GreyGhost85 Report post Posted September 24, 2015 Lots of differing opinions for sure. I'm usually investing quite a bit of money into a new rifle, developing a load for it, etc. I'm going to shoot quite a few rounds thorough it anyway, so I'm not spending anything extra on rounds. FOR ME the extra couple of hours of time cleaning during break-in (shooting is a hobby that I enjoy so why rush it?) and a few dollars in cleaning supplies is well worth the piece of mind I get knowing it was done properly, even if is doesn't make a difference in the long run. A new rifle setup is a big investment in time and money for most of us, so why risk rushing it? what risks are involved in "rushing" this process? as long as you don't blast enough rounds back to back to overheat and shoot out the barrel, what risks are involved in not cleaning after every shot? i recently made a big purchase on a LR rifle. i shot about 10 rounds and cleaned it well. i'm on about shot 50 after the initial cleaning and my groups keep getting better every trip to the range (.3 MOA last trip) 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MogollonMan Report post Posted September 24, 2015 Lots of differing opinions for sure. I'm usually investing quite a bit of money into a new rifle, developing a load for it, etc. I'm going to shoot quite a few rounds thorough it anyway, so I'm not spending anything extra on rounds. FOR ME the extra couple of hours of time cleaning during break-in (shooting is a hobby that I enjoy so why rush it?) and a few dollars in cleaning supplies is well worth the piece of mind I get knowing it was done properly, even if is doesn't make a difference in the long run. A new rifle setup is a big investment in time and money for most of us, so why risk rushing it? what risks are involved in "rushing" this process? as long as you don't blast enough rounds back to back to overheat and shoot out the barrel, what risks are involved in not cleaning after every shot? i recently made a big purchase on a LR rifle. i shot about 10 rounds and cleaned it well. i'm on about shot 50 after the initial cleaning and my groups keep getting better every trip to the range (.3 MOA last trip) Who is to say that they might not be grouping even better had you done a more thorough break-in? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
STOMP442 Report post Posted September 24, 2015 I have quite a few premium quality barrels and I have on more than one occasion watched the gun shoot tighter and tighter groups during the break-in process while shooting the same load. I am a believer in proper break in. Obviously this has nothing to do with the fact that barrels shoot better when fouled than squeeky clean. When you shoot a new barrel you are "breaking it in"........the whole shoot and clean mess is a waste of time and materials. I run patches through a new barrel to clean out oil and crud from the manufacturing process and then don't touch them till the accuracy drops off. What I meant by my statement was that I was following proper break-in procedures while I was grouping. Meaning I would shoot clean, shoot clean a five shot group and repeat. Groups would in fact get smaller as I went along. We all know barrels shoot better fouled. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lancetkenyon Report post Posted September 24, 2015 Lots of differing opinions for sure. I'm usually investing quite a bit of money into a new rifle, developing a load for it, etc. I'm going to shoot quite a few rounds thorough it anyway, so I'm not spending anything extra on rounds. FOR ME the extra couple of hours of time cleaning during break-in (shooting is a hobby that I enjoy so why rush it?) and a few dollars in cleaning supplies is well worth the piece of mind I get knowing it was done properly, even if is doesn't make a difference in the long run. A new rifle setup is a big investment in time and money for most of us, so why risk rushing it?what risks are involved in "rushing" this process? as long as you don't blast enough rounds back to back to overheat and shoot out the barrel, what risks are involved in not cleaning after every shot? i recently made a big purchase on a LR rifle. i shot about 10 rounds and cleaned it well. i'm on about shot 50 after the initial cleaning and my groups keep getting better every trip to the range (.3 MOA last trip) Who is to say that they might not be grouping even better had you done a more thorough break-in? Who is to say it would shoot better? What-ifs are plenty. Everyone has their opinion on this subject, and there is no way to try both with the same barrel to test which is better unless you have the time travel thing figured out. Some barrel makers swear by cleaning between shots, some swear by not to clean. Some custom rifle builders swear by breaking in. Some swear by just shooting away. I have tried both. My method of barrel break in I use now is as follows: 1. Shoot 1 2. See #1 I have done at least 5 new barrels (factory and custom) with the shoot and clean method. I have done my last 3 (factory and custom) with the shoot & shoot method. My 6.5 SLR was done with just shooting, no cleaning, and shoots consistently in the .2-.3s with the nut behind the bolt. Best 3 shot group has been in the sub-.01s. I had a witness, the stars aligned, not a breath of wind, super accurate target load had been worked up, and I was warmed up. I doubt I could duplicate it again, ever. But it shows what the rifle is capable of. I have a Bushmaster Varminter w. factory barrel that shoots in the mid .3s-.4s routinely. Best group was 5 shots @ 100 in the low .2s, & @ 200 in the mid .4s. Hard to duplicate, but again, the rifle will shoot it. I should have my newly barreled/worked .300RUM back from Phoenix Custom Rifles in the next week or 2, and will do the shoot & shoot method with this one too. Just need to take time to make sure the barrel cools with this hot rod. I have a .25-06 Ackley that was "broken in" with the shoot & clean method. It shoots in the .2-.3s. My .300RUM with the factory barrel was shoot & clean too. Shot in the .4s once I found the load it liked. I think proper load development is FAR more influential on accuracy and barrel life than barrel break in, regardless of which way you choose to go. