Stag 15L - is there a break-in procedure?

UncleWalther

UncleWalther

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Is there a break-in procedure that one should follow with an AR-15 style rifle? Or, once my Stag arrives, can I just get down to business and begin pumping rounds through it?
 
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Step one - Shoot.
Step two - repeat step one.

I've done all my guns like this, and never had a problem. Aggressive cleaning ruins more barrels that shooting ever will.

You will get MANY different opinions (most of them are very anal... shoot one round, clean, shoot five rounds, clean... etc), but MOST will agree that on a non-precision rifle (and even then, there are differing opinions), breaking in a barrel is done by shooting it. Period.
 
Ill give it a good cleaning when I get it new. I even do a couple passes of 000 (super extra fine) synthetic wool attached to a brush (this stuff barely scratches a mirror and adds a nice polish to the rifling); never from the buisness end.

Then, after each range trip I just run a bore snake through it a few times with oil and wipe the bolt down and make sure it is lubed, that's it.

I won't run a patch or do a more detailed cleaning until I've gone through at least one thousand rnds (this is my routine for any centerfire).
 
Heres some info directly from the Bushmaster website about "breaking-in" AR15s with a chrome lined barrel. Think I'll just follow it as the an authoritative word on the matter:

Q: What is the proper "break-in" procedure for a chrome lined AR barrel?

A: After firing a couple hundred rounds, the chrome lining will "polish out" from its light, flat gray, factory-new look to a brightly reflective, polished appearance. During this break-in period, excessive cleaning with solvent or brush should be avoided as that will only prolong the time (and number of rounds) it takes to achieve the final "bullet polishing" of the barrel.
 
CLEAN THOUROUGHLY WITH SOLVENTS PRIOR TO FIRING.

The barrel has a waxy preservative coating in the bore. Shoot before getting this out and your barrel is pooched.

Edit: shouldn't have said pooched:runaway: (don't panic folks) but clean your barrel. Clean the bore of any new firearm before firing, there will be something in there that shouldn't be shot out.
 
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Bah.

I hear about the 'shoot and clean' break-in mumbo jumbo even from the custom barrel makers, and I never get a straight answer on why this is better. Until the metallurgists get involved and put the analytical instrumentation on this and quantify and qualify it, it is just 10 lbs of crap in a 5 lb. bag IMO.

I shot my new HK SL8 right off the starting line and it hasn't missed a beat. It groups 3/4 MOA all day long with its favourite loads. No, your barrel is not necessarily pooched if you don't 'break it in'.

It would make an interesting article. Two rifles, top of the line barrels. Break one in, shoot the other as normal and compare the results...I will bet anyone a dollar to a donut there isn't enough difference between the two to worry about.
 
dangertree said:
CLEAN THOUROUGHLY WITH SOLVENTS PRIOR TO FIRING.

The barrel has a waxy preservative coating in the bore. Shoot before getting this out and your barrel is pooched.
Click to expand...

I'm on AR barrel number 4 that I've never done more than a cursory wipe with a breakfree soaked patch, followed by a dry patch, and all shoot just fine.
 
beltfed said:
I'm on AR barrel number 4 that I've never done more than a cursory wipe with a breakfree soaked patch, followed by a dry patch, and all shoot just fine.
Click to expand...
He specifically asked about Stag Arms barrels and I stand by my statement. I can't speak for other brands. These bores are coated with a preservative that a quick swab may not clean out. Use a solvent and a brush.

There can be enough preservative there that we once had a call from a customer wanting to return his new barrel due to the 'rust in the bore' he noticed upon initial inspection. Some solvent and elbow grease and he was good to go.
 
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I agree with most of whats said here... dangertree especially, he outta know and 'a)load and b)shoot'.
To summarize:
Clean em right off the bat real good
Clean em again when/ if they are dirty.

Myself, I generally don't like to get a barrel toooooo hot... (unless I don't own it of course.)
Most of that super anal 'break in' stuff is written by magazine writers desparate for something to do, sellers of barrels, and sellers of cleaning supplies.
My automobile mechanic told me how to 'break in' my new engine... go different speeds, no big hills, no hard accelleration, no really high revs for the first "n" kilometers. The man is a genious when it comes to engines.
That said, I know when he rebuilds someones engine and he takes it out... he ABUSES THE @#% outta it for twenty minutes before handing it over to the owner. :runaway:
So who knows? I like the recommendation that we take two rifles, identical and run some tests and put this @$#^ to sleep once and for all.
Anyways, good luck with your Stag. Lefty. (handed and not political?:p )
Please go and clean all your mirrors and windows with a ball peen hammer.
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canuckgunny said:
That said, I know when he rebuilds someones engine and he takes it out... he ABUSES THE @#% outta it for twenty minutes before handing it over to the owner. :runaway:
Click to expand...

I don't wanna hijack this post but when it comes to engines, many people will swear by a "hard" break-in. I've seen many new engines being worn-in on a dyno for 20 minutes and then hitting the track right afterwards, and these things were putting out over 700hp.

Ok back on topic now :)
 
dangertree said:
He specifically asked about Stag Arms barrels and I stand by my statement. I can't speak for other brands. These bores are coated with a preservative that a quick swab will NOT clean out. Disc Brake cleaner breaks it up nicely though..

There is enough preservative there that we once had a call from a customer wanting to return his new barrel due to the 'rust in the bore' he noticed upon initial inspection. Some solvent and elbow grease and he was good to go.
Click to expand...

He also mentioned 'AR type rifles' - which I was commenting on.
Sorry, I missed the part where he has a Stag Barrel, and that they have a specific coating, and cleaning procedure.
 
dangertree said:
CLEAN THOUROUGHLY WITH SOLVENTS PRIOR TO FIRING.

The barrel has a waxy preservative coating in the bore. Shoot before getting this out and your barrel is pooched.
Click to expand...

I ran three patches down my bore on a brass jag, about 6 passes each, soaked in CLP before I shot it. I did this until I got a clean patch out.

I hope this was good enough as I was unaware of the cleaning procedure required.
:eek:

Jeff
 
Clean patch = clean bore, no problems. Your initial patch will have a reddish residue on it, just get rid of that stuff.

Don't mean to freak people out, but you should clean your barrels until it's clean prior to shooting it for the first time, nothing to do with the break in. Don't just assume that because another barrel you purchased wasn't protected that they all aren't

This goes for any barrel, not just Stags. There may be more or less of it but they all arrive to you in storage mode. There is a waxy preservative on the inside and outside of the barrel. You decide when it's time to shoot it first. A brass jag and patches and solvent till it's clean is how to clean it. Nothing extra ordinary. CLP would do it, but is a lot slower than a strong sovent for a milspec preservative.


(do I get a point for saying milspec?:dancingbanana:)
 
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