Barrel break in

Andy Warhog

Andy Warhog

Sergeant
Full Member
Minuteman
Nov 3, 2011
261
0
W/C MO
#1
Ok so not only am I new to the hide, I'm also new to this fancy custom build stuff. Right now I have a Krieger/Surgeon setup and have been following their recommended break-in procedure. In researching this procedure on this site, google, and talking with other tactical shooters, I have gotten AT LEAST 100 different opinions on the"correct" break in process, ranging anywhere from unwrap it and sling lead to clean every round for the first hundred. Seriously.
So I guess right now I'm after a "majority rules" kind of an opinion here. Am I wasting my time with the cleaning? Is there any kind of benefit/potential harm by what I'm doing? How much is a copper bullet really going to polish a ss barrel? Does it really need to be polished? Does this gun make my ass look fat?
I'm not a bench rest shooter, nor do I plan to be. I'm more into the practical application and the occasional hunt. The meat and potatoes, if you will. Thanks in advance.
 
#2
Re: Barrel break in

This is a never ending discussion with new threads popping up here and there. The search function will show you all the opinions you want. Someone may have even done a poll.

Everyone has an opinion, in the end just go with whatever one you have faith in.

If there was a "Right" and "Wrong" way to do it, someone would have figured it out by now and published reasons why it is such.

I personally break in by cleaning every few rounds until the copper fouling is gone. Does it help... well, in my head it does
wink.gif
 
#6
Re: Barrel break in

I remember a study some guy did. Took two identicle rifles and cleaned one every shot or 5 shots or somthing like that. The other one he just shot, no cleaning. After a few hundred rounds through each one he did a comparison. The results? For all intents and purposes they shot the same.
 
#8
Re: Barrel break in

High Binder, please tell me that heart shaped group was intentional! Is this no break in beak in just for non factory rifles? Is there any difference in a cut vs. button rifled barrel?
 
#9
Re: Barrel break in

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: SlowNoisyDeadly</div><div class="ubbcode-body">High Binder, please tell me that heart shaped group was intentional! Is this no break in beak in just for non factory rifles? Is there any difference in a cut vs. button rifled barrel? </div></div>

LOL, I didn't even notice that. Personally, I just shoot them and they have all (save my piece of shit Mauser shotgun) worked their way into making tiny groups. I just got a new 6.5 with a Kreiger (sp?) barrel, the first 10 or so shots (I use hBN coated bullets) were 1.5" group-ish but then it settled down and now with cleanings shoots sub-MOA.

So I say just shoot it but I have a buddy who swears by shooting Tubbs lapping bullets for his break ins. I think it's just whatever makes you feel like your doing it 'right' is the right way.

Side note: I shoot hBN coated bullets and my buddy uses moly so my/our results may be atypical
 
#10
Re: Barrel break in

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: KNIGHT11B4</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
I personally break in by cleaning every few rounds until the copper fouling is gone. Does it help... well, in my head it does
wink.gif
</div></div>
this is my thinking as well, i usually clean between the 1st ten rounds, but lately the blue streaks have been consistently disappearing after about the first 5rds.
 
#14
Re: Barrel break in

Just shoot the heck out of it and have fun. Unless you really enjoy cleaning that much! Like you said, everyone has an opinion on it. There's always "tests" done to prove both sides of the argument. While I am not an expert and have not done tests, I have never broken in a barrel and have always been more than happy with the resulting accuracy. Too each his own. Your gun will shoot either way, so whatever makes you comfortable.
 
#15
Re: Barrel break in

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: SlowNoisyDeadly</div><div class="ubbcode-body">High Binder, are groups like that typical at first? How long until it starts settling down? </div></div>

It's kind of a crap shoot as each one is different but if it's not settled down a lot (not perfect but a lot) within the first 100 rounds you need to start looking at other options like running some Tubbs lapping bullets through it.
 
#16
Re: Barrel break in

Sorry, It's not the gun that makes your ass look fat.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: SlowNoisyDeadly</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Ok so not only am I new to the hide, I'm also new to this fancy custom build stuff. Right now I have a Krieger/Surgeon setup and have been following their recommended break-in procedure. In researching this procedure on this site, google, and talking with other tactical shooters, I have gotten AT LEAST 100 different opinions on the"correct" break in process, ranging anywhere from unwrap it and sling lead to clean every round for the first hundred. Seriously.
So I guess right now I'm after a "majority rules" kind of an opinion here. Am I wasting my time with the cleaning? Is there any kind of benefit/potential harm by what I'm doing? How much is a copper bullet really going to polish a ss barrel? Does it really need to be polished? Does this gun make my ass look fat?
I'm not a bench rest shooter, nor do I plan to be. I'm more into the practical application and the occasional hunt. The meat and potatoes, if you will. Thanks in advance.</div></div>
 
#17
Re: Barrel break in

on any good match lapped barrel, the barrel dont need "breaking in"... the thought dose from the tooling marks of the chamber cut...
this is a self fixing issue after 50 or 60 rounds...


i do this, then clean it good, then hit it with some JB bore paste, then send it out to get nitrided...
 
#19
Re: Barrel break in

Thanks for all the help and info! I ended up quitting at 3 and took it out on monday and put 40 through it. I snaked it out after 5 a few times and then switched to 10s, and she settled down to right around an inch with at least one keyhole in each group, so I just need to wirk on trigger control a bit. I cleaned real good that night and shot it yesterday and here's what I got.
DropBox


there was a little wind and fog and a light mist. Disregard those 2 flyers and you've got a 5 shot group. One was a fouling shot and my phone went off right as I was about to fire the other and it scared the shit out of me! Thanks again for all of your help, I'm glad I asked and listed. I'm convinced it's a waste of time to do stupid break-ins like I was
 
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