Thread: Breaking in a barrel

Originally Posted by gundoc

Bear in mind that even the very best barrels only have a barrel life of mere seconds; roughly 1,000 rounds equates to 1 second of barrel life, so 6-7 seconds is about the average accurate life of a barrel with proper care. Barrels don't 'wear in', they wear out with every shot.

Great information and perspective.

Thank you all for the info you've shared!

A premium quality barrel is typically lapped somewhere in its manufacturing process, either to achieve final dimensions or quality / finish requirements (or both). So the benefit of ‘breaking-in’ a barrel like that is probably questionable.

But then the barrel goes to your gunsmith for chamber reaming, a process that may leave burrs in the throat area of your chamber. (I.e. the area where the projectile engages the rifling). These burrs will absolutely tear up the projectile jacket and leave copper down your barrel. This copper fouling typically reduces after a number of rounds down the barrel and after you’ve cleaned it a few times.

So instead of thinking of it as breaking in your barrel, think of it as breaking in the throat by removing any imperfections from the chambering process.

Breaking in, as opposed to cleaning is probably rubbish in my opinion and experience with factory and custom tubes.
As Gimp indicated i think, is the average shooter really going to improve the performance of a barrel by some special breaking in / cleaning regime regime?
If a barrel maker thought the barrel could be improved before sale they would do it and spell it out.
Not many do if any? Certainly not consistent advice.
Many custom barrel makers just recommend regular cleaning but not this shoot one, clean garbage.
Just clean as per normal and look for copper build up.

I wonder how many who say nah to any sort of break in would feel if they were able to see a camera view inside their brand new barrel if they did and saw it was a bit rough in places would they then be inclined to do a simple break in procedure - I am not concerned with high end barrels they are likely to not need it but the likes of ruger rossi may be it would be worth it

Originally Posted by Barry the hunter

I wonder how many who say nah to any sort of break in would feel if they were able to see a camera view inside their brand new barrel if they did and saw it was a bit rough in places would they then be inclined to do a simple break in procedure - I am not concerned with high end barrels they are likely to not need it but the likes of ruger rossi may be it would be worth it

I mean I personally own a borescope, and I think break-in is nonsense

we can all agree to disagree- me I will do a very simple break in - cant hurt - below is from Criterion barrels -they will know more than I do and they are not alone in their advice so who is right or wrong - only thing for sure is if you ignored manufacturers advice you will never know as you cant go back and run in a barrel after you have started using it


Why should I break-in my barrel? ( from Criterion barrels )

The purpose of a barrel break-in procedure is to limit buildup of copper fouling. An excess of copper fouling can serve to increase chamber pressures, reduce velocity, negatively impact bullet stability, and decrease barrel performance.

I dont care what its like inside. If it shoots it shoots. My old 788 had a barrel most would write off, pitted and rough as shit, but it still shot perfectly fine so i just kept using it...

Originally Posted by Barry the hunter

we can all agree to disagree- me I will do a very simple break in - cant hurt - below is from Criterion barrels -they will know more than I do and they are not alone in their advice so who is right or wrong - only thing for sure is if you ignored manufacturers advice you will never know as you cant go back and run in a barrel after you have started using it


Why should I break-in my barrel? ( from Criterion barrels )

The purpose of a barrel break-in procedure is to limit buildup of copper fouling. An excess of copper fouling can serve to increase chamber pressures, reduce velocity, negatively impact bullet stability, and decrease barrel performance.

That's interesting about the reduce velocity thing, the last barrel I did a 'proper' break in on is now a bit of a mongrel in terms of velocity - it won't build it. It has always hit some form of pressure signs early, factory ammo flattens primers without any other sign of pressure but it doesn't seem to matter what load it is they are all slow compared to 'book' velocity. It doesn't foul though. so there is that I guess... I haven't bothered doing it with any other barrel and they all seem more 'normal'. Not big enough of a sample size to really draw any actual real conclusions from...

Originally Posted by blip

I dont care what its like inside. If it shoots it shoots. My old 788 had a barrel most would write off, pitted and rough as shit, but it still shot perfectly fine so i just kept using it...

Yeah, I have a Norinco 103 like that - it has a coal pipe for a barrel. Still drops anything within 150m and if I do my bit and feed it what it likes it's about a 1 to 1.5" group at 100... Nice light 'beater' rifle for really crappy places.

Never been able to fathom the process of polishing, smoothing, or improving steel (Barrel) with lead or copper?
I would assume, from an unqualified position, any burrs in a new barrel would be there at end of its lifespan??
Cheers MG

I've got two Howa rifles. The 308 got a clean to get the gunk out then shot and cleaned regularly but no break in procedure
The 30 06 got the full break in bullshit.
They both shoot the same.

been a great thread many different views in signing off well I quess its like this- if you did a breakin and it shoots great you win- if you did a break in and cant tell any difference from a similar rifle without how do you really know they are two different rifles you really can only judge the one rifle - just maybe the one without could have shot better had it been broken in - really one cant judge if a break in is successful or not - once done you cant go backwoods to a new state to judge - perhaps the only thing to do is if the manufacturer of the barrel or rifle says do it then do it for your own piece of mind and warranty

I clean the tears off every 5 or so shots

I don't break in barrels, just give them a clean out when I feel they need it.
As for break in making them easier to clean, maybe it's like seasoning a cast iron pan? Bit of extra heat and a light coating of oil and you have a non-stick(ish) pan.
Written before my coffee!