New Barrel Break-In?

[Rem308]

I have just ordered a new rifle, which will have a 'heavy barrel' chambered in .308. I have heard many people mention "Proper Barrel Break-In" and such.

I don't want to do anything that would hurt my rifle, so can someone explain how to properly break in the barrel?

Thanks.

[Tecumseh]

Weatherby told me to break a barrel in by cleaning the barrel after each shot for the first ten shots and then shoot ten three shot groups cleaning the barrel after each three shot group.

[Texan_Til_I_Die]

You'll want to clean (get ALL the copper out) after every shot for the first 10 shots, then clean it after every 5 shots for the next 20, then clean it after every 10 for the next 50, then shoot 20 and clean. At this point, you should be broke in and be able to shoot an entire session (up to 50 or so rounds) without needing to clean.

BTW - That totals out to 20 cleanings in the first 100 rounds.

But, it's definitely worth it!

[maytom]

I seen this listed in Cabela's. I have since went to this guys web-site and he's a expert in his field, David Tubb.

Might be cheaper using a single box of his loads rather than buying several boxes of factory loads to get the same thing done.

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/product/standard-item.jsp?_DARGS=/cabelas/en/common/catalog/item-link.jsp_A&_DAV=MainCatcat20712-cat20839&id=0044350216321a&navCount=1&podId=0044350&parentId=cat20839&masterpathid=&navAction=push&catalogCode=IH&rid=&parentType=index&indexId=cat20839&hasJS=true

[wtnhunt]

Good advice above.

Some barrels will already be broken in depending on what you get, the wilson heavy barrel on my Rock River AR had a tag with it saying it was already broken in and ready to shoot.

[Guest scubabeartoo]

Griz and Texan are on the right track using normal bore cleaning solvents and brass brushes. You don't have to go out and shoot 100 rounds at one time to break a rifle barrel in. When you go out to sight in your rifle make sure you have cleaned the barrel before you shoot your first round. While sighting in follow the procedure Griz and Tex mentioned and by the time you are sighted in and comfortable with your new rifle you will have shot a box or so of bullets down the barrel. Keep track of your shooting and in a few range sessions your new rifle will be broken in.

By using something like Tubb's Final Finish you are speeding up the wear on your barrel and reducing the number of accurate shots you will get from the barrel. Bench rest shooters use things like JB Bore Paste and coated bullets in their barrels knowing they will only get about 3000 rounds thru the barrel before they replace it.

Any cleaning method that has a possibility of rounding off the sharp shoulders on you rifle barrel rifleing just quickens a shot out barrel. Brass brushes are softer than the bore on your barrel and do very little damage. Stainless steel Tornado brushes are harder than most barrels and can round off the rifleing. The verdict is still out on nylon brushes but nylon fishing line will wear the eyes on a fishing pole.

Any good bore solvent will work as long as you follow their instructions.

[shockwave]

is there an exception to the rule ?? So far i`ve shot 3 boxes of shells through my .243 with out cleaning and i`m still getting 1/4 " groups at 100 yards with handloads..Would it be wrong to assume that my barrel isn`t broken in ??

[7th]

Some times you get lucky and a gun ready to shoot like that, then you look at the .22-250 Rem Classic V HB I got off of a guy. He had shot 7 boxes of shells and had went from 1/2" to 3 1/2" groups, at the time the gun new was going for $500, I got scope, Redfield mounts and rings, Timmly Trigger, sling, 7 boxes empty and 3 boxes full loaded ammo for $200.

Took me 3 days cleaning and going back to break in the bbl, 2 months after that, saw the guy at the range and was cutting 3/8" 5 shot groups at 200 yds.

He asked me what I had done and told him all I did was clean the bbl and how long it took me.

Nice thing about it: most of the time you can go back and clean the bore back down and start out with the Break in, sense most people don't do this and that copper will just keep pilling up in there, clean it good and start all over...

Frank

[LETMGROW]

I think one of the most important [ and often overlooked ] things you should do is clean the barrell thouroughly before firing the first round out of it. Keep it clean between the first dozen or so rounds and let it break itself in. The more often you do the job the easier it will be anyway.