We really aren't breaking in the barrels today as much as we were in years past. I was breaking in the action on my X-Bolt more than the barrel itself. My action was a little rough to work at first. After I went through the break in process, it moves completely freely now.

My CZ-452 on the other hand was good to go from the start. I can't tell a difference in the way it shoots/handles now from the first time I took it out of the box and fired it.