Question about new barrel break-in

[AndrewWilliams]

I have a new Rem.700p in .308 of late 90's vintage and among other items I recieved with the purchase came a box of Final Finish bullets {75 ct}. I have perused David Tubbs website to determine if these should be used to break in a factory barrel. He mentions the use of the finest 3 grits to be used on custom barrels but I am wondering if it is better to break it in the old fashioned way {shoot one clean etc.} and use these later or should I even use them at all. I would appreciate some advice from either people who have tried this or even gunsmiths who have seen the results. I did not know if this should go in the Reloading section or here so i will start here. I also wanted to state that I feel a little guilty about always asking instead of contributing to the forums but my experience in this area of shooting is basically none and I do not believe in repeating someone else's ideas I read just to appear knowledgeable. The old saying " better to have people think your an idiot than to open your mouth and remove all doubt" Thanks Lurch

 

[desertHK]

Re: Question about new barrel break-in

Not to jump on your case, but this topic has been discussed thoroughly and each time, it's like beating a dead horse all over. Please do a search.

Bottom line is two groups of people. Some wants to follow rules and guidelines for barrel break in and this may or may not help your barrel in terms of accuracy. Other feel that you should shoot the shit out of it and that should be the way to break in your barrel. I tend gravitate toward the later than the former. I have no patience for sitting there and shoot and clean. But again, that's JMHO. Good luck

 

[prplhaz72]

Re: Question about new barrel break-in

I used those in a 700 VS. It was well after I had over 1000 rounds in it. It did seem slightly easier to clean after the fact. Copper did not take as much scrubbing to get out.

 

[:X2:]

Re: Question about new barrel break-in

I would shoot 5 of each grit, cleaning in between each grit, then go have fun and see how it shoots.

 

[flyboy]

Re: Question about new barrel break-in

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TRRahHX9Zkg

for the umpteenth time.

But in all seriousness, go out and shoot.

As for the final finish bullets. don't use them, try shooting the rifle. I almost garenty that it will shoot better than you or me.

 

[Schleifalot]

Re: Question about new barrel break-in

When I finally got my new Tikka T3 this july, I took it to a mountain range. First I sighted in at 100 meters (a no-brainer), then to a buck target at 180 meter, and then a mountain goat at 250 meter uphill. All paper targets with computer monitoring.
That goat target was so much fun to shoot, I burned about 50 rounds in 20 minutes. All hits were in the "boiler room" around the heart.
Finally came an old benchrester over for a chat. He nearly fainted on hearing that I burned about 100 rounds through a brand new rifle without cleaning.
My Tikka is with MEN surplus ammo good for about one MOA, with my handload about a half MOA.
My next project is devcon bedding the factory stock, maybe the .75 MOA flyers will decline. The flyers are probably caused by the knuckledragger behind the stock.
I don't think breaking in the barrel does much good. On the other hand, it cannot be bad either.
But leave those abrasive bullets for finishing alone. That stuff only helps the manufacturer.

 

[HotIce]

Re: Question about new barrel break-in

Saturday was a very nice day at the range. About 65F and nice clear sky. The kind of day you'd wish for a full day of shooting.
And I did!
In the line next to me there was a guy with a new AR15, shooting a round, and taking the rifle apart for cleaning. On, and on, and on.
I felt sorry for the guy. Such a waste of a perfectly valid shooting time at the range.

 

[AndrewWilliams]

Re: Question about new barrel break-in

Thanks Guy's. I reckon I will just save the Final Finish for polishing after alot of rounds are through it. I think I will just take the middle of the road on cleaning during break in. Thanks