Barrel break in - did she get too hot?

J

jdbell2004

Private
Minuteman
Sep 23, 2010
11
2
39
#1
I took my new Howa 1500 Compact Varminter 308 to the range to break the barrel in. In about an hour I fired 36 shots, running a bore snake (I know, should have use a rod and patches)down the barrel with Hoppes cleaner between every shot. Very little copper fouling, even after extensive cleaning (no blue-green on patches). The barrel never got too hot to touch but it was definately very warm. I could hold onto it without burning myself. It's a heavy barrel as well. Did I over-heat the barrel during the break in period?

I'm asking because I've got about 60-70 rounds through the barrel. Hand loads, same bullet, different powders and weights, and the groups have been less than satisfactory (for me). I've hit around 1.5" at 100 yards, about 2.25"-3.5" at 200 yards. My AR in 223 groups better. Maybe it's not broken in completely yet? Maybe I overheated the barrel? Maybe I should just try some other bullets? I'll try other bullets and report back.

I was using Sierra GameKing 165gr BTSP. I don't really trust that soft lead tip for accuracy purposes... What do you all think? Polymer tip or HP?
 
#2
Re: Barrel break in - did she get too hot?

The barrel needs to foul a little. If you are cleaning after every shot you never gave it the chance. Get a match bullet, shoot a couple foulers, and then start punching paper.

Josh
 
#4
Re: Barrel break in - did she get too hot?

Probably not. I shoot strings through my TRG that get the barrel flat out cooking. In a 1 hour range session, I normally put down 100-150 rounds. That includes the breaks in firing to check the targets. It's a .308...it's not a barrel burner.

Josh
 
#6
Re: Barrel break in - did she get too hot?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: MinorDamage</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Probably not. I shoot strings through my TRG that get the barrel flat out cooking. In a 1 hour range session, I normally put down 100-150 rounds. That includes the breaks in firing to check the targets. It's a .308...it's not a barrel burner.

Josh</div></div>

Jesus! That's a lot of lead! I'd just done a lot of reading and almost conclusively found that you are NOT supposed to let the barrel get HOT during break in... nothing of what I read stated how hot HOT is... Hope it's just my bullet choice!

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: JCH</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I wouldn't think you did.

Have you bedded the action and made sure the barrel isn't touching the stock under recoil?</div></div>

Inform me, please!

The barrel is free floated, not sure if it touches under recoil however. Sitting on the bag or bipod the barrel is clear of the stock though.
 
#7
Re: Barrel break in - did she get too hot?

Pork,

You will find tons of opinions on "barrel break in". In fact...another guy opened up "Pandora's barrel break in box" just a few posts down from yours. My break in consisted of loading up a magazine, inserting, firing, ejecting, chambering a new round, repeat firing until empty, reload mag, repeat all above steps. I clean when accuracy falls off.

There are guys that run their rifles a whole lot faster than that in comps and at training events. FWIW, this is not benchrest shooting. I usually just shoot steel, but when I do shoot targets it is generally one of the Sniper's Hide Practical targets.

Now that you are done with the cleaning process, get out and shoot the rifle. Sometimes I go 400 rounds between cleanings. Rifles are tools. Use it.

Josh
 
#11
Re: Barrel break in - did she get too hot?

I really doubt that your firing under 40 rounds in an hour did any damage to your barrel. The accuracy issues are most likely something else like:

1. ammo issues (there are alot of those, and that alone could be a thread)
2. bedding problems
3. stock/action screw tension needing adjustment (related to bedding)
4. scope problems
5. scope mounting problems (things not tight enough or mounted properly)
6. you are worrying too much about it, rather than concentrating on sight alignment and trigger pull
7. holding the rifle differently, or placing the rifle on the bags differently from shot to shot
8. wind changes that you aren't noticing
9. stock that isn't stiff enough
10. poor trigger mechanism, and/or poor trigger control
lastly the one we all hate to admit to, but I get it from time to time just like everyone else (who is honest) shooter error, having a bad day, that sort of thing.
 
#14
Re: Barrel break in - did she get too hot?

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#15
Re: Barrel break in - did she get too hot?

I never get tired of that video.

FWIW I could give a shit about break in. last new gun I had I shot some cheap shit then straight to hand loads, has shot fine ever since. I don't clean often its work and highly over rated. not to get the cleaning shit storm started too
 
#17
Re: Barrel break in - did she get too hot?

That video was funny.. I would've dropped it one more time though. My speakers may be off,but it didn't sound like it had the perfect harmonic tone to me.. lol
 
#19
Re: Barrel break in - did she get too hot?

Seems like the people above me pretty much nailed it. Stop with the cleaning after every shot and run some decent ammo through it and you will give you a better idea of the rifle's potential. I took my new .308 out last week for the first time. I cleaned it when I brought it home to get any grease or w/e out and that's it. I shot 2 boxes of Black Hills ammo through it in about half an hour, no cleaning. Then I started shooting my reloads, still no cleaning and was getting groups mostly in the .3" to 1" range while testing different loads.

Overall I ran 82 rounds through it in right around 2 hours. It was sunny and in the mid 70's so the barrel was too hot to touch a couple of times and still shot just fine after I let it cool off.
 
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