Author Topic: barrel break in (Read 661 times)

b. hall · « **on:** February 04, 2006, 10:42:11 AM »

Just purchased a Remington 700 in 222 cal.. Can someone give me a recommended barrel break in procedure? Does it matter if I use moly coated bullets during the break in period? Thanks for any help.

poncaguy · « **Reply #1 on:** February 04, 2006, 12:55:17 PM »

I just clean it when I get it, then just shoot , shoot, shoot.....

Zachary · « **Reply #2 on:** February 04, 2006, 01:20:36 PM »

Know that there is really no science to this, and that if you ask 10 people, you will get 10 different answers.

I clean it after every shot for the first 10 shots. Then I clean it after every three three shot groups, that is after about 5 3-shot-groups or so.

My method is a bit overkill, but I don't mind.

Oh, and I HATE moly coated bullets. It will be virtually impossible to clean out all of that garbage in your barrel. I personally recommend that you do NOT use moly coated bullets.

Zachary

32 Point Buck · « **Reply #3 on:** February 04, 2006, 02:09:40 PM »

What Zach says is close to reccomendations I received when I purchased my Tikka T3 25-06 this week. Except a little more anal (about twice).
1) clean barrel good before shooting any rounds.
2) shoot 20 rounds with cleaning after each individual shot.
3) start shooting groups of three between cleanings for next 21 rounds.
4) then he said the barrel should pretty well be lapped by then and clean as needed when accuracy deteriates.

I am not sure what he meant by the term lapped. Could anyone elaborate?

Redhawk1 · « **Reply #4 on:** February 04, 2006, 03:43:19 PM »

I have to agree with Zachary, I don't like the moly coated bullets.

Muskie Hunter · « **Reply #5 on:** February 05, 2006, 02:59:41 AM »

b.hall,
It is my understanding that just cleaning the barrel in a normal sence like most do after hunting is not enough.You must get ALL the copper out of the bore before the next round is fired.I forget where I read the procedure but I have followed it but made a few changes along the way.I no longer do the 20 round singe routine and then follow up with 2 shot groups then 3 shot groups etc.That is a lot of ammo and I can't say that breaking in a barrel has pro's and con's since there are yea's and nea's to barrel break-in.That's why I cut back on it and just do what I deam necessary.
My routine ,clean the new barrel first.
1. Fire 10 rounds and clean in between eash shot by:using regular Shooter's choice solvent to clean ALL the powder residue out of the bore.
note:you must get all the poder residue out of the bore or you won't be able to get to the copper residue.
next,after making sure all the residue is out of the bore with a clean patch,follow with a patch soaked in Shooter's Choice copper solvent and let soak for 5 to 10 minutes max.After the soak,run a patch with regular solvent through the bore and remove the patch with the blue copper on it from the muzzel end.Do not run the patch back through the bore and contaminate it with the copper.Follow with a clean patch with solvent on it until no sign of copper.If you still get signs of blue copper,repeat with the copper solvent followed by the regular solvent and clean patch method until there is no sign and then go shoot again.( See why I cut back on the number of rounds fired to 10?
2.Fire five 2 shot groups followed by the same cleaning method.
3.Fire five 3 shot groups followed by the same cleaning method
Supposedly,your barrel is now broke in.
There are many barrel break-in methods out there,some are more extensive and some are least extensive.Does it do any good?don't know.Does it do any bad?don't know.I do know that there is less copper build up and my groups do tighten up a bit.And cleaning becomes less a chore in the future.There are pro's out there that say that barrel break-in is a waste of time and may do more harm then good and wears out the barrel quicker.I won't dispute that.All I know is that I just don't go out and buy a nice rifle to set in the safe and leave it ,only to take it out to look at or wait for a year or two to go hunting with it.Heck,I shoot them and when I run out of bullets,I load more.A little break-in period doesn't hurt that much,in my own opinion,if only to make cleaning easier in preperation for my next shoot.

Mikey · « **Reply #6 on:** February 05, 2006, 03:33:32 AM »

b. hall: any of the regimens suggested will work to help break in that new barrel. However, do not use moly coated bullets - they will leave moly residue in your barrel and retard the breaking in/wearing in process. HTH. Mikey.

marylandeer · « **Reply #7 on:** February 05, 2006, 05:23:36 AM »

I usally just clean after each of the first ten rounds. A wet patch of Hoppes #9 then a coulpe of dry, folow that with a patch of good copper solvent and then dry patch. Then I run a boresnake down the bore. After the first ten round I just clean it after every 3 or 4 shots until I shoot about two boxes of shells. Then call it quits and just shoot at will. Then clean when I get home. I do run a bore snake through after every 3 or 4 still though.
My question is what would happen if you bought a new rifle took it the range and shot it 100 times without cleaning what would happen?

?

I have been told by a lot of guys and a few were gunsmiths that barrel break in is just BS and all it does is keep barrel makers in buisness. Because you are wearing out your barrel by grosely overcleaning it.