Barrel break in.

[Pathfinder76]

I have no time. It gets more elusive all the time. I’ve broken in barrels with the clean, shoot, clean, shoot, blah blah blah. The last 15 years I just shoot a bunch and then clean every so often. My latest barrel is a 6.5 1-8 Benchmark. I shot 20 rounds through it, cleaned it and then shot 80 more. Last night I ran three patches soaked with whipeout patch out and let it sit for 90 minutes. Then I pushed this patch through.

Break them in if you wish. I sure don’t.

[Kurt505]

I wish!

I would love to just clean then shoot a bunch but my OCD won't let me. I got this thing and I always think if I don't do it, it'll have copper trapped in the microgrooves from the machining forever.

I find it takes around 50 rounds befor I start seeing good accuracy out of a fresh barrel.

[duceman]

Originally Posted by Kurt505

I wish!

I would love to just clean then shoot a bunch but my OCD won't let me. I got this thing and I always think if I don't do it, it'll have copper trapped in the microgrooves from the machining forever.

I find it takes around 50 rounds befor I start seeing good accuracy out of a fresh barrel.

need to buy better barrels...……………

[Kurt505]

Originally Posted by duceman

need to buy better barrels...……………

I suppose.

[Battle Rat]

Same here.
This topic has been beat to the ground.
Unless someone takes two identical barrels and breaks one in "proper" and just shots the other one and comes up with supporting evidence, don't trust their opinion.
That's really what it is, just opinion as opposed to hard data.

[6.5 shooter]

More people ruin barrels then fix them from over/improper cleaning IMHO

[Salavee]

Originally Posted by chuck

I have no time. It gets more elusive all the time. I’ve broken in barrels with the clean, shoot, clean, shoot, blah blah blah. The last 15 years I just shoot a bunch and then clean every so often. My latest barrel is a 6.5 1-8 Benchmark. I shot 20 rounds through it, cleaned it and then shot 80 more. Last night I ran three patches soaked with whipeout patch out and let it sit for 90 minutes. Then I pushed this patch through.

Break them in if you wish. I sure don’t.

I totally agree. I have never used a break-in procedure on a new barrel ..ever, and I've had quite a few. They all shot as expected and most are still doing it today. I found that not letting a barrel overheat, not shooting excessively hot loads and a reasonable cleaning routine is the best route for maximum barrel life. That and Wipe-Out.

[marky_mark]

I love wipeout
But I been using that kg line lately
Works really well
A lot more work involved though

[Smokinyotes]

You guys that are using wipeout, are you using the accelerant with it? If using wipe out I usually run about 3 wet patches soaked with the accelerant followed by wipeout and let sit for about 3hours.

[sns2]

Chuck, as much as any other member, you add real-life, no nonsense, been there done that experience to this forum. Your barrel break in pics being just one more example. Thanks for that. This is how people newer to the sport learn, and it is helpful to those of us who have maybe been around the block a bit make up their minds concerning practices they are considering adopting or ditching. sns2

[sns2]

As for barrel break in... I have always just cleaned the factory goop out and shot like hell, soaking the barrel in Wipeout afterwards. I am too impatient for all that jazz. I could post my wallet group pics too, but whatever. It works for me.

[Ken3134]

Originally Posted by Salavee

I totally agree. I have never used a break-in procedure on a new barrel ..ever, and I've had quite a few. They all shot as expected and most are still doing it today. I found that not letting a barrel overheat, not shooting excessively hot loads and a reasonable cleaning routine is the best route for maximum barrel life. That and Wipe-Out.

Most people do more damage and wear and tear to their barrels in the cleaning process than it does any good. I’ve never concerned myself with all the “proper break in procedures”. It must have been thought up by an ammo manufacture.

Ken

[bobalong]

Originally Posted by Ken3134

Most people do more damage and wear and tear to their barrels in the cleaning process than it does any good. I’ve never concerned myself with all the “proper break in procedures”. It must have been thought up by an ammo manufacture.

