I know this should probably be on the hunting but, we were having a discussion at work on the proper way to break in a new rifled gun barrel. i was told to shoot one round through it clean it shoot two rounds through it and clean and so on. The other guy said it should come ready to shoot out of the box. Any thoughts.
When I got my Browning A-bolt 14 years ago dad and I shot a few rounds then ran a brush and patch through then fired a few more rounds then brush and patch a couple more times. I take it to the range and fire 3 rounds every year before opener and the zero hasn’t moved in all that time! LOVE that gun! When I die I’m taking it with me. Lol
I have heard variations of this “break in procedure” and I don’t and have never bought into it.
A new barrel does not get dirty any faster than an old barrel, so what benefit would there be to cleaning it after 1 round and again 2 rounds later, and so on? Cleaning is not going to alter the barrel itself, so cleaning will have no impact at best and at worst will make the rifle shoot worse.
I always clean a new barrel before I fire it just to make sure there is nothing left in the barrel from the manfacturing process.
In my last 3 new rifles, I’ve noticed that accuracy has tended to improve over the first 100 rounds. I’m not, however, convinced that this is entirely or even in part due to the barrel “breaking in” so much as it is me getting the trigger and the ammo dialed in, and not least of all, getting me in synch with how the gun feels and shoots. Every trigger is different, ever grip is different, every gun has different ergonomics. Therefore it’s as much about the shooter as it is the rifle.
Grouse
Search fire lapping a barrel.
Search “Help! I ruined my chamber throat by trying to fire lap my barrel.”
If you’re going the fire lapping route, you’d better hire it done by someone who knows absolutely what they’re doing. I have trouble seeing any situation where the possible benefits would be worth it for the average hunter.
Grouse
Grouse
I agree with Grouse,clean a new barrel really good, and just learn to shoot it. Different rounds behave in different rifles, find the round that works the best for you, and just get out there and practice with it
Jack 
I run molly coated bullets through a molly coated barrel so break in was different in my PD rifle, but talking to the high power shooters many liked to fire once, run a wet patch, then dry, then fire again, repeat often.
Their belief was those first few rounds should go though a clean barrel, there is a break period in with a new barrel…they say.
I think I believe them.
Maybe hit one of the shooting forums and see what the latest/greatest is?
Al
Buy a good rifle and it will be good to go out of the box. Instead of trying to break it in, spend that time getting a good zero and then get to a known distance range and practice, practice, practice. Learn the ballistics of the rounds you are using and don’t take a shot you can’t make. The biggest problem I’ve seen is people buying a rifle that doesn’t fit their body, arm length. I have also noticed that the trigger can be set too heavy on new rifles causing people to jerk rounds. A fine tune from a gunsmith can fix that really quick.
If it is a hunting rifle, shoot it out of the box. If your a competition shooter, you shouldn’t need to ask us… 
Quote:
If it is a hunting rifle, shoot it out of the box. If your a competition shooter, you shouldn’t need to ask us…
Ya, maybe.
But it took me less than a half hour to break my prairie dog gun in, that’s including taking readings off the chrono.
Doesn’t seem like much to make a rifle a bit more accurate to me.
To each their own.
Al
Quote:
Buy a good rifle and it will be good to go out of the box. Instead of trying to break it in, spend that time getting a good zero and then get to a known distance range and practice, practice, practice. Learn the ballistics of the rounds you are using and don’t take a shot you can’t make. The biggest problem I’ve seen is people buying a rifle that doesn’t fit their body, arm length. I have also noticed that the trigger can be set too heavy on new rifles causing people to jerk rounds. A fine tune from a gunsmith can fix that really quick.
Totally agree with all of this.
Many more rifles even in the lower end of the price range are coming with adjustable triggers. The problem is that you have to RTFM (Read The Freaking Manual) to learn how to adjust them because often the factory is quite heavy.
Also agree about taking the time to figure out the trajectory at ranges beyond 100 yards. I can’t count the number of people that I see sitting there at the range and impressing themselves by pounding round after round into the 100 yard target. I would bet that 80% of deer hunters have absolutely no idea where their rifle hits at 150 and 200.
Even for a “northwoods” hunter, a 200 yard shot could easily present itself. Fencelines, swamps, powerline clearings, etc.
Keep in mind that there is no such thing as “accuracy”. Accuracy is really just consistency.
To me, it’s of far greater benefit to the average hunter to learn where and how their rifle shoots, rather than to worry about elaborate mating-dance break in procedures.
Grouse
Good point. The reason I am taking mine to the range this weekend is to ensure I know where the bullet hits at 50, 100, and 200. Actually just to confirm that it still hits where it did before.
Bundie if you’re talking about a hunting rifle all you need to do is simply do a thorough cleaning like has been mentioned above. If you look at the precision rifle/long range/sniper forums you’ll see the discussion about break in of precision rifles is like the Ford/Chevy conversations. Everyone’s got their opinion and many are very passionate about both sides of the argument. Some say it’s a must, some say it’s a myth. There is some validity to the argument that a new barrel will develop more copper fouling than a barrel that’s had a number of rounds put through it. That’s the rationale for the shoot once or twice or three times (depending on who’s break in procedures you’re following) then clean it. However generally speaking, and especially with hunting rifles, you’ll do just fine to clean it when you get it, shoot it until your accuracy begins to suffer, then clean it again. Rinse and repeat.
One thing that will have a bigger effect on accuracy than any break in or lack of, is using a cheap cleaning rod. A full length, single piece rod, that’s coated is less likely to scratch and mar up the chamber and barrel. The coated rods help to protect the rifle. If you’re not careful with the cleaning rods that have several segments that need to be screwed together as your pushing it through the barrel and it flexes it will damage the barrel.
The number one way to improve the accuracy of any firearm is to use good fundamentals and shoot the thing.
Hope this helps. If you have more questions shoot me a pm and I’ll send you some links for references to both sides of the argument. Good luck.
The only place ive heard of breaking in or seasoning a barrel is with muzzleloading guns. And from what i know it just makes cleaning easier. Anybody have any more info on the subject.
Ajs
“To me, it’s of far greater benefit to the average hunter to learn where and how their rifle shoots, rather than to worry about elaborate mating-dance break in procedures.
“
There is no elaborate dance, just a few simple steps, if you happy with just the gun going bang, so be it, personally I’ll spend the 20-30 minutes and make whatever firearm I’m shooting more accurate.
Al
My problem with that, there is little to NO scientific evidence this makes a factory barrel more or less accurate. How clean it is has far more adverse effects from what I’ve read.
Like someone stated above, it’s a Ford/Chevy/Dodge discussion that likely doesn’t have a clear cut “winner” on either side. If it gives you confidence, then I say do however you like. 
You must be logged in to reply to this topic.
