Barrel break in: Yes or no?

[gmachine19]

Been reading a lot about taking care of your new rifle and then this topic came out. Did a search in huntingBC and 2 old threads, 6 years ago, comes out.

Now with another 6 years, has anyone proven that barrel break in is necessary/useful? And does everyone break in their new factory barrels? Or is it still a myth?

Oh and I came across this video too :D

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TRRahHX9Zkg

[adriaticum]

It's think it's an old wife's tale.

[M.Dean]

How could you ever break in a piece of steel? I've got a brand new 45-70 Henry rifle I have to clean for a friend, he's bought a number of rifles in the last few months, I asked a very experienced shooter yesterday what has to be done before we shoot them, run some solvent and oil through the barrel, and go have fun was the answer I got. BUT! If a guy wants maybe take a cleaning kit to the range and after every 3 shots or so, let the barrel cool a bit, and run a patch with a bit of solvent then oil through the barrel, it's made from steel so you can't do any damage to it that's for sure! And have fun with your new rifle!

[Gateholio]

Some barrel makers insist on it, some think it's hogwash. Go with whatever the manufacturer says I guess. :)

[tikkatac]

I could write an essay on the subject but I'll write a quick sentence that sums it up.

The main purpose for break in procedures is to "Season" the barrel and allow the microscopic pores and machining to fill in so cleaning becomes easier and less frequent. Often times you will find after a proper break procedure your barrel will accumulate less fouling residue between strings.

For hunting purposes who cares? You're not shooting 40 rounds at every deer you see in the bush so chances are you'll never benefit from a barrel break in.

My $.02

[325]

Some barrel makers insist on it, some think it's hogwash. Go with whatever the manufacturer says I guess. :)

The manual that came with my Cooper Excalibur had a barrel break-in procedure recommendation. Four strings of five shots (for a total of twenty), with cleaning in between. I also called Wilson barrels (they now own Creedmoor), and asked them about barrel break-in. They told me the same thing as what's in the manual, but said it's probably not necessary as their barrels are already lapped.

[todbartell]

I love barrel break in. $$$

[todbartell]

You're not shooting 40 rounds at every deer you see in the bush

apparently you don't know my buddy Jeff :mrgreen:

[gmachine19]

For hunting purposes who cares? You're not shooting 40 rounds at every deer you see in the bush so chances are you'll never benefit from a barrel break in.


See this i exactly what was bothering me. Since all the google search I come up with is mostly long range/ bench shooting.

[BCBRAD]

I love barrel break in. $$$


And ladder tests lol $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

[jag]

I do, not sure that'd it's needed, but I feel better for doing it.

[KBC]

I just bought a new rifle and I'm kind of a noob so I've been reading up on this a bit. Here's an article I found that makes sense to me;
http://www.rifleshootermag.com/gunsmithing/break-rifle-barrel/

[Salmon Belly]

I do, not sure that'd it's needed, but I feel better for doing it.

Same, feel better doing it, and really how often are you buying a new rifle. The Nosler M48's come with recommended barrel break in procedure.

SB

[Gilmore]

apparently you don't know my buddy Jeff :mrgreen:

Lol!!!!!!!

[brian]

Barrel break in AKA trying to lap your bore with copper.



The main purpose for break in procedures is to "Season" the barrel and allow the microscopic pores and machining to fill in so cleaning becomes easier and less frequent. Often times you will find after a proper break procedure your barrel will accumulate less fouling residue between strings.

Microscopic pores accumulating copper causing excessive fouling? One hit of copper solvent and you'd undo any "seasoning" you'd have just done. Sounds more than a little suspect to me. What will really accumulate fouling is tool marks, chatter, and bore roughness. Lapping bores is basically sanding out the tool marks leaving you with a smooth even bore. The break in process is like a lame way of lapping your bore with your bullets. You'll get the same results if you just shoot lots and clean periodically.

[albravo2]

You're not shooting 40 rounds at every deer you see in the bush so chances are you'll never benefit from a barrel break in.



Speak for yourself;-)

[Salty]

Your choice but whatever you choose you're rifle won't become an instant piece of shit and the sun will still come up the next day. I don't but I don't shoot the first hundred rounds before cleaning either usually no more than 20 or so for the first few cleanings.

[tikkatac]

Speak for yourself;-)

Sorry... I wasn't implying I don't spray the forest with bullets when I see movement, everyone does it. I just so happen to carry my cleaning supplies so my accuracy doesn't diminish as I'm spraying bullets into the forest.

