New Rifle procedures?

[Kurt505]

What do you do when you buy a new rifle?

I used to buy a rifle, clean out the bore, then shoot the sht out of it.

Now I buy a new rifle, clean out the bore, pull out the barred action, clean it out, tester the barreled action, torque to factory spec on front and rear action screws, do a barrel break in, and now I’ve started polishing the action. I have a tub of mothers metal polish and I put it on some fine steel wool and polish the bolt until it’s butter smooth, I work the bolt for literally hours on some rifles. It’s like breaking in a new pair of boots.

What do you guys do with a new rifle?

[Nyksta]

I shoot it. I clean it before putting it away. and then i enjoy time with my family.

[Kurt505]

I do most of this while with my family, always do the barrel break in while we’re at the cabin for the weekend. I'll work in the action while watching tv with the family, although my oldest being a teenager with a job and a truck, he’s not around as much as he used to be, we still hang out on the weekends though.

[colroggal]

I shoot mostly cast loads. Read somewhere a while back the best way to break in a barrel for cast loads was to shoot about 20 jacketed rounds and then switch to cast without cleaning. Just oil and dry between sessions until accuracy drops out. I think the idea is a skim of copper in the bore keeps the lead out. Seems to work for me.

Colin

[Kurt505]

Originally Posted by colroggal

I shoot mostly cast loads. Read somewhere a while back the best way to break in a barrel for cast loads was to shoot about 20 jacketed rounds and then switch to cast without cleaning. Just oil and dry between sessions until accuracy drops out. I think the idea is a skim of copper in the bore keeps the lead out. Seems to work for me.

Colin

I’ve never heard of that, very interesting.

[Norwest Alta]

I wait until the wife is at work then sneak it into the house where it generally sits in the safe.

[RZR]

I cleaned the barrel for the first time since 1984 when I bought the rifle. Accuracy was never an issue either. Why do you think you have to break in a barrel?

[Kurt505]

Originally Posted by RZR

I cleaned the barrel for the first time since 1984 when I bought the rifle. Accuracy was never an issue either. Why do you think you have to break in a barrel?

When you say accuracy was never an issue do you mean you’re not worried about accuracy? We all have different ideas of what’s accurate. My idea of accurate is sub 1/2 moa, is that the kind of accuracy you’re talking about? If you had to guess, what’s the round count over the past 34yrs?

I’ll probably put over 500rds through my new rifle this year and I’d prefer not to erode the throat out of it within the first 5 years, proper barrel break in will help clean my barrel in the future and theoretically help prolong the life of my barrel

[Nyksta]

Originally Posted by Kurt505

When you say accuracy was never an issue do you mean you’re not worried about accuracy? We all have different ideas of what’s accurate. My idea of accurate is sub 1/2 moa, is that the kind of accuracy you’re talking about? If you had to guess, what’s the round count over the past 34yrs?

I’ll probably put over 500rds through my new rifle this year and I’d prefer not to erode the throat out of it within the first 5 years, proper barrel break in will help clean my barrel in the future and theoretically help prolong the life of my barrel

Most guns shoot better than the person holding them.

[Mountainaccent]

I throw scope on tighten it to I think it’s good line cross hairs up till I think there straight clean barrel and stock action. Go fire couple boxes give rifle a name and go home to clean it. Never torqued, lapped or leveled a scope and never had an animal complain

[elkhunter11]

I always pull the barreled action, clean the bedding area, adjust the trigger, then put it back together, and torque the action screws. Then I clean the barrel, and fire it. I watch for fouling ,and make sure that I don't let the barrel get overly fouled, as some barrels foul more when new.

[Kurt505]

Originally Posted by Nyksta

Most guns shoot better than the person holding them.

In your case I’d definitely agree.

[Nyksta]

Originally Posted by Nyksta

Most guns shoot better than the person holding them.

Originally Posted by Kurt505

In your case I’d definitely agree.

yea, i get between 1 to 1.5 moa consistent on the majority of my targets. I'm sure someone with more trigger time could get my factory Savage and Ruger guns to shoot all the time 1 moa or better. I do get the occasional coincidence 0.3 moa group which always brings a smile. But im real with myself and don't post up a 0.3 moa group saying i have a sub 0.5 moa gun... I know in reality my shooting is 1 to 1.5 moa.

[RZR]

Originally Posted by Kurt505

When you say accuracy was never an issue do you mean you’re not worried about accuracy? We all have different ideas of what’s accurate. My idea of accurate is sub 1/2 moa, is that the kind of accuracy you’re talking about? If you had to guess, what’s the round count over the past 34yrs?

I’ll probably put over 500rds through my new rifle this year and I’d prefer not to erode the throat out of it within the first 5 years, proper barrel break in will help clean my barrel in the future and theoretically help prolong the life of my barrel

I mean I can literally drill hole for hole with this rifle. It’s a .243 win and I used to shoot gophers in the summer time with this rifle and carry on into sheep season and the deer season. I reload and would get all my reloading supplies from the States. 1 pound of powder cost me $5.99, primers were $5.00 for a case and bullets were $5.00 for a hundred rounds. I wouldn’t even want to guess how many rounds have gone down the barrel of this rifle and it still a tack driver.

[score]

I don't know what the heck you guys arguing about. If Kurt wants to do that to his guns and take good care of them how he sees fit, all the power to him.

In my opinion, basic care of a factory rifle is fine.

Before I replaced all my triggers I was always cleaning and tinkering with my stock ones, and I'm forever mounting and remounting and changing out scopes and stuff.

Who doesn't like playing with their guns?

[260 Rem]

Originally Posted by RZR

I mean I can literally drill hole for hole with this rifle. It’s a .243 win and I used to shoot gophers in the summer time with this rifle and carry on into sheep season and the deer season. I reload and would get all my reloading supplies from the States. 1 pound of powder cost me $5.99, primers were $5.00 for a case and bullets were $5.00 for a hundred rounds. I wouldn’t even want to guess how many rounds have gone down the barrel of this rifle and it still a tack driver.

Did I hear “tack driver” ... good time to bump the Tack Driver Challenge .

[Smokinyotes]

Originally Posted by 260 Rem

Did I hear “tack driver” ... good time to bump the Tack Driver Challenge .

Or in other words put your money where your mouth is.