barrel break in?
- Thread starter 243win
- Start date
nomad 68
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Don't even worry about it. They require more of a cleaning regimen as it is.
The only "break in" would be needed if you noticed slices in your patches after shooting them. That could indicate a burr on some edge of the rifling. Other than lapping the bore, what works would be a bristle brush loaded with OOOO steel wool and a hundred or so passes to remove the burr. Your rifling should not cut the patches so study the used patches from the first 50 shots or so and occasionally thereafter.
- Location
- West Quebec
You should be good to go, but someone may jump in with a different view, that's the way it is..
I was taught by a guy who has shot muzzleloaders for 60 years that with a new gun 20 rounds of lead bullets to start. Be it Buffalo bullets, Maxie Balls or patched round balls. Did this with every one I own and they are all shooters. When it ain't broke, is my thing.
One thing to be concerned about is plastic from sabots. My TC Encore started spraying bullets a few years back and this gun has always been a keyholer. Brushed it, solvent, plastic remover, the whole 9 yards and it was still pooched and had serious thought the barrel was toast. Went to my guy he said Sweets 7.62 bore cleaner was the only thing that will remove that plastic. Used it as per instructions and gun was back to normal next time out. The Sweets is only available in the US but it will cure a lot of ills in modern muzzleloaders. I have fixed 30-40 inline guns that went from good to bad and it is always a plastic buildup. 209 primers also compound this that is why I have converted to small rifle primers.
One thing to be concerned about is plastic from sabots. My TC Encore started spraying bullets a few years back and this gun has always been a keyholer. Brushed it, solvent, plastic remover, the whole 9 yards and it was still pooched and had serious thought the barrel was toast. Went to my guy he said Sweets 7.62 bore cleaner was the only thing that will remove that plastic. Used it as per instructions and gun was back to normal next time out. The Sweets is only available in the US but it will cure a lot of ills in modern muzzleloaders. I have fixed 30-40 inline guns that went from good to bad and it is always a plastic buildup. 209 primers also compound this that is why I have converted to small rifle primers.
