[4458]

Having talked to my freind about barrel break in, I have come to the conclusion that it has a fairly significant role in the performace of the barrel for the rest of it's life. Is this so? The process that I have always adhered to, is fire the first shot, swab the barrel. Do this 20 times. Shoot 5 shots, swab the barrel, do this 10 times. Shoot 10 rounds, swab the barrel, do this also 10 times.
Labor intensive as this may sound, I have never had any problems or grudges about it. In fact, my stock .22 which was broken in this way, shoots much more consistent groups than my friends stock .22, which he just started lighting ammo up through.
I have heard of fire lapping, what exactly does it do? Benifits? Drawbacks? Process? Any help would be greatly appreciated!!

"Go beyond the chickens, and find french cheese where once was void..."

 

[ottergt]

This is what Ken from Whiteface Mtn suggested for a new GM barrel"

"Clean after every 10 round for the first 50 then every 50 till 250. I use the weedwacker line. This should do it fine Ken"

I can confirm the benefits of barrel break-in, at least on centerfire rifles. I followed a prescribed break-in on my Ruger M77 bolt gun, and I could see the group size shrinking considerably as the break-in progressed.

Since you only get one shot at breaking-in a barrel, I think it's worth it.

--Otter

 

[George S]

While waiting anxiously for my

GM 18" stainless fluted barrel, I was thinking about a break-in procedure too. How much of a role does ammo play in the break-in? Should it be just bulkpack stuff or H-V rounds and would that change the shoot/clean frequency?

Should I use a cleaner with a patch or boresnake? Something like Hoppe's #9 solvent?

With any luck, my barrel should be here today or tomorrow and my Boyd's Ross Thumbhole stock got here yesterday so I should be ready for the range by the weekend!!

 

[4244]

breakin

I understand the basics for break-in. my only question is: when cleaning between shots are you using only a dry patch or are you using solvent then a dry patch or ?

I've got one I plan on breaking in this weekend so...

 

[1073]

I always use a solvent breaking in the barrel. When I state clean it means a solvent patch and then dry patch. KenWFMBS

 

[ottergt]

I also use solvent formulated for powder AND copper. I followed Ken's procedure on my GM 16.5" SS fluted bbl (I used solvent patches until they came out clean, follwed by a dry patch)...finally finished break-in on Monday. I started trying a few different brands of ammo and got a penny sized 50 shot group at 25 yds with American Eagle. I'm pelased so far

--Otter

 

[3685]

I started breaking in my barrel earlier this week.I shot 2 then cleaned for 10 rounds then shot 5 and cleaned for 25 rounds then 10 and cleaned for 50 rounds and that is as far as I got but it seemed to be helping here is a pic of the target that I used on the 10 round groups and the groups started coming together better each time I cleaned it the last 10 round group measured around 7/8" @50yrds so I was pleased with it since it has had less than 100 rounds through it...

I am not sure about 3 &4 they might be backwards I have slept since then
hope this helps

Shooter