I just got two new rifles this summer and at first it seemed the 30-06 was just finicky with ammo, then after about 200 rounds it will shoot anything to the same zero! What I mean is I used 150 FMJ's, 165 nosler bt's and 180 hornady interbond bt's and they are all within an inch at 100 yards. Before this, it was like 4 inches of difference.

My 243 has only had 50 rounds through it and it is a bit sparatic with the grouping. Any reccomendations? EJ

While I believe the "barrel break in" issue is a bunch of hooey, I do believe most of my guns shot better after a couple hundred rounds have been thru it.....

I guess I was kind of asking if that seemed normal or if it was just me. I might be just me, but it seems pretty indicitive of improving accureacy over time of shooting. Did you experience a similar thing? EJ

I have read a couple posts talking about lapping a barrel. There is a paste that is kinda like a polishing compound that is supposed break in a barrel. I have never used it and cannot promote it but it is out there. I think it is called JD or JP lapping paste.

I have said it before and I will say it again. Most important thing in breaking in a new barrel is to not try to shoot too far till after the barrel has "seasoned" some or "has some flavor". This usually takes a hundred rounds or so. I recommend limiting your first 50 rounds or so to say, 50 yards. Then something like 100 yards for the next 50.

Some greenhorns get a new rifle and right away want to see what it will do at say 300-400 yards so they want to start sighting or zeroing in at those yardages and BAM! Fisrt shot that bore is ruined.

Be sure to swab, clean and SLIGHTLY lube the bore frequently all the while. And allow adequate cooling periods for the barrel.

I'm a greenhorn I guess.
Could you help me out with this- How is the bore ruined depending on the distance of the shot?

I've got a new gun on it's way and need to know what's is or is not needed for breaking in the barrel.

I was gonna gonna comment on Uncle Matt's saying that the Bore is ruined if taking a long shot. How can the bore tell how far away the target is? lol

I am hoping that I took it out of context but next time I'm at the range and shoot bad groups I am going to blame it on shooting at 4oo yds and it ruined the barrel.

I'd sure like to know how shooting at 3-400 yardscan ruin a barrel.Please elaborate.

lol, take it easy on him guys. (Though I WAS wonderin how a barrel knows the difference? ) ALL guns will "take a set" after 3-4 boxes. Personally I think it's a matter of patience, don't get the gun hot. Shoot slowly and allow cooling between shots. BUT that's advice for ALL guns, regardless of their age. I also like to keep a BoreSnake or cleaning rod beside me while shooting, ESPECIALLY a new one. Later today I am gonna shoot my lil new 22/250 and I am gonna run the snake through it between each shot. No sense in impregnating dust and powder residue into a new bore. Just like clockwork, with every rifle I have they ALL woke up after that 3rd or 4th box (seems like the faster guns take fewer shots, make sense as those rounds are doing more "polishing" with each pass of a pill through the bore!) and I suspect no difference today with my lil Savage.

Good luck and take your time,
RA