Jump to content
Sign in to follow this  
ctafoya

Barrel Break in

Recommended Posts

So we took my wife's new Remington 700 7mm out yesterday and "broke" it in. The results are the same as my savage 116 300wsm that saw 50 rounds before it ever had a patch run through it. Both are .25 or better at 200 yards. Is break in just a myth or did I just get lucky with my savage?

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

i could tell a difference in my tikka 7mm mag. id have 2 rounds almost touching and a third off about an inch or so. cleaned the barrel and i can have 5 rounds touching. i run a bore snack threw it every 5 rounds.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Every barrel is unique. Breaking barrels in means different things to different shooters. When I 'break in' a barrel, I'm just trying to burnish the metal. I'm not trying to 'smooth' anything out.

  • Like 1

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I tend to agree that for a very good barrel it probably doesn't matter much. I certainly haven't seen much in the way of differences. I have done full break-in cleaning after every shot through the first ten, then after every five, etc. This was on my two custom guns as it was recommended and for the money I was not going to skip it. This last custom barrel in 6.5 I was in a time crunch so I just shot it when I could and cleaned it after the first box. It shoots great...

 

I am not convinced there is any real science over the long term, maybe there is. Now for something like the Tubbs System there seems to be a lot of reasons the system works for a barrel not already shooting very well..

  • Like 1

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Here is my very rigorous break-in procedure with every new gun:

 

1. Clean barrel from factory.

2. Bore sight and sight in with a group of three.

3. Adjust crosshairs as needed and shoot a group of three.

4. Shoot one

5. Shoot one

6. Shoot one

7. See number 4 through 6 and repeat.

8. When groups start to open up, or if gun will be stored for more than 6-9 months without getting shot, clean.

 

Seriously, I have guns that go between 50-800 rounds without cleaning the barrel. If it ain't broke, don't fix it. A clean bore is far more inaccurate than a cold bore.

  • Like 1

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I won't say that's the norm for the Savage or the Remington. On the contrary .25 is unheard of at 100 yards with a factory barrel. The exception were the old Sako's in 6mm PPC and the XP-100 in 7BR so you're doing ok.

 

I know that most rifles are test fired before they leave the factory but Tikka does not clean the rifle before they ship them out. I don't go Willy Nilly with a new rifle but shooting a box of shells to sight it in without cleaning it won't make a difference considering that manufacturing just keeps getting better and better.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Honestly I couldn't say that barrel break in helps in accuracy, but what I have found it sure makes the barrel easier to clean for the life of the barrel afterwards. By the way most of the barrel manufactures have a break in procedure on their website, so they must think its a good idea.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
Sign in to follow this  

×