Breaking in a barrel....

[AJCrowley]

Just wondering about breaking in barrels.

When I got my first rifle, someone told me to run 10 shots through it, and give the barrel a quick clean with copper solvent after each shot to break it in. While I have no complaints about the accuracy of the firearm, I have no idea if that made a difference.

So....just wondering what process others use to break in a barrel? Same as above? Just shoot it a bunch? Is there an official agreed upon way of doing this, or will I get 10 different answers from 10 people?

Cheers!

 

[mihasic]

Just wondering about breaking in barrels.

When I got my first rifle, someone told me to run 10 shots through it, and give the barrel a quick clean with copper solvent after each shot to break it in. While I have no complaints about the accuracy of the firearm, I have no idea if that made a difference.

So....just wondering what process others use to break in a barrel? Same as above? Just shoot it a bunch? Is there an official agreed upon way of doing this, or will I get 10 different answers from 10 people?

Cheers!

Probably you'll get more than 10 different answers from 10 different people.
As for me, I prepare breaking-in my new rem VTR in 223, and I'll do it as I did it with my 30-06 a-bolt - with David Tubb's Final Finish. I do not know - and I think it's impossible to say - if it affects the accuracy but what was noticed for sure is that it affects (reduces) copper foiling. Sure if you have a match barrel you need not break it in - it is already polished. But for something not that expansive I find it useful.