[TARCHER]

Some barrel makers insist on it, some think it's hogwash. Go with whatever the manufacturer says I guess. :)

I had never done it my whole life until the last two Nosler rifles I bought that cost more $ than previous and I did theyre recommended barrel break in. Pain in the ass really but.... Any difference, couldn't say for sure as my favorite steyr manlicher 270 had no barrel break in and several hundred rds thru it and shoots supreme. ??? anything to shoot more is good.

[Surrey Boy]

Some barrel makers insist on it, some think it's hogwash. Go with whatever the manufacturer says I guess. :)

I was told by a mechanic to absolutely follow the manufacturer's directions on break-in because different engines will break in differently due to their design. Makes sense for guns as well to me.

[gmachine19]

For now i think the safe thing to do is fire my rifle lol! See what it can do and break it in if necessary.

[markomoose]

I love spraying bullets in the bush especially when I drop something!Barrel break in is hogwash.Its a disclaimer for the manufacturer in my opinion.

[todbartell]

What's most important to me, is starting with a clean bore from new. Lots of oils in the bore from the factory

[RiverOtter]

I was told by a mechanic to absolutely follow the manufacturer's directions on break-in because different engines will break in differently due to their design. Makes sense for guns as well to me.
If rifles ever start being produced with internal combustion engines and transmissions, I'll make sure to heed break-in procedures........ :roll:

Until that day comes, I'll continue to clean down to bare steel, lightly swab with Kroil and shoot till groups open up. Far more damage is inflicted on barrels from misguided cleaning procedures, than running bullets down a fouled bore....

[Surrey Boy]

Bullet = Piston
Barrel = Cylinder
Bolt = Valve
Bolt Handle = Cam
Primer = Spark Plug
Trigger Assembly = Ignition System

Not too far off, really.

[Salmon Belly]

What's most important to me, is starting with a clean bore from new. Lots of oils in the bore from the factory
^
This. Great advice. I've noticed different levels of factory grime from different manufacturers. A Remington I bought new was just filthy, two Xbolts had lots of grease, two Noslers spic and span and same for a Sako. Small sample size of course -- wonder if others notice same thing. Either way, always give em a nice thorough clean before first shots...

SB

[RiverOtter]

Hahahaha......Ya, almost identical...:lol:

Biggest threat to a barrel is heat and improper cleaning procedures. Copper has very little effect on CM or SS as far as wearing it out.

[Weatherby Fan]

I've never followed a recommended break in procedure on any new rifle I've owned, with that being said I don't shoot them a lot either, before taking a new rifle to the range I clean it with Wipeout, then sight it in which never takes more than 2-4 shots, I will then shoot a cpl groups of 3 shots ensuring total cooling between groups, I usually have 2 or 3 rifles at the range and switch so the rifle cools between groups, when I go home it gets another shot of Wipeout and were good to go hunting. Then I clean it at the end of each hunting season.....so once a year after that !
I've done around 60 rifles this way and never had an issue.

[donny.brooke]

I cant believe guys dont take the time to break in a barrel on a new rifle, whats the harm? A guy who looks after his equipment and a clueless chump probably have different ideas about things and would give you two different answers. Which guy are you? Go to a high end barrel makers webpage or your rifle manufactures and find a procedure for breaking in a barrel and follow that. At least you will have piece of mind you did it properly. Even if barrel break in is a myth you will never know for sure cause once you dont do it there is no going back on that particular gun.

[adriaticum]

I cant believe guys dont take the time to break in a barrel on a new rifle, whats the harm? A guy who looks after his equipment and a clueless chump probably have different ideas about things and would give you two different answers. Which guy are you? Go to a high end barrel makers webpage or your rifle manufactures and find a procedure for breaking in a barrel and follow that. At least you will have piece of mind you did it properly. Even if barrel break in is a myth you will never know for sure cause once you dont do it there is no going back on that particular gun.

When you buy your Sony radio and read that they recommend only Sony AA batteries, do you follow that?
You should if it makes you sleep better.

[Wentrot]

When you buy your Sony radio and read that they recommend only Sony AA batteries, do you follow that?
You should if it makes you sleep better.

Lol X2. ...

[VLD43]

Interesting subject. I put a Lilja barrel on my Remington 700 a couple of years ago, and followed the break in procedure to the finest detail. I had previously read alot on Liljas site about this topic, and what this procedure was trying to achieve. Lilja recommends using Butches Bore Shine and all the proper cleaning equipment(good cleaning rod, bore guide, bronze brushes, etc..) I noticed that after about 30 to forty rounds, the barrel became very easy to clean, compared to when I first started the procedure. Very minimal fouling, and very easy to clean. No need for wipeout. Some have suggested it is a waste of money and time, breaking in a rifle barrel. I guess I would have to disagree. Barrel makers don't recommend break in because they benefit from selling you ammuntion and cleaning products. Most have some involvement in shooting sports such as bench rest, and have probably done lots of R&D regarding break in, and have found it has relevance. Remember, they want their product to deliver great preformance for the end user.

