New Gun Break-in

[T3X]

Anything special procedure needed for a new Tikka TX3 as far as barrel break-in/season for better accuracy? I bring this up because my DPMS AR had a specific procedure, cleaning between x amount of rounds up to the first 100 rounds.

 

[Harvey_NW]

There's a lot of controversy surrounding this topic, but I personally prefer to do the Bartlein method because it makes sense to me and my Bartlein barrel shoots lights out.

 

[hereinaz]

Clean it once, then shoot it for 120 rounds and clean. You are more likely to damage it by bad cleaning than by shooting it. I never have broke in my barrels lately except by doing the above. They all shoot. I know lots of shooters who shoot far more than most, and they don't do a break in on their guns. Practically, speaking, you won't notice the difference.

As far as Bartlein barrels go, I know guys who do the above and they shoot lights out.

If you watch Bartlein comments and videos, more barrels are ruined by bad cleaning than anything else, except just shooting one out.

 

[MuleyFever]

Barrel break in, does it matter?

I was finally able to shoot my 6.5 PRC Bighorn Carbon 6 build. She's awesome! So glad I went with a build! Especially with the Trigger Tech diamond set to super light. I really love light triggers. Anyways I've looked into barrel break in before and it seems people either just shoot them or do...

www.rokslide.com

Barrel Break in Procedure

I’m receiving a new rifle soon and have been asking around about barrel break in procedures. Everyone seems to have a different procedure. Looking for suggestions.

www.rokslide.com

 

[T3X]

Ok, I was thinking it had more to do with heat cycles.

 

[Desk Jockey]

How far are you planning to shoot? long rangers do all kinds of crazy things to “break in” barrels.

cold bore shots really are the closest youll come to a hunting shot IMO. Some guys wait 5, 10 or even 20 minutes between shots to let heat dissipate. I have the patience of a gnat on crack so I don’t.

IMO - for most, a good pre shoot cleaning, zero your scope and then a few practice rounds should get you plenty accurate inside of 400 yards. I am not saying you don’t need to practice, but I don’t feel like most shooters really need to do a bunch of break in on most modern guns.

 

[MTMeatHunter]

I do a break in because I store my guns clean, and they seem to clean faster/ easier if I do a break in. Less copper buildup. Half of Rokslide thinks I’m an idiot, the other half probably does something similar . I clean after every shot until copper fouling dissipates, then move to three shot groups. I shoot three shotters until copper dissipates, then move to five shots. I did a stainless T3x like this about a month ago and after 7-8 cleaning cycles, I had no copper fouling with five shot groups. Stopped the “break in” at that point. Not saying it’s right but it’s what I do! I no longer prescribe to any method based on a specific number of shots but let the rifle show me what it needs. Did it on my last three new barrels and I dunno, I guess it worked?

 

[hereinaz]

Ok, I was thinking it had more to do with heat cycles.

Just don’t get it so hot you can’t touch it.

I am a “long ranger”, and basically none of the guys I hang with do the barrel break in procedures. There are lots of myths out there that have been debunked. In the AZ summer my barrel can stay “hot” but I shoot it as long as I can touch it.

The bench rest crowd may have their way, but practical shooting you don’t need it. Especially a Tikka.

Some bad throats may need cleaning on budget rifles. The throat is really the area getting “broken in”. The rifling isn’t.

Break in for rifling is laying down copper for me. I shoot my rifles coppered up for hunting and competition. I clean and strip at about 400 rounds. Other than that, I just clean the chamber and throat of carbon, occasionally the barrel.

 

[hereinaz]

I do a break in because I store my guns clean, and they seem to clean faster/ easier if I do a break in. Less copper buildup. Half of Rokslide thinks I’m an idiot, the other half probably does something similar . I clean after every shot until copper fouling dissipates, then move to three shot groups. I shoot three shotters until copper dissipates, then move to five shots. I did a stainless T3x like this about a month ago and after 7-8 cleaning cycles, I had no copper fouling with five shot groups. Stopped the “break in” at that point. Not saying it’s right but it’s what I do!

