I have a new 6.5 CM RPR. I’m not going to baby it during the break-in period. So, does it matter if I use cheap ammo to break-in the barrel? Or, do I need to use the match ammo I plan to use to compete? Thanks
Break-in ammo
- Thread starter Reloader77724
- Start date
Copper down the barrel is copper. I don't think one brand is going to make a difference over another. I'm not one to do the whole shoot 3/3/5 with a clean between each. I'll shoot a couple boxes then clean when I get home. If the barrel is of good quality, and lapped or CL, then in my opinion it is not as big a deal. Maybe, if I had a cheaper questionable barrel, that is probably rough inside, then I will do a little bit better on the cleaning to break it in. I don't buy cheap barrels though, so I am not to concerned in that area.
Edit after what Padom said. This is a debate that will go on till we start shooting lasers/blasters/phasers. There is no right or wrong answer, just in what you believe in.
Edit after what Padom said. This is a debate that will go on till we start shooting lasers/blasters/phasers. There is no right or wrong answer, just in what you believe in.
Last edited:
What are you "breaking in" and why? I've never broken a barrel in. Just go shoot it...
I noticed that Wally Mart carries some aluminum cased 9 mm and wondered what y'all thought about it???
Just my opinion. Don’t think you have you use the good stuff to break it in. In my experience I have found that with a new barrel will see an increase in velocity with the same load until you get to around 100 yards. Not huge but enough to notice at ranges beyond 500 yards.
Thanks for the replys. I didn’t honestly think that the ammo would make much of a difference. Just wanted other opinions. Thanks.
Break in to protect the barrel or somehow "do it right"? Unnecessary, as pointed out above.
Getting 100-150 rounds down the barrel so that velocity stabilizes, so that you know your dope, and that you aren't going to have things change in the middle of a match? Good idea. However, if the match is less than 600-700 yards in max target distance, probably not enough change in velocity to make you miss.
My vote, go get acquainted with the gun before the match. Have a couple practice days to shoot the ammo you are going to be using. At the last session before the match make sure you have a good zero, good velocity data, and confirm your drops.
I don’t think there’s much difference in shooting match ammo versus junk ammo for the first 100 rounds. The only stuff i might stay away from is bi-metal jacketed ammo. I haven’t seen it before and and don’t know how prevalent it is, but a lot of it exists in junk .308. You want to slick the barrel up with copper, not copper and whatever else it is mixed with. You can test for it the same way you’d test for steel core ammo. Put a magnet up to it.
Title of thread is...Break In Ammo...so I read it as what kind of ammo would I use if someone breaks in. EZ. Double ought buckshot!!! 
Yeah, I didn’t put a lot of thought into the title. So it sould have been “Barrel break-in; prefered ammo”. Anyway, thanks for the replys. Eustice hit on the point that I was concered about. Not using junk ammo due matrial of the bullet. Well, I’ll be getting some cheaper hornady ammo to use. Thanks
Break in for barrels are as controversial and talked about as 9 vs 45!
I’ve used cheapest brass cased copper bullets before with success. Don’t go steel cased or steel core.
I’ve used cheapest brass cased copper bullets before with success. Don’t go steel cased or steel core.
If the lands are so bad that you need to "break in" a barrel then you are better off running some JB down it to clean it up. I read these posts and wonder if people know why they are wasting money on a break in procedure. The break in processes that have dragged on for years was because of poor machine work that left burrs. The burrs would catch copper and not cleaning the copper just gave more surface to catch more copper. If you are trying to remove the burrs with bullets you are effectively shooting the thing forever until the barrel wears enough to smooth the burrs.
Does your barrels have burrs? Use a borescope - if you don't have one and you normally "break in" barrels go by a Lyman for about the same money that you are wasting on break in ammo and check. The other alternative is shoot one round, run wet patch to check for copper flakes. If you have them shoot another 3 and check. If you still have them shoot another 5 and check. If you still have them, use JB and be done with it.
Does your barrels have burrs? Use a borescope - if you don't have one and you normally "break in" barrels go by a Lyman for about the same money that you are wasting on break in ammo and check. The other alternative is shoot one round, run wet patch to check for copper flakes. If you have them shoot another 3 and check. If you still have them shoot another 5 and check. If you still have them, use JB and be done with it.
Similar threads