Ken

LOL.....Are you a gunsmith who has asked thousands of customers how they damaged their barrels or how could you possibly know this.

[angery jonn]

Does anyone have a picture of a barrel that has been wrecked by improper cleaning. For all the comments on the subject I can’t seem to find a picture online.

[Pathfinder76]

Originally Posted by angery jonn

Does anyone have a picture of a barrel that has been wrecked by improper cleaning. For all the comments on the subject I can’t seem to find a picture online.

Can you show me a picture of a barrel that’s been broke in?

[HuntinGuy]

560 rounds through my tikka ctr still going strong with no cleaning and no real break in, I cleaned when it was new, then after 20 rounds I did another clean and then stopped. The less you touch your barrel the more consistent and predictable your zero and cold bore shots are. I did see a slight loss in precision (maybe .4” to .6”) after about 300 rounds, but now never shoots over 2/3” (ten shot groups). But my goal is more for consistency than total precision. I think lots of shooters do load development with a freshly “broken in” clean barrel, then see accuracy drop off when the barrel starts to “foul”. I believe this is when you should start load development.


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[Chewbacca]

My take on the barrel break in is something along the same line as some rifle calibers. Marketing.
When I read the article about when a well known barrel maker asked another barrel maker why he was promoting break in procedures with his barrels the former was told told it sold more barrels. That pretty well clinched it for me.
Clean the factory grease out and get shooting. After the season is over WipeOut with Accelerator. Works for me.

[6.5 shooter]

Originally Posted by Chewbacca

My take on the barrel break in is something along the same line as some rifle calibers. Marketing.
When I read the article about when a well known barrel maker asked another barrel maker why he was promoting break in procedures with his barrels the former was told told it sold more barrels. That pretty well clinched it for me.
Clean the factory grease out and get shooting. After the season is over WipeOut with Accelerator. Works for me.

I used WipeOut with Accelerator but I would sometimes find a gooey varnish like residue if I didn't get every last speck of it out. I now use Ballistol and find it cleans as well and no gooey residue.
FYI, https://ballistol.com

[Chewbacca]

Originally Posted by 6.5 shooter

I used WipeOut with Accelerator but I would sometimes find a gooey varnish like residue if I didn't get every last speck of it out. I now use Ballistol and find it cleans as well and no gooey residue.
FYI, https://ballistol.com

That is one drawback I found with the WipeOut is the varnish type stuff that shows up if it gets where isn’t supposed to go. It cleans so well though that I make sure it doesn’t get to where it doesn’t belong. Doesn’t get used very often though. My barrel shoots to good to clean it all the time.

[Smokinyotes]

I’m not sure if I’m waiting my time or not but I do the shoot 1 clean 1 for at least the first 10 then clean after every 3 for three groups. I never put a gun away dirty with the exception of my 22-250. It gets cleaned about twice a winter. I have no data or proof but I believe doing a proper break in reduces fouling in the long run.

[6.5 shooter]

Originally Posted by Chewbacca

That is one drawback I found with the WipeOut is the varnish type stuff that shows up if it gets where isn’t supposed to go. It cleans so well though that I make sure it doesn’t get to where it doesn’t belong. Doesn’t get used very often though. My barrel shoots to good to clean it all the time.

There are some great videos showing Ballistol against Hoppe #9 and other products.

Watch till the end and you will be tempted to throw out your Wipe out..Billistol takes a bit longer to work but cleans AND lubes verses just clean.

I hate cleaning my rifles and shoot them till accuracy falls off.

[260 Rem]

Reamer print...what Iclund said
NOTE: This is not a SAAMI spec reamer so 308 guys should not think their factory chambers have similar NK diameter / freebore dimensions.

[260 Rem]

Chuck, You asked to see ...A few of my barrels that have been “broke in”. Others are on actions but they look pretty much the same
....

[Pathfinder76]

Originally Posted by 260 Rem

Chuck, You asked to see ...A few of my barrels that have been “broke in”. Others are on actions but they look pretty much the same
....

Neat. I was asking for pictures showing the affect. But thanks.