What are the steps you take to break in a new rifle barrel?

[Bypass]

My $200 hi point revolver can hit a 4x8 sheet of plywood at 100 yards, usually. And I cleaned it every other year.

 

[Junior_357]

I have to disagree.
1) Browning A-Bolt 300 WSM = Sub MOA
2) DPMS AR10 308 Win = Sub 3/4 MOA
3) Browning X-Bolt 270 WSM = Sub 1/2 MOA
4) Remington 700 LTR 308 Win = 1/4 MOA
5) Remington 700 Sendero 220 Swift = 1/4 MOA

All of these are stock rifles. The 300, both 308s and the 220 were bought new and the barrel was properly broken in. I did drop a new trigger into the DPMS.
I have also worked up loads for more than 100 rifles that were stock and have been able to find loads that will shoot at or better than 1/2 MOA for about 85% of them. I have never had a rifle come in that I could not get to shoot sub MOA that did not have some kind of problem with it or the optics. I have even gotten 1/2 MOA out of TWO Marlin 336 rifles in 30-30. Proper ammo is the key.

Edit: Oops, forgot another one I have.
Remington 700 VTR 223 Rem = 1/4 MOA.

I also have a stock Marlin in 17HMR that is sub MOA. It's really not that hard to find a Sub MOA rifle, but first you have to be able to shoot well enough to find out what you have. LOL!

Damn, just remembered another one.
Bushmaster AR 15 = Sub MOA. This one took a LOT of barrel break in, but has shot like a champ for about 15 years.

I also have custom rifles, but I often wonder why.

This is why I voted TACOS...because I am going to have Bear break in my new X-Bolt!

 

[Bear44]

This is why I voted TACOS...because I am going to have Bear break in my new X-Bolt!

NA HA! I'm going to SHOW you how to break it in, then sit back and watch YOU do all the work. LOL!

 

[Junior_357]

And I have to pay you for that pleasure? I'll do the shooting...you do the cleaning!

Seriously...after the season is over in the north zone, I want to get that little firebreather going.

 

[blgreggjr]

If it is a target rifle I clean it with hoppes then clean every 100 rds. If its a ar or other rifle I just shoot the hell out of it

 

[Bypass]

NA HA! I'm going to SHOW you how to break it in, then sit back and watch YOU do all the work. LOL!

Takes me two 10 hour range days to break one in only firing 90 rounds. Tell him to bring alot of beer.

 

[mtgldr]

So bear... tell us your secret.

 

[Junior_357]

So bear... tell us your secret.

It's pretty simple, actually...but I will let Bear tell you.

 

[BHJ]

Straight from Savage Arms website.

What is the barrel break-in procedure? [Link to this answer]



Although there may be different schools of thought on barrel break-in, this is what Precision Shooting Magazine recommends:

STEP 1 (repeated 10 times)

Fire one round
Push wet patches soaked with a powder solvent through the bore
Push a brush through the bore (5 times in each direction)
Push dry patches through the bore (2 times)
Push wet patches soaked with a copper solvent through the bore
Push a brush through the bore (5 times in each direction)
Push dry patches through the bore (2 times)
Push a patch with 2 drops of oil through the bore

STEP 2 (repeated 5 times)

Fire a 3 shot group
Repeat the cleaning procedure from STEP 1 after each group

STEP 3 (repeat 5 times)

Fire a 5 shot group
Repeat the cleaning procedure from STEP 1

They recommend the use of a patch with 2 drops of oil after the cleaning so that you are not shooting with a dry bore. It is also advisable to use a powder solvent and copper solvent from the same manufacturer to be sure they are chemically compatible.

That's how I've done it for a couple of decades and I'm a firm believer

 

[ngcsugrad09]

Shoot it...


A lot.