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breaking in new rifle

about how many rounds do you guys think it takes to have your rifle fully broken in?

RE: breaking in new rifle

I had a Winchester Model 70, Black Shadow, 30-06 and it took about 50. I tracked my groups and after about 50 rounds they got about as tight as they ever got. Out to 150 yards they could get from 1/2" to 1" depending on what factory ammo I grabbed. BUT after 150 yards it opened up like crazy. I shot about every factory round I could afford and nothing helped the opening up after 150. Never figured out why so I finally got rid of it. Not sure why either. It just bugged me I couldn't tighten it up after 150 yards.

RE: breaking in new rifle

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.

RE: breaking in new rifle

It really depends on how you are breaking it in!. The way I break one in is; after each shot for the first ten shots I run a brush then a swab through the barrel, then after every ten shots for five consecutive cycles. This generaly breaks in a barrel the proper way, after that then I start working on everything else, trigger, bedding, floating and etc. to gain tight groups.

RE: breaking in new rifle

Quote:

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"!

RE: breaking in new rifle

I haven't broken in a rifle yet. And like eldequello said, the ones that didn't shoot well had worse problems than barrel break in.

Paul

RE: breaking in new rifle

I Havea nice Remington 22-250 That I did it the old way I was tought.
1 shot clean
2 shots then clean
3 shots then clean
4 shots then clean
5 shots then clean
6 shots then clean
7 shots then clean
8 shots then clean
9 shots then clean
10 shots then clean

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a1.../22-250low.jpg

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a139/robster1776/items%20for%20sale/22-250thumbhole.jpg

I have never had any problems breaking a barrel in that way

RE: breaking in new rifle

I've never broken in a rifle yet. Just clean em before i go shoot em and i'm good to go. I give them a good cleaning 2-3 times a year and I have no trouble with accuracy.

RE: breaking in new rifle

Like others I don't really follow a "break in" routine. I simply clean the rifle really good before the first range session and shoot it butnever let it get to hot - 3 shot groups max when weather allows. Then completely clean the bore and a do it all over again...and so on!!:D

If upon intial or follow up cleaning I think hand lapping will be a benefit I break out the JB Bore Paste and elbow grease.

RE: breaking in new rifle

Quote:

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.

I know people that haven't shot 200 rds. throughtheir hunting rifles in 20 yrs. let alone to break them in. I like to shoot, but I might only shoot two or three boxes of ammo a year through my Deer rifle, and that's alot compared to most.

RE: breaking in new rifle

Quote:

ORIGINAL: eldeguello

Quote:

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.

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!

RE: breaking in new rifle

"If one feels an inch and a quarter group is ok thats fine, I wouldnt want to take a shot at 500yds."

I've taken lots of successful shots at 500 yards with a rifle that shot no better than 1.25 inch, five shot groups. Retired USMC Major Jim Land says that Carlos Hathcock's sniper rifle was about a 2 moa gun and that the barrel had small pits.Well, Hathcock did pretty well with that rifle.

"and wood stocks that come into contact unevenly on the barrel"

That's called bedding and that was covered.

Every time i read this kind of thread i am reminded of the used Remington 700 in .22/250 that i bought with a shot out barrel. Had a Hart barrel put on it. That barrel never shot better than 1.25." The gunsmith sent that barrel back andput aDouglas premium barrelon it: That one shot worse than the Hart. Sent it to Remington to be re-barreled: Instant .5 moa gun. Had the gun re-chambered for .22 Cheeta and it is still a .5 moa gun.

RE: breaking in new rifle

Quote:

ORIGINAL: falcon

"If one feels an inch and a quarter group is ok thats fine, I wouldnt want to take a shot at 500yds."

I've taken lots of shots at 500 yards with a rifle that shot no better than 1.25 inch groups. Retired USMC Major Jim Land says that Carlos Hathcock's sniper rifle was about a 2 moa gun and that the barrel had small pits.Well, Hathcock did pretty well with that rifle.

"and wood stocks that come into contact unevenly on the barrel"

That's called bedding and that was covered.

Well, bedding is accually done at the action, we want good contact there,were the stock makes contact with the barrel, thats called free-floating, to releive the presures once the barrel starts heating up and changing the point of aim. As far as Carlos Hathcocks rifle, I cant say any different, it might have been 2"moa, I know it would take a hell of a lot to be able to take some of the shots he has taken with a rifle like that. And if you can do it to! my hats off to you!!! But then agan, were talking about one shot one kill with Carlos, thats a cold bore shot,the subject at hand is grouping! and like I said, there is nothing wrong with being content with an 1&1/4" group, some prefer better!