breaking in a gun?
 

i hear this fraze ALOT. well for christmas. im getting a 308 savage model 10 (no i didnt peek. santa told me..lol). any ways i dont want to mess up my new gun. what is the best way to brake it in, or what all does this consist of. thanks. Jeff Smith

RE: breaking in a gun?
 

This subject has come up a number of different times but if you’re getting a Savage you can follow there instructions as per link if so desired.. www.savagearms.com/cs_barrel.htm ...:eek:

RE: breaking in a gun?
 

There are a couple of features on each rifle that need broken in. The Barrel, the action, the trigger, and the mating between the action and the stock.

My barrel break in is different from Savages, since I like to shoot my barrels black. I do the first section of Savage's description until the bullets no longer leave copper fouling. Basically, your polishing the tooling marks and imperfections out of the barrel with the jacket of the bullet. One important note...before you start the barrel must be completely clean and degreased.

To break in an action, I like to degrease it and the bolt. Then during the barrel break in, the action polishes itself. Once I am done with the barrel break in, the action is usually very smooth. So, I clean off the bolt and the action, then reapply a lubricant. Eezox being my favorite gun oil.

Action to stock mating is something I usually like to have glass bedded. Since I am a complete buffoon with wood, I have a gunsmith do this. Once he is done with the job, it usually takes a few shots to settle the action into the stock. During this phase, I generally make sure the barrel is free floated.

Trigger work can be tricky. This should be left to a gunsmith. I prefer my triggers to be 2 pounds, no creep, and no over travel.

RE: breaking in a gun?
 

I use the 30 shot method:

1. Clean,shoot 1 shot, clean x 5
2. Shoot 5 shots,clean x 5
3. Barrel is broke in!
That works for me...;)

RE: breaking in a gun?
 

I personally highly not recommend the method from Savage's. Because I won't use the brush to break in my brand new barrel and run back and forth for 5 times (Sounds nonsense). I think it will leave a bunch of scatches in the barrel.

From the Browning's web page they recommend more mild and in theory more logical way to break in a new barrel. the web site is...

www.browning.com/faq/detail.asp?ID=112

I also have found a very good web site teaching shooters to break in a new barrel with clear explainations. This web page has been added to my favarite and it matches to what Browning's recommendation.

www.shootingsoftware.com/fouling.htm

RE: breaking in a gun?
 

cck, good advice partner!

RE: breaking in a gun?
 

Pa jack Im with you. when i got my new barrel from shilen thats what they recommended

RE: breaking in a gun?
 

also use a brass brush

RE: breaking in a gun?
 

I just shoot mine. When accuracy falls off I clean it.

Paul

RE: breaking in a gun?
 

thanks aot you guys. cckdo you use a brush at all when you break in your gun with the way you do it?and also how often do i have to have to re break in a gun. or do you have to ever do it again?and for the people shooting savages with the ss barrel how many time can you normally shot before u start sacurfcing accuracy after breakin in the barrel. i am wanting to shoot at praire dogs with it this spring. am i going to have to clean it after ever 10 shots or so?

RE: breaking in a gun?
 

also should i use top grade amo when doing this or will surpluss ammo be just fine. f u cant tell this is my first center fire rifle and i just dont want to mess anything up

RE: breaking in a gun?
 

Any ammo will do. But while your at, it might as welluse good ammo to see if the gun has promise.

RE: breaking in a gun?
 

thanks aot you guys. cckdo you use a brush at all when you break in your gun with the way you do it?and also how often do i have to have to re break in a gun. or do you have to ever do it again?and for the people shooting savages with the ss barrel how many time can you normally shot before u start sacurfcing accuracy after breakin in the barrel. i am wanting to shoot at praire dogs with it this spring. am i going to have to clean it after ever 10 shots or so?
[hr]
btt

RE: breaking in a gun?
 

I don't think there is any such thing as rebreaking in a gun. Once the tooling imprefections are gone, thats it.

There are a few pitted barrels or barrels with rough throats you can hand lap carefully to try to get to shoot again, but once you reach that stage, usually its too late.

RE: breaking in a gun?
 

thanks bigcountry. so shouldi use a brush or not when breaking my gun in, and after its broke in how many shots (on an ave) will it shoot before start sacurfcing accuracy? im just trying to know all i can about this stuff. its interesting thank s guy for all your help so far!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Jeff Smith

RE: breaking in a gun?
 

You might have to use a brush. I have been using Sweets copper removal and if I can't get out all the copper in a few cycles, I switch to a brush.

As far as how many rounds, with a 308, should be way up into the 1000's. Most things that start affecting accuracy with that round will be the cleaning. Alot of people, myself included end up over the life of a rifle hurt the throat or things like that by bumping the cleaning rod in the throat. Or hurt the crown over a few hundred cleanings. But a 308 is hard to burn out. When you get up into the 300RUM's or weatherby's is when you have to worry about accuracy going south due to burnign out the barrel.

I highly suggest people get a good once piece coated or carbon cleaning rod and a boreguide. These things minimize the wear and tear on the barrel.

Also for regular cleaning might want to look to cleaners like Wipeout or a good copper cleaner.