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Howa 6.5 creedmore help

Cman99

Private
Minuteman
Mar 27, 2019
11
0
So after some cost running I ditched my build and picked up a Howa APC package painted like an American flag, ill post pics soon as I get home. But now I have questions before I shoot it. All of my cleaning rods are brass as I have rarely cleaned down the bore of a rifle before, most of my guns are hunting guns and they work just fine without a bore clean. So for the 6.5 I am going to pick up a tipton rod and guide for it. What else will I need? Especially for the break in? Or should I even break it in? Whats your favorite cleaning gear for your rifles? Thanks in advance
 
Here is their recommendation for break in from their website:

For the first ten shots we recommend using copper jacketed factory ammo. Clean the oil and powder residue out of the barrel before each shot using a commercial bore cleaner with an ammonia content. After firing each cartridge, use a good bore cleaner (one with ammonia) to remove fouling from the barrel using only a soaked patch. We do not recommend anything with an abrasive in it since you are trying to seal the barrel, not keep it agitated.

For the first ten rounds, clean and let the barrel cool between each round fired using a patch and rod only.
Following the initial ten shots, you then may shoot 2 rounds, cleaning between each pair of shots. This is simply insuring that the burnishing process has been completed. In theory, you are closing the pores of the barrel metal that have been opened and exposed due to the manufacturing process.
To keep the temperature cool in the barrel, wait at least 5 minutes between break-in shots. The barrel must remain cool during the break-in procedure. If the barrel is allowed to heat up during the break-in, it will impede the steel’s ability to develop a home registration point, or memory. It will have a tendency to make the barrel “walk” or “climb” when it heats up in the future. If you take a little time in the beginning and do it right, you will be much more pleased with the performance of your barrel in the future.
 
I used sweets 7.62 and a Parker Hale jag for my Howa break in. I’d say shoot a 3 shot group and see if the gun says it needs a break in or not. I had a buddy break in a 22-250 and decided after round 10 it was broken in plenty enough. Most 5/8 groups at 100. Let the barrel decide what it needs, atleast that’s my opinion.
 
Do i NEED ammonia? I ordered some Hoppes number 9 bench rest copper solvent because I heard ammonia can eat at the barrel too and this was more gentle. Would it work for the break in? Anywho here she is
 

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Don’t worry about break in, just avoid getting the barrel overly hot. Clean it when your done shooting. Parker hale style jags are preferable, but any properly sized jag will work. Hoppe’s #9 will work fine as well. @Lowlight did a video on cleaning. It’s pretty quick and too the point.

Make sure you have some grease for the bolt lugs and cocking piece.
 
Don’t worry about break in, just avoid getting the barrel overly hot. Clean it when your done shooting. Parker hale style jags are preferable, but any properly sized jag will work. Hoppe’s #9 will work fine as well. @Lowlight did a video on cleaning. It’s pretty quick and too the point.

Make sure you have some grease for the bolt lugs and cocking piece.
The barrel will definitely get hot, it can get over 100 easily in the summer. Is there a quicker or easier break in that will help when hot but not take over 20 rounds to do? I have never done a break in before
 
There’s really no since in breaking in a barrel, especially a hammer forged barrel. More harm than good could come from it, not to mention YOUR time wasted.

Just go out, enjoy your rifle, and don’t cook the barrel. I know it can get hot..... I live in Houston. Just spread out your shots. After 5-10 rounds, if your barrel feels hot.... take a 5-10 minute break.
 
just my .02-breaking in is worthwhile,i think,but balanced against the fact that no factory gun is "new" (they must shoot them before shipping for legal reasons,if no other). custom barrel is a different thing,i believe. i have given up ammonia,abrasives and almost all brushing. just seems damaging for no need. bore tech,sharp shoot r products have been very effective for me and are biodegradable,so i can't see how they can harm steel. i really like the carbon fiber rods and always use a bore guide.
 
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I got a HOWA also but in 300WM. No break in needed I use a cleaning soluation that I made up from the advise of a fellow shooter. THis stuff strips the barrel of all your copper build up.
kano 24hp lub pen oil 2%
butches bore shine 38%
bore tech Cu+2 60%
mix it it should look milky apply it and let it set for a few and run your patches clean
 
this is interesting. there was a product.no longer available,that was formulated by a overland trucker to clean breaks on race guns. smelled like the "rotten egg" stuff you made in your home chem set. i.e. the odor was hydrogen sulfide. it was a miracle. plug chamber,leave overnight and everything came out. never harmed a bore at all. always wondered why the big outfits never grabbed it up. i assume the above formula is % by volume? currently checking out sharp shoot r products. seem vg so far,but you end up wasting about 50% of the foam stuff no matter what methods used to prevent that. bore tech is also something i like alot.
 
Check this out....

Step 1: Take your gun, buy a couple of different types of quality ammo (Berger 6.5 Creedmoor, FGMM, Hornady ELD-M)and shoot the piss out of it. It should tighten up after a few rounds.

Step 2: Keep shooting the piss out of it until accuracy starts to fall off.

Step 3: When accuracy declines, clean bore with boretech eliminator, some patches, a nylon brush and a carbon rod.

Step 4: Repeat step number 1.

Gun cleaning and barrel break in are voodoo. Clean only when the gun tells you to and shoot often, brother. Good luck.
 


 
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