Barrel Break In...?

Most of my barrels have forged chambers, no reaming at all.
I break barrels in by shooting a couple of mags of FMJ to put down a layer of lead in the bore and call it good. I also foul my bore after cleaning with FMJ..



Voodoo
 
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capp325 said:
Are you suggesting that running a cloth patch after every shot as part of "barrel break-in procedure" will somehow remove machine marks from hardened steel?
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Not at all, i am suggesting that cleaning out the copper fouling so that the machine marks can be smoothed out by shooting the bullet over it. The marks will take larger chucks out of the bullet until its smoothed out.

Since no one has given an actual agrument against barrel break in other than still saying its voodoo. I'll give one against it. The only way i'd say that break in isn't as nessacary is because now with modern machining it's probably less likely to gets burrs and machine marks. I've even say that with modern cleaning chemicals, you can clean less often and still get all the fouling out. Also with modern cleaning rods that are coated, you are less likely to cause damage to the bore because of cleaning.

Everyone know that the more you shoot a gun, without cleaning it, the worse the groups will get, because of fouling from the copper and powder. I feel that the copper fouling in a new barrel is at its worse because the barrel isn't as smooth and has burrs.

I do my break in procedure during sighting in and load development. I ususally spend a 100 rds on load development. I don't let my barrels get hot, so while i'm letting it cool might as well clean it. I don't do the 1 shot 1 clean break in, but i do believe a break in is nessecary to have the gun shooting it's best.
 
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Not trying to be a dink, Riggs...but copper is softer than machined barrel steel. To my mind, there is no way that a relatively softer material (cloth, brass or copper) is going to polish, burnish a harder one (chrome molly steel, carbon steel, etc). As far as 'seasoning the barrel' - I can turn that one around on you. For every expert you can show me that adheres (pardon the pun) to that theory - I can show you others that do not.

I'm not saying your wrong but if you were right - your evidence would be incontrovertible and repeatable - and clearly it is not. I suppose it's an argument for thee precision rifle boys - for me and my 7.5" AR stubbie...I ain't gonna bother. We can have this fight again if I am gearing up for the national matches at Camp Perry I suppose...;)
 
These young lads are practising traditional barrel break in procedures. Until they receive their barrel break in certificates, they have to practice with sticks:

 
I never said its the cleaning process that wears down the barrel. I said that is the bullet that is wearing down the barrel. I say you need to clean more often with a new barrel until it is "seasoned" and smoothed out.
Your thought of something soft won't wear away something soft? Even though the copper jacket material is softer than the barrel steel, it will wear away at such tiny irregularities (just as dripping water will wear away rock). Which is why experienced rifle competitors will say that any barrel will reach the peak accuracy of which it’s capable after about 100 to 200 shots.
Let me ask do you ever get your barrel crowned? Why? Because if the crown is uneven and the rifling isn't squared it will cause changes in the accuracy when the bullet isn't iniformaly released from the barrel. It's the same thing inside the barrel if it isn't smoothed out.
 
MRCLARK said:
Ok, I think I understand now. So what the majority of you are saying is that I don't need to "break in" my barrel and it won't affect accuracy?
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Not speaking for the majority, but I'd say we should all do what we believe needs to be done so that we feel personally confident that our rifles are shooting their best.
Using this confidence ( false or true doesn't really matter) we can perform to our best knowing that our rifles are ready to perform up to our personal shooting limitations.

There are a few who's limitations surpass the average rifle but for most of us and even the sharp shooters..... it's all in our head.
 
Riggseven said:
Even though the copper jacket material is softer than the barrel steel, it will wear away at such tiny irregularities (just as dripping water will wear away rock).
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Yes, dripping water will wear away rock....after millions of years. Likewise, copper-plated bullets will remove tool marks from a steel barrel after tens of thousands of rounds (long past the useful life of the barrel).
 
Here's another post from Mr. McMillan off another forum.

McMillan...
Posted: 01-27-2000 08:57
I will make one last post on this subject and appeal to logic on this subject I think it is the height of arrogance to believe a novice can improve a barrel using a cleaning rod more than that a barrel maker can do with 30 years of experience and a * million dollars in equipment . The barrel is a relatively precise bit of machining and to imagine that it can be improved on with a bit of abrasive smeared on a patch or embedded in a bullet. The surface finish of a barrel is a delicate thing with more of them being ruined with a cleaning rod in the hands of someone who doesn't know how to use one. I would never in a million years buy a used rifle now because you well may buy one that has been improved. First give a little thought to what you think you are accomplishing with any of the break in methods. Do you really believe that if what you are doing would help a barrel that the barrel maker wouldn't have already done it. The best marketing advantage he can have is for his barrels to out perform his competitors! Of course he is happy to see you poking things in your barrel . Its only going to improve his sales. Get real!!!! I am not saying the following to brag because the record speaks for itself McMillan barrels won the gold at 4 straight Olympics. Won the Leach Cup eight years running. Had more barrels in the Wimbledon shoot off every year for 4 straight years than any other make. Set the national 1000 yard record 17 times in one year. Held 7 world records at the same time in the NBRSA . Won the national silhouette matches 5 straight times and set 3 world records while doing that . Shot the only two 6400 scores in the history of small bore and holds a 100 yard world record that will stand for ever at .009 of one inch. All with barrels the shooter didn't have to improve on by breaking them in.

I added the bold at the bottom for those who don't wish to read the entire post.

TW25B
 
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MRCLARK said:
Remington recommends it on there barrels. I have a heavy barrel sps varmint in .223, they want me to shoot one, clean then shoot for ten rounds, then 2 for 20 etc.

Is this really necessary sounds like a pain in the ass, but in the end will it really improve accuracy?
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They just want you to buy their ####ty cleaning products.

It's all bull####. I've never cleaned an AR barrel, EVER.
 
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I'll bold it and hold your hand i'm not talking about custom made barrels. Like McMillan keeps refering to in these posts
I'm talking about factory made barrels. Do you think remington or savage or ruger has a guy or 2 hand lapping the barrels before they go out the door?
i've never said its the bore brush or cleaning rod that is breaking in the barrel. it is the bullet passed through that smooths out the barrel and breaks it in. I bolded it in the previous statement, even McMillan says the same thing!!!

You keep trying to prove something that we're not even talking about!
i agree!!! Custom barrels do not need breaking in because the have been processed better and hand lapped.

factory barrels don't get the same treatment and will require refining to get the best accuracy
 
Talking ARs here.
So really good AR barrels like Krieger or Shilen chambered by a good smith don't need a break in because they are well made. Hammer forged barrels, KAC, DD, CC don't have tool marks from chambering so they don't need break in.

And the cut chambered 2-3moa button rifled barrels can't tell the difference between a loving day long break in and a full auto mag dump.

That is where I am at with the break in Voodoo.
 
just clean and use
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