Warning

 

Close
Confirm Action

Are you sure you wish to do this?

Cancel Confirm
AR15.COM
AR Sponsor
9/2/2007 4:07:23 PM EDT
I just got a new rifle and I was wondering about barrel break in.  I just started reading about barrel break in.

My understanding is that you have to do the following:
1.  Clean barrel before shooting first time.
2.  Shoot 1 round
3.  Clean barrel of both powder and copper
4.  {Repeat steps 2 & 3 for 4 more times} (totaling firing of 5 bullets when done)
5.  Shoot 3 rounds
6.  Clean barrel of both powder and copper
7.  Shoot 5 rounds
8.  Clean barrel of both powder and copper

Note one place I read said to shoot 1 round, and clean for 20 times (20 1-shot & clean method)

What do you guys think of this?  I understand the concept of trying to smoothen the barrel since it's new and remove the copper & powder since it's going to prevent the bullet to rub against side of the barrel's grooves.

I just want to do what's best for my rifle since i do plan to train on it for tight groupings.
9/2/2007 4:28:46 PM EDT
[#1]
There are a ton of diff. views on this. Ive heard everything from shoot 1 and swab a few times for 20-30 rounds....which i tyhought was rediculous...

Ive shot through my fare share of new barrels, and I havent had any problem with shooting 5 rounds or so, then running a brush and swab through for a few dozen rounds..

and keep a super tight cleaning regimin for ur barrel for the first few weeks....

your accuracy should start to increase as you break ur barrel in a bit, but make sure you always clean it after every time out on the range...
9/2/2007 4:30:32 PM EDT
[#2]
By the way, what kind of barrel you got your hands on over there?
9/2/2007 4:38:40 PM EDT
[#3]
THIS SITE has a lot of information about this and other gun-related technical stuff. Enjoy!
9/2/2007 4:41:39 PM EDT
[#4]
No such thing as barrel break in.

yarchive.net/gun/barrel/break_in.html
9/2/2007 4:44:53 PM EDT
[#5]
Out of curiosity, I e-mailed Wilson shortly after purchasing my RRA Predator Pursuit about barrel break-in.  Wilson supplies the heavy match grade stainless steel barrel on this rifle.  My e-mail was answered by an engineer at Wilson and he replied (quoting here):  "All of our barrels ship ready to fire, it is not necessary or recommended that you break-in the barrel. Congratulations on your recent purchase".

Take it for what it's worth, I'm only passing it along for informational purposes.  YMMV.
9/2/2007 5:48:58 PM EDT
[#6]
i will only do up to #4 on your list.just to initially clean unknown material out and a few rounds cleaning in between so I would "feel" better about it.
with quality of barrels and how they are made today it is probably a waste of time to do more than an initial cleaning prior to first firing.
but I know what you mean ryo
I picked up a nice stainless barrel and thought the same.I cleaned everytime after each shot the first 5 rounds and said fuck it. it shoots 1/2-1 MOA so it obviously made no difference since basically I did not do the ritual "breakin"
9/2/2007 6:23:48 PM EDT
[#7]
What do you guys think of this? The reviews seem pretty good.
9/2/2007 6:37:55 PM EDT
[#8]

Quoted:
What do you guys think of this? The reviews seem pretty good.


Might help a factory barrel but not for use in a match grade lapped barrel.

Usually factory barrels start to shoot better once the burr at the throat (left from the not so sharp chamber reamer) gets knocked down. The same goes for the burr at the gas port in an AR barrel.
9/2/2007 6:55:30 PM EDT
[#9]

Quoted:

Quoted:
What do you guys think of this? The reviews seem pretty good.


Might help a factory barrel but not for use in a match grade lapped barrel.

Usually factory barrels start to shoot better once the burr at the throat (left from the not so sharp chamber reamer) gets knocked down. The same goes for the burr at the gas port in an AR barrel.


So i guess in my new RRA entry tactical, it wouldn't be a wasted $30. I bought it being that my goal is to shoot as tight a group as possible at 50 and 100yds and eventually 300yds.
9/2/2007 7:05:34 PM EDT
[#10]
probably aught to look into a 2 stage trigger, free float tube and a decent scope...
9/2/2007 7:19:08 PM EDT
[#11]

Quoted:
What do you guys think of this? The reviews seem pretty good.


Fire lapping can put excessive wear on the throat--something probably best used as a last resort.
9/2/2007 8:56:48 PM EDT
[#12]
height=8
Quoted:
THIS SITE has a lot of information about this and other gun-related technical stuff. Enjoy!


Nice tips.. I like the idea of putting cardboard behind the target to keep holes clean :)

Any case I'll have to check with my armorer to find out if this barrel is good to go or needs break in.  Since it's a match barrel, I imagine it's probably good to go.  When I was leaving the store with my new rifle, he just told me shoot out 1000 rounds to smooth out.. but I didn't think at the time to ask him about the burn in of first few shots.

I never burn in any rifle I have, but never had I gotten one for specifically long range shooting.
AR Sponsor