifle or a barrel with a warranty conditional upon proper break-in, then do it.

 

For the experience, you should try hand lapping once also.

 

And for what it's worth, if you've fired five whole rounds at this point without following the procedure of a break-in, you've already voided someone's warranty.

 

Shoot it.

 

Jon

[eagle10]

So I guess in my great anticipation of wanting to shoot this rifle I blew and it's too late huh? Plus, I don't even know what procedure to follow for breaking in a barrel anyways.

[EasyEJL]

I lean towards the belief that if its not a sub 1/2 moa bolt action, that odds are the breakin won't have a huge difference. Then again, I suck at anything over 100 yards anyhow.

[unforgiven]

When I asked about break in for RRA 5.56/.308,was told just shoot it have fun.Just my 2 mags.

[planeflyer21]

Looks like I over-broke mine in then Rene.   :auto:

 

Jon

[Rsquared]

Looks like I over-broke mine in then Rene.   :auto:

 

Jon

 

I'm with you there. I probably did the same thing with last AR-10 carbine that I put together. Couldn't even begin to tell you how many rounds that my son and I have probably put thru that thing. I sorta count it as, my AR-10 beater. It's turned into the kinda rifle that goes to the range with me if I plan on shooting it or not. ..........................................just because.

Edited May 13, 2013 by Rsquared

[sketch]

I savored the moment and did the 1/5/10 rnd /clean and then zeroed the scope 200 rnds later a did a 6 rnd burst for fun.

[Rsquared]

All kidding aside.....I did take my time when I first ran my SASS. It took a while, but my boy was breaking in a new Rem 700 also. So neither one of us were in a hurry that day.

[eagle10]

Well I shot 2 rds through it like 2 minutes apart, then stopped, looked for the brass, couldn't find it, went to the house and got my son and came back and looked and then found it, this was like 10 min later, then let him fire the next 3 rds loaded into the magazine 1 rd at a time and this after getting up and checking our can, so it wasn't anything like rapid fire that's for sure. So would everyone recommend so more slow fire to break it in after cleaning from the first time or what??? Also, I shoot like say 5 rds and clean the bore and then do it again, would that be proper???

[Zebra644]

8.4 BREAKING IN MATCH BARRELS 

ArmaLite® has spoken with several barrel manufacturers. NONE of them recommend 

breaking in barrels using abrasives. For optimum accuracy and barrel life, ArmaLite® 

recommends the following break-in procedure: 

1. Fire 9 single shots. After each shot, push a cotton patch wet with solvent through the bore. 

Then wet a bronze brush with solvent and stroke the barrel five to ten round trips. Follow with 

another wet patch and then a dry patch or two. (We do NOT recommend nylon or stainless 

steel brushes.) After you finish, wash the solvent off your brush so that the brush won’t 

deteriorate. 

2. From 10 to 30 shots, clean as above after each five shots. Initial break-in should now be 

complete. 

For subsequent, normal cleaning, it is suggested that you clean after each range session. It is 

often suggested that the barrel be brushed one stroke for each shot fired. 

 

 

 I copied this from Armalites owners manual for my SASS

[planeflyer21]

I have a friend that did that with his AR10 bull barrel.  Took him a few months, in part because Armalite recommended moly-coated bullets, which he had trouble finding.

 

But he is hell happy with the rifle!

 

Jon

[eagle10]

Zebra, thank you Sir, I believe I will clean mine now and finish the other 4 and then start the 10-30 process.....

[eagle10]

Ok, I've got my first 9 done and going for the 5 shot groups till I get to 30.....

[eagle10]

Ok, Barrel break-In complete.

[Zebra644]

I hope to start this weekend

[eagle10]

It's quite the process, I wiped out a box of cleaning patches.........

[Rsquared]

Yeah.....................it happens. It's painful..........but it's following manufacture specs (for what it's worth).

[eagle10]

I've never done it(broke one in per manufacturers specs)  on anything I have ever owned and can't really tell a difference. ??? Maybe it will make a difference on this one, soon as my glass comes in, we're going to find out......