This is a way to do it, if you shoot your gun clean. I am in a dry climate so I can put them away dirty with no oil.

It’s a choice in what makes sense. I would spend way too much time cleaning if I did it that way.

 

[T3X]

Sounds like it's not critical. I'll just use common sense and clean after sighting in as usual, whenever ammo goes back to normal.
The heat cycling I was referring to was a comparison to engine break-in after rebuild. Guess no correlation.

 

[hodgeman]

Barrel break-in is a waste of time and mental energy.

I shoot them and clean them once a year whether they need it or not.

 

[T3X]

Not a long range shooter either, just interested in the gun's accuracy potential. Realizing the greatest potential of error lies behind the trigger.lol

 

[Longleaf]

Won't really matter in a factory barrel. Just don't get it too hot.

 

[Super tag]

I’ve owned a lot of rifles, never followed a specific procedure to break in a barrel. I clean them after use, before storing. All my rifles have been as accurate as you could hope for after load development.

 

[willtim]

Why NOT break it in?

 

[hereinaz]

Why NOT break it in?

If that is what you want to do and will build in cleaning into your system, it’s not a big deal if that is your process and you like it. Most of the time it probably doesn’t help or hurt.

Break in is a big myth, it’s not necessary on a Tikka. My proof CF barrels shoot 1/4 to 1/2 inch and I haven’t cleaned my 7 mag for more than 400 shots (except carbon out of the throat). Groups are opening up to 3/4 so it’s time to strip copper and start over. In the last 50 shots, killed an elk at 1000, Coues at 535 and 730.

Ignorance is a big reason not to. If a person is asking the question, there is a good chance they don’t know what damage can be done. The throat can be messed up pretty fast with improper cleaning.

Bad gear, brushes with abrasive, no bore guide, leaving chemicals in, etc. can all damage the throat. Screw up the throat and you lose accuracy.

 

[Plim92]

I precisely followed the recommended break in procedure to a for my last rifle (bergara) and it would not group. Ended up sending it back and they replaced the rifle since it did not meet their 1moa guarantee. I was looser on following the break in on the replacement rifle, and it produces half to 3/4moa groups. I likely had a lemon on the first gun, but am happy with how the replacement shoots.

My most recent purchase is a Seekins PH2 and they do not recommend any sort of barrel break in.

I say if you’re in doubt, do what the company recommends.

 

[roosiebull]

I do a break in because I store my guns clean, and they seem to clean faster/ easier if I do a break in. Less copper buildup. Half of Rokslide thinks I’m an idiot, the other half probably does something similar . I clean after every shot until copper fouling dissipates, then move to three shot groups. I shoot three shotters until copper dissipates, then move to five shots. I did a stainless T3x like this about a month ago and after 7-8 cleaning cycles, I had no copper fouling with five shot groups. Stopped the “break in” at that point. Not saying it’s right but it’s what I do! I no longer prescribe to any method based on a specific number of shots but let the rifle show me what it needs. Did it on my last three new barrels and I dunno, I guess it worked?

I don’t break in barrels in any form, but as far as breaking in your barrel and storing it clean still doesn’t clean as fast as my no maintenance maintenance schedule I have

If anyone sees me scrubbing a barrel, you can pretty much figure with certainty that I’m really bored.

I did go through recommended break in in the past, but my shooting has become a lot better since I quit breaking in barrels… I’m superstitious now, but only about that, so I don’t clean my barrels or break them in

I think folks should do what gives them the most confidence… I will clean a barrel if accuracy changes, but that’s never been the solution when it’s happened.

I shoot my rifles through the year, so I don’t really store them either… if I cleaned for storage, it would be a lot of cleaning… I’m sure that would change if I had a safe full of rifles, but I only have a few, so none sit long

 

[willtim]

Bartlein recommends break in. I imagine they know more than anyone on this site.

 

[MTMeatHunter]

Bartlein recommends break in. I imagine they know more than anyone on this site.

So does Pac-Nor, Proof, Lilja, Krieger, and Mcgowen to name a few . I will say that while these manufacturers DO, Tikka does not. So even among manufacturers there seems to be some opinions.