About to start breaking in a new barrel. How many rounds do you like to shoot through a new barrel to break it in before you start load development? Also, for break in do you use a "normal" powder charge, or a reduced load?
How many rounds do you shoot before starting load development?
- Thread starter jda2631
- Start date
This Is my approach, I don't use factory loads. I load an accuracy load usually 20 rounds 1 or 2 grains under max, Usually works out to be 10%. Start with a clean barrel and clean the throat pretty good.
don't let the barrel get hot. Ill shoot 3 rounds cool and run a wet patch through let it set a minute or two then dry patch.
repeat this for 10 to 12 rounds, then I will use the last 5 rounds for a group.
don't let the barrel get hot. Ill shoot 3 rounds cool and run a wet patch through let it set a minute or two then dry patch.
repeat this for 10 to 12 rounds, then I will use the last 5 rounds for a group.
I’ve had them accelerate to 400 rounds. There’s no way I’m gona wait till it stops speeding up to develop a load. I do a break in with about 30 rounds and then develop a load. It will speed up, and settle in after two matches. No big deal.
If it is a factory barrel 100 rounds or more if it is a custom 50 rounds should be sufficient. This is my opinion and I have no real data. So other shooters feel free to correct me.
I get 100 virgin brass, load with a well known charge and shoot them for fireforming while zeroing and plinking. I check velocities with the Magnetospeed every 20 rounds, when velocity goes up (usually around 50-100 rounds depending on the barrel) I know the barrel is ready. Then I clean and start OCW or ladder test.
I shoot 5 to warm up my barrel then get started.
Not much point wasting round count just "breaking in" the barrel. It will keep speeding up, as others said, often until several hundred rounds have been through the tube. I get my first load figured out with virgin brass immediately so I know something that's accurate, then don't bother changing it unless I have big accuracy shifts until I have 300-400 down the tube and the barrel has settled down.
Those first few hundred rounds just need to be "good enough" which for me is anywhere preferably under half MOA at an indoor range and 100 yards. I chrono my ammo every time I shoot when I check my zero (using a LabRadar) so the speeding up doesn't bother me or throw me off so long as the load still shoots accurately.
Not much point wasting round count just "breaking in" the barrel. It will keep speeding up, as others said, often until several hundred rounds have been through the tube. I get my first load figured out with virgin brass immediately so I know something that's accurate, then don't bother changing it unless I have big accuracy shifts until I have 300-400 down the tube and the barrel has settled down.
Those first few hundred rounds just need to be "good enough" which for me is anywhere preferably under half MOA at an indoor range and 100 yards. I chrono my ammo every time I shoot when I check my zero (using a LabRadar) so the speeding up doesn't bother me or throw me off so long as the load still shoots accurately.
I had my load with the first 50 rounds down range. My first shots were my load development lol.
