Break in procedure question

[Wildride47]

Can anyone recommend a procedure to break in a chrome lined barrel. I've read properly cleaning and oiling the bore during the first 100 round will improve accuracy and longevity of the barrel. Sadly the article did not say what was the correct procedure. Thanks again for he advise. Greg

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[cosmo glider]

Good question. I just did a Google search and read that for crome lined barrels a break in procedure isn't necessary.

Maybe more experienced shooters can jump in here.

[Wildride47]

I've read the same but also read that some manufactures believe you should. Olympic had a procedure, AR-15.com said just shoot it.

[PoorBoy]

If ya want to develop a tack-driver, I've always read that you brush out the barrel, or run a bore-snake down it after each shot, or every couple of shots. I've never had the patience for that.

You want enough time between shots so that the barrel never gets too hot (during break-in) and that you keep doing this for 100 (or more) rounds. Basically you want a very clean barrel for each shot, and you want the heat applied gently till everything wears-in together (thus polishing the lands & groves).

Jacketed bullets are better than softer lead-only rounds. Ball ammo or JHP would be better to do all this first shooting with.

Good luck.

P.S.

Most chrome-lined barrels REQUIRE no break-in at all. Just shoot it. All of what I said above is for those folks who want a match-quality rifle (or handgun), or at least desire the BEST accuracy possible out of what they bought.

My AR has been pumped full of ammo with no regard to improving what they are already capable of (out of the box).

[billnourse]

Break-in proceedure for my Cooper 30/06 was to clean after each shot until it had 20 to 25 rounds through it.

I painstakingly did this, and then cleaned after every 3 shots until about 40.

My first two groups after break in were a 3 shot group that was .565" and a 4 shot that was .562". Don't know if the cleaning was the reason or not, but if it was, then it was well worth the effort.

Bill

[TX-South]

Originally Posted by Wildride47

Can anyone recommend a procedure to break in a chrome lined barrel. I've read properly cleaning and oiling the bore during the first 100 round will improve accuracy and longevity of the barrel. Sadly the article did not say what was the correct procedure. Thanks again for he advise.

Greg

Just shoot it and clean it like any other gun. Its not going to make it any more or less accurate. The reason theres no instruction is because theres nothing proven to do anything other than shooting it and keeping the bbl clean. If you have a REAL target gun like $5000 olympic shooting rifle, then sure, shoot a round, run a patch, shoot a round, run a patch 4 or 5 times. Then shoot it and take care of it.

Any other mass produced gun, just shoot it. It's designed to expell projectiles

[PoorBoy]

Originally Posted by billnourse

Break-in proceedure for my Cooper 30/06 was to clean after each shot until it had 20 to 25 rounds through it.

I painstakingly did this, and then cleaned after every 3 shots until about 40.

My first two groups after break in were a 3 shot group that was .565" and a 4 shot that was .562". Don't know if the cleaning was the reason or not, but if it was, then it was well worth the effort.

Bill

If I assume that you shooting those beautiful groups at a 100yds, then you're talking sub-MOA accuracy. That is awesome.

Like TX-South mentions, typically you'd be spending thousands of dollars for a sub-moa rifle.

[fdh161]

Originally Posted by Wildride47

Can anyone recommend a procedure to break in a chrome lined barrel. I've read properly cleaning and oiling the bore during the first 100 round will improve accuracy and longevity of the barrel. Sadly the article did not say what was the correct procedure. Thanks again for he advise.

Greg

The manual for my DPMS AR-15 recommended running a patch after every round for the first 20, which I did (did the same thing with new Remington VTR Tactical .308). Not sure if it helped or not. Both rifles are far more accurate than the shooter anyway, but I figured it couldn't hurt.

[cosmo glider]

Here is a procedure that a friend copied and gave to me a few months ago. I have no idea who wrote it, just posting it for consumption. I also don't know what type of barrel/gun it was meant for but knowing where it came from I believe it was for bench shooters:

RECOMMENDED BARREL BREAK-IN AND CLEANING PROCEDURES

I recommend that your new rifle barrel be properly broken-in to obtain the best accuracy. A proper break-in will help assure that your barrel will clean easily in the future and that you will achieve maximum accuracy potential.

We are concerned with two types of fouling: copper fouling, which is caused by bullet jacket material being left in the barrel, and powder fouling. During the first few shots fired trrough a new barrel, quite a bit of jacket material will be left in the barrel. A barrel that has been fired a number of times will not copper foul nearly as much. It is important to remove this copper from the barrel during the early rounds to help prevent its build-up later on. Do not use moly-coated bullets during the break-in procedure.

I suggest that you use an action bore guide while cleaning to help prevent throat wear from the cleaning rod. I like coated rods such as the Dewey or Parker-Hale brands. Also, while cleaning the barrel, be sure to keep the rod straight. Do not lift the rod as it comes out of the guide or bend it to either side. Doing so will cause a "belly" in the rod that will wear the lands in the barrel.

I like to use Shooter's Choice or GM top engine cleaner for general cleaning, and Sweet's solvent for eliminating copper fouling.

I suggest that a new barrel be cleaned after every shot for the first 10-12 rounds fired through it. My procedure is to push a patch wet with Shooter's Choice through the barrel, followed by 5-10 strokes with a bronze brush soaked with Shooter's Choice. Then, push this with patches wet with Sweet's. This last step is repeated until there is no trace of blue on the patch as it comes out of the barrel. Best results will be achieved if the barrel is left wet with Sweet's for a minute or so between patches.

Usually the barrel will quit copper fouling by the 12th shot or so, often sooner. This is what we are looking for. After 12 shots or so, a five shot group can be fired, followed by another cleaning. After this, the barrel can go 10-20 shots between cleaning sessions, depending on caliber and bullets.

It is probably a good idea to clean the barrel with Sweet's every 150 rounds or so, to keep on top of any copper fouling tendecy. Do not put Sweet's on a brush. The solvent will attack the brush and give the false indication that the barrel is copper fouling.

[billnourse]

PoorBoy,

The gun I mentioned is a Cooper Model 52, and the groups were at 100 yards. Cooper rifles are guaranteed 1/2" at 100 if broken in as they prescribe, and using the right load. It is definately Sub MOA, as is my RockRiver AR-15.

Bill