So I plan to break in my Savage 10 .308 Barrel, yes I know there a lot of debate about this but I like taking my time at the range so I'm going to do what the factory recommends. I bought a mixture of ammo, some Austrian Surplus, some Hornady Hunting ammo and Federal Premium Gold. My question is would it be ok to use the Surplus ammo to break in the Barrel?
Breaking in Barrel with Austrian Surplus Ammo?
- Thread starter D Gordon
- Start date
Breaking in a barrel is a myth and a waste of time...
How ever...
Using some cheap ammo to get the rifle on paper and get the feel of the rifle before you set into the task of sighting in and shooting for groups with premium ammo isn't a bad idea.
A proper cleaning regiment using good tools also doesn't hurt the barrel
No cheap multi piece rods or dirt snakes please.
How ever...
Using some cheap ammo to get the rifle on paper and get the feel of the rifle before you set into the task of sighting in and shooting for groups with premium ammo isn't a bad idea.
A proper cleaning regiment using good tools also doesn't hurt the barrel
No cheap multi piece rods or dirt snakes please.Thank guys. I have a one piece rod with a proper jag and brushes. The plan was use the surplus to break in and get the scope semi sighted in. Once I've done the first 20 shots of the surplus I'll pull out the better ammo finalize the sighting in of the scope and see what groups I can get.
digitalblue
CGN Regular
- Location
- GTA unfortunately
Call me superstitious but my "break-in" consists of 20-30 rnds of steel jacketed ammo followed by ~100 rnds of cheap copper jacketed ammo.
Steel jacket is harder on the barrel and will knock off any rough spots, and the copper jacket to develop the proper "fouling".
Just what I do, YMMV.
Steel jacket is harder on the barrel and will knock off any rough spots, and the copper jacket to develop the proper "fouling".
Just what I do, YMMV.
The "steel jacketed bullets" are copper based jacketed bullets with a steel core. Absolutely no reason to be any harder on the bore than a lead core copper based jacketed bullet. It's the jacket that is contacting the bore...
I shot some of that hirtenberger thru my savage 10tr with 24 barrel , no brake , it is hot ,but no pressure signs.
Shot a 2" 16 shot group at 100 , seemed to shift slightly to the right as the barrel heated up.
I have a home tuned m305(18.5barrel) and it did about 3" with same ammo (5shot group only) I was actually expecting a lot worse .
Did I mention this stuff is hot, no chrony but I'd bet it's pushing close to 2900 fps
The 305 really likes the PMC 308 147gr , shoots decent groups for cheap ammo , have not tried the PMC in the savage (ran out)
Saving all the brass , gonna start reloading soon
Shot a 2" 16 shot group at 100 , seemed to shift slightly to the right as the barrel heated up.
I have a home tuned m305(18.5barrel) and it did about 3" with same ammo (5shot group only) I was actually expecting a lot worse .
Did I mention this stuff is hot, no chrony but I'd bet it's pushing close to 2900 fps
The 305 really likes the PMC 308 147gr , shoots decent groups for cheap ammo , have not tried the PMC in the savage (ran out)
Saving all the brass , gonna start reloading soon
digitalblue
CGN Regular
- Location
- GTA unfortunately
When I say steel jacket, I mean actual steel jacket; not steel core. The jackets on Cheap garbage ammo like Barnaul are actually a steel jacket with a very thin copper plating for corrosion resistance and lubrication, check their website if you don't believe me.
Steel without a doubt is harder than copper. The steel jacket is comparatively "softer" than the barrel steel, but non the less, it's still harder than copper and will wear the barrel out faster.
See the following link:
http://www.luckygunner.com/labs/brass-vs-steel-cased-ammo/
digitalblue
CGN Regular
- Location
- GTA unfortunately
Within the context of precision rifles, I agree with you. I only ever use it to break-in brand new barrels.
Read the article in that link. Out of a high-volume shooting platform like an AR, it's still cheaper to buy a new barrel due to the accelerated wear rather than quality copper jacketed ammo.
Surplus will work fine.
if you do nothing else; for the first 3 shots, clean after each shot. You will be shocked at how much metal fouling there is from a rough virgin barrel.
Clean it before shooting. The factory fired 5 shots and did not clean.
if you do nothing else; for the first 3 shots, clean after each shot. You will be shocked at how much metal fouling there is from a rough virgin barrel.
Clean it before shooting. The factory fired 5 shots and did not clean.
