How crucial is breaking in barrels?
#24
Spike
Join Date: Oct 2019
Posts: 62
I make sure the barrel is clean on a factory gun that is new or used that I have bought, or if it is a custom rig with a new Bartlein, Brux, Broughton, Krieger, Lilja, etc... that just came in.
As far as a break-in procedure...I shoot it!
Besides cleaning a barrel when you first get it, I like how a friend of mine put it:
"Since every barrel is an entity unto itself, there is no way to prove that a barrel break-in procedure has any effect on resulting accuracy. Once you shoot it either way, there is no way to return it to brand new and try another way to see if there is a difference. So I. Reality, it's all speculation. A feel good that manufactures give customers because they think they need one. A placebo."
As far as a break-in procedure...I shoot it!
Besides cleaning a barrel when you first get it, I like how a friend of mine put it:
"Since every barrel is an entity unto itself, there is no way to prove that a barrel break-in procedure has any effect on resulting accuracy. Once you shoot it either way, there is no way to return it to brand new and try another way to see if there is a difference. So I. Reality, it's all speculation. A feel good that manufactures give customers because they think they need one. A placebo."
Last edited by Ernie Bishop; 10-23-2019 at 08:34 PM. Reason: spelling
#25
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Western Nebraska
Posts: 3,393
IMO barrel break in is a joke.
1. fit, chamber, crown, engrave the barrel, get it blued and sight it in and go hunting.
2. Take your time sighting it in as it may require several different loads to find a good load.....clean it every fifty rounds and after you find a good load don't clean the barrel....it's ready to go hunting.
I've installed dozens of new barrels (mostly Douglas and Shilen) and finally decided that I couldn't see an advantage to "breaking it in"....same with moly coating.....another waste of time and money!
1. fit, chamber, crown, engrave the barrel, get it blued and sight it in and go hunting.
2. Take your time sighting it in as it may require several different loads to find a good load.....clean it every fifty rounds and after you find a good load don't clean the barrel....it's ready to go hunting.
I've installed dozens of new barrels (mostly Douglas and Shilen) and finally decided that I couldn't see an advantage to "breaking it in"....same with moly coating.....another waste of time and money!