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MogollonMan Report post Posted September 24, 2015 Who is to say it would shoot better? What-ifs are plenty. Everyone has their opinion on this subject, and there is no way to try both with the same barrel to test which is better unless you have the time travel thing figured out. This is the whole point that I am trying to make. Since you can't really know for certain if it shoots better or not with a thorough break-in, I'd rather play it safe and do the break-in. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lancetkenyon Report post Posted September 24, 2015 Who is to say it would shoot better? What-ifs are plenty. Everyone has their opinion on this subject, and there is no way to try both with the same barrel to test which is better unless you have the time travel thing figured out. This is the whole point that I am trying to make. Since you can't really know for certain if it shoots better or not with a thorough break-in, I'd rather play it safe and do the break-in. Here is believer in the break in method. He has valid points to his argument. I am in the other camp. I see no benefits. Neither one of us has hard proof that one way is better than the other. Just our own observations and what suggestions we have been told by people far more schooled than we are in the subject. But even in the professional barrel and rifle maker camps, there is a difference in opinion. I am sure both of us could link a multitude of articles showing why the way we do it is the proper and best way. It is all personal preference. I do not think there is a right way to do it in this debate if you follow certain common sense procedures. Don't shoot until the barrel is too hot to touch. Don't shoot a barrel that is overly dirty (not just fouled). Know what chemicals you are using and use them correctly. Know HOW to properly and safely clean a rifle. Also, "clean" can be a relative term. Do you remove carbon only? Do you strip all copper? Do you break in at a public range? At a public range, I have seen a lot of ignorant people "breaking in" new rifles. If you don't know how to properly clean a rifle, you WILL do more harm than good. You can also do it very unsafely and put yourself or others at risk. Anyone who has been to Ben Avery (or other public ranges) more than a few times probably has some horror stories of ignorant people doing stupid things. 5 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ThomC Report post Posted September 25, 2015 OK there is your proof. If you ask a question on the internet you will get answers. It should be clear now. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
.270 Report post Posted September 25, 2015 To each his own. As long as nobody tells me I'm unethical, I don't care how folks clean their rifle. Lark. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lancetkenyon Report post Posted September 25, 2015 Is it unethical to clean you rifle after each shot? I will let your conscience be your guide. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BruinPoint Report post Posted September 27, 2015 Here's an ethical method for breaking in any rifle: Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
208muley Report post Posted September 28, 2015 Thanks for the replies guys and that's what I was afraid of, 50-50 split in opinions! the gun in question is a savage model 11 lightweight hunter, it's for my wife for hunting at normal ranges 300-350 yds although I may stretch it once in a while for fun. A friend of mine recommended a crazy method of shoot/clean first 5 then every five clean x3, then every 10 x2 clean, with no breaks to get the gun barrel dang near smoking hot. Didn't makes sense to me, sounded more like shooting out a barrel. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GreyGhost85 Report post Posted September 28, 2015 Thanks for the replies guys and that's what I was afraid of, 50-50 split in opinions! the gun in question is a savage model 11 lightweight hunter, it's for my wife for hunting at normal ranges 300-350 yds although I may stretch it once in a while for fun. A friend of mine recommended a crazy method of shoot/clean first 5 then every five clean x3, then every 10 x2 clean, with no breaks to get the gun barrel dang near smoking hot. Didn't makes sense to me, sounded more like shooting out a barrel. Yeah, whatever method you use, I would stay away from that one. Especially on a really skinny barrel like those have Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lancetkenyon Report post Posted September 28, 2015 Once that light contour barrel starts to heat up, look for a change in POI. So how would you even know if your "break-in" was working if your barrel is moving from excessive heat and your groups open up accordingly? 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
208muley Report post Posted September 30, 2015 Totally agree! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
willhunt4coues Report post Posted September 30, 2015 I have always shot 1 and clean for 5 then shot 5 and clean for 20. The last barrel i got (Shilen) I just shot it and cleaned every 20 for 100. This new barrel actually never leaves any copper even after 100 rounds of not cleaning it is actually the best grouping barrel i have bought. I have looked through lots of barrels with my bore scope factory and custom. Most customs do not need anything done. Factory I would say depends on the manufacturer. Tikka is one of the barrels that looks like a custom very smooth with no tool marks. If you do decide to clean shoot clean shoot make sure you are removing ALL the copper or you are just wasting your time. In reality like others have said read what the manufacturer suggests. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
