ORIGINAL: eldeguello
ORIGINAL: savagescout
All rifles are different some take longer than others, some shoot awesome right from the getgo.I would not give up on a new rifle untill you have 150-200 rds though it.
Whether or not a rifle has to be "broken in", and if so, HOW, is a big question. A lot depends on the barrel, what you plan to use the rifle for, and what your accuracy standards are. For example, for most hunting rifles (deer & larger) I am satisfied with 5-shot groups of 1.25" or smaller. If I can get such performance from a rifl right out of the box with the ammo I am going to use in it (handloads,of course), I will clean it and that's that!
For a varmint rifle, I want 0.5 MOA with the correct ammo. If the rifle will not shoot that well, I will attempt to find out why, and fix it. This fix may or may not include some arcane ritual performed on the barrel. Shooting & cleaning, shooting & cleaning, etc., may work. So might urinating down the barrel at midnight on the full phase of a blue moon, to drive out the evil spirits! This works especially well with flintlocks-Jaegers,Long Rifles and Hawkens..........
Actually, when a rifle fails to group well, 99 times out of 100, the problem stems from poor bedding of the stock & barreled action somewhere............. NOT from how it was or was not "broken in"!
I cant figure why some people would ridicule another for wanting to do something the correct way!, urinating down the barrel! come on now! If one feels an inch and a quarter group is ok thats fine, I wouldnt want to take a shot at 500yds. with it,but some strive for sub-moa dont knock them for trying. Most custom barrel makers highly recomend proper break-in for opptimum accuracy, by the way, your 99 out of 100 is wrong!, groups are affected mostly from poor triggers, muzzle crowns and wood stocks that come into contact unevenly on the barrel and of course ammo!