Breaking in a new barrel. Help me do it right!

[fireguyty]

Re: Breaking in a new barrel. Help me do it right!

I learned all I needed to in the following two videos. Be sure to take notes.

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I suppose if you choose to believe what LoneWolf is pitching, watch the next one which I assume is by him.
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P.S. All the info LoneWolf gave is spot on.

 

[idahowitzer]

Re: Breaking in a new barrel. Help me do it right!

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: LittleViktor</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I'm an engineer, I find the whole cleaning thing laughable. The steel barrel is not going to somehow be "seasoned" by such cleaning. Ridiculous.</div></div>

Although not an engineer, I've taken some engineering courses. I'm also related to a few and have had this talk extensively with them. No way you're going to 'damage' your barrel without a "break-in".

I never did a break-in and shoot sub 1/2 MOA with a factory SPS Tactical. That's good enough for me.

 

[JFComfort]

Re: Breaking in a new barrel. Help me do it right!

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: fireguyty</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I learned all I needed to in the following two videos. Be sure to take notes.

<object width="425" height="350"> <param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/TRRahHX9Zkg"></param> <param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param> <embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/TRRahHX9Zkg" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"> </embed></object>
</div></div>

Only way to do it! lol

 

[LongCarabine]

Re: Breaking in a new barrel. Help me do it right!

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: JFComfort</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: fireguyty</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I learned all I needed to in the following two videos. Be sure to take notes.

<object width="425" height="350"> <param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/TRRahHX9Zkg"></param> <param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param> <embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/TRRahHX9Zkg" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"> </embed></object>
</div></div>

Only way to do it! lol </div></div>
I wonder if these guys offer custom barrel break-ins? Just send them your gun and when it comes back it is properly broke in.

 

[cactusbrew]

Re: Breaking in a new barrel. Help me do it right!

I'm also a "just shoot it" guy. I've done the GAP break-in procedure and couldn't tell a difference on rifles that I didnt do it with.

If you are buying top tier rifles/barrels, just shoot them. Its the only way.

 

[holy cow]

Re: Breaking in a new barrel. Help me do it right!

Yea, Lonewolf has the correct way in doing it. Cleaning barrels all the time is hog wash and a good way to maybe screw up a good barrel. When you see accuracy starting to suffer or the rifle will be put up for an extended length of time is when you ought to start thinking about cleaning it. 1 of the most important things you can own is a good bore guide and rod. Just never clean from the muzzle end and you will be good to go.

 

[Tayous1]

Re: Breaking in a new barrel. Help me do it right!

Well found out they bought just one 338LM. But there sending two of us to the sniper school so I might out of my own pocket but a 308 win hell tax write off one gun a year right!

 

[chrisj]

Re: Breaking in a new barrel. Help me do it right!

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: kywndg</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I think it would be pretty interesting to have 10 identical brand new factory (non-custom) rifles and perform a test with them using identical ammo. On five of the rifles, you break in the barrels the "by the book" way, i.e. one shot, swab, repeat x?, 5 shots, swab, 10 shots, swab, etc. for say, 100 rounds. With the other five rifles shoot 50 rounds, clean, shoot 50 more, clean, etc. Then, after each rifle group has say, 300 or so rounds through them all, put them on a solid rest and see which one group throws better groups. The "broken in" group, or the "bought and shot" group?

This has probably already been done, as I'm a noob for sure, and if so I'd love to see it. That would be a pretty good bit of propaganda for whichever side of the barrel break in fence you're on. As for me, I'm more or less inclined to the "buy and shoot" group, but I'm a little obsessed with cleaning when I do. haha </div></div>

I have done similar testing to some extent. It is 100% IMPOSSIBLE to EVER know if break in helped/hurt or made no difference in the accuracy dept. Say you take 1 rifle and just shoot 50 rounds and it shoots 1/2 moa with no break in. You can't do a break in now to see if you can get 3/8 or 1/4 moa because you already didnt perform break in.

Same goes th other way..if you do a "break in and get 1 moa after that, how will you ever know if just firing 50-100 rounds with no "break in" would have given you 1/2 moa or 1.5 moa? You can't just take 5 or 10 different factory rifles and break in some and not others and compare accuracy because EVERY rifle is different from the factory. i'd Much rather have copper running down the bbl that a cleaning rod.

 

[Badshot308]

Re: Breaking in a new barrel. Help me do it right!

Have you contacted the school you're going to attend to see if part of their lesson plan includes any instruction on break in, cleaning and maintenance? Talking to them ahead of time, letting them know that you're new to this and getting their imput would probably be a big help. Also, does your department have an armorer, or will it be up to you to put yourself through a course? You can usually find out about the upcoming courses by reading the daily TT's or having someone in your department watch for them. The courses will be weapon specific. An armorers course for the Rem 700 doesn't apply to a Savage or an AI, ect. If you end up going with a 700, here's Remington's schedule http://www.remingtonle.com/training/12schedule.htm As far as my useless opinion on break in, I just clean any dust, grit,or crud from the bore that may have gotten in there during shipping and storage prior to ever shooting the first round. After that, I just shoot as normal and clean when I feel it's nessessary or before long term storage.

 

[Greg Langelius *]

Re: Breaking in a new barrel. Help me do it right!

I think a rifle should be broken in the way it ls going to be used; same ammo, same firing cadence, same total volume of fire per session. I think this assures that the rifling will get worn and cleaned in a manner consistent with later usage, and any POI walk will become a known issue. I prefer a clean rifle in storage, but will settle for an oiled bore if I can't got 'er done in the time allotted.

I was trained for a secondary infantry role in the mid-'60's at Parris Island, and carried an M-14 rifle for over a year in combat. Others may differ, but I would prefer to prepare for combat with a clean rifle, properly oiled. It didn't get my young ass killed, so I guess the old ways still work fine.

A heavy recoilling rifle discourages the volumes of practice fire that are needed to achieve and maintain professional marksmanship proficiency. Overkill for overkill's sake is just plain flat out stupid. If you can't kill it with a .308, you need to get closer, period. If you can't get closer, a precision shot is likely the wrong solution (unless you're doing something way outside the box, like somewhere in Afghanistan, etc.; and they make artillery for such occasions; no disgrace in calling in a strike). If they can't reach you, you have the luxury of time to mull things over.

Greg

 

[CaptRob]

Re: Breaking in a new barrel. Help me do it right!

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: JFComfort</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: fireguyty</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I learned all I needed to in the following two videos. Be sure to take notes.

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</div></div>

Only way to do it! lol </div></div>

What an awesome video. Don't think I could ever try that though.

 

[tango6]

Re: Breaking in a new barrel. Help me do it right!

any hints on how to brak in a 5R, or does it not need it.

 

[cav.scout]

Re: Breaking in a new barrel. Help me do it right!

Just shoot the damn thing and clean it when your groups start opening up. A cleaning rod has never touched the bores of my rifles. I carry 3 bore snakes 1 for solvent, 1 to clean out the solvent, and one for oil. I clean it out at the range or in the field when I get done with my shooting session; it's eaiser to get the fouling out before it sets in. It litterly takes me like 10 min. and I'm done. Just my way of doing things but it works for me.

 

[sawman556]

Re: Breaking in a new barrel. Help me do it right!

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Tango 6</div><div class="ubbcode-body">any hints on how to brak in a 5R, or does it not need it. </div></div>

Clean it. Shoot it. Run a dry bore snake through it. Put it away.

After 500 rounds clean barrel. Shoot a couple foulers. Put it away.

Repeat until new barrel is needed.