[ruger#1]

X3... You will never wear a barrel out in your life time. Clean it, Shoot it, Site it in, And go hunting.

[donny.brooke]

When you buy your Sony radio and read that they recommend only Sony AA batteries, do you follow that?
You should if it makes you sleep better.

How are batteries used in a product even close to being on the same wave length as barrel break in procedures? Do you put 20w50 oil in your truck engine when it recomends 0w20? Or what the hell why change your oil at all its not important?!! Breaking it in properly wont hurt it but not doing it might so why risk it.

[Daybreak]

When you buy your Sony radio and read that they recommend only Sony AA batteries, do you follow that?
You should if it makes you sleep better.

It's a poor analogy.

Those unable to take a deer with a rifle should be armed with Sony radios and Bieber one to death. Anything over 100 yards requires CBC.

[RiverOtter]

Can't know how many times I've seen this debate on various forums over the years, but it'd be staggering. Debaters range from Joe Bloe to guys like John Barness and everyone in between. The two constants that always surface are:
1)Break ins "can" reduce the amount/time of cleaning over the life of the barrel, nothing more.
2) There is more potential for harm from excessive cleaning than simply shooting, assuming you avoid excessively over heating the barrel.

With products like Wipe Out, I'll greedily opt to shoot over clean, until groups open up.

[donny.brooke]

I agree poor cleaning practices can damage a gun more so then shooting it. If you dont think barrel break in is important then a bore guide wouldnt be high on the priority list lol.

[RiverOtter]

Proofs always in the pudding and I've yet to see a "Broke-in" barrel outshoot or outlast a clean and shoot barrel.

And to the "Automobile is the same as a rifle" crowd. When NOT changing your engine oil makes no difference to engine life, rest assured I'll stop changing it......

[adriaticum]

It's a poor analogy.

Those unable to take a deer with a rifle should be armed with Sony radios and Bieber one to death. Anything over 100 yards requires CBC.

If it's a poor analogy, then you follow the instructions and you will sleep better.

[adriaticum]

How are batteries used in a product even close to being on the same wave length as barrel break in procedures? Do you put 20w50 oil in your truck engine when it recomends 0w20? Or what the hell why change your oil at all its not important?!! Breaking it in properly wont hurt it but not doing it might so why risk it.


Next time I buy a new rifle, I will write on the first 10 bullets, "Break in" so that the rifle knows that these bullets are for the purposes of "breaking in".
It won't confuse them with shooting bullets for the purposes of fun, or hunting.
I wonder where all army barrels get broken in.

The best thing you can do for your rifle when you buy it is to just de-grease it well and before shooting it clean the barrel and make sure there are no obstructions. Make sure it's not exposed to condensation and moisture and sudden temperature changes and it will serve you well.

These things take 150 grains of lead at high speeds, do you think they are sensitive if they are not broken in?

I bet you break-in procedures were probably started by some high end gun maker to mess with people.
It's all part of the "mystique" and the "allure" of a high end barrel.
And the more you stroke the action the smoother it gets.

There is any easy way to keep us both happy.
You break in your rifles and I will clean mine whenever I feel that the accuracy is off. ;)

That's all I've got to say about that.

[Wentrot]

I agree poor cleaning practices can damage a gun more so then shooting it. If you dont think barrel break in is important then a bore guide wouldnt be high on the priority list lol.

You make it sound like anyone not buying in to the "break in" lie is mentally challenged-you really did drink the entire jug of Kool-aid on this one lol make sure you buy the 80 dollar trophy grade ammo as well for this, it's required don't ya know!

[scoutlt1]

I bought a nice cheapo Savage .308 a number of years ago (new).
Cleaned it up when I bought it but no "Barrel break in" here.....shoots nice and straight for me, has killed stuff for me, and was used by my son to get his first mulie last season (at 150 yards).

I don't know....maybe it's better to break in your rifle....but perhaps not???

[donny.brooke]

I bought a nice cheapo Savage .308 a number of years ago (new).
Cleaned it up when I bought it but no "Barrel break in" here.....shoots nice and straight for me, has killed stuff for me, and was used by my son to get his first mulie last season (at 150 yards).

I don't know....maybe it's better to break in your rifle....but perhaps not???

If you had bought a 5000 dollar custom target rifle would you have done the same thing?

[guntech]

Interesting subject. I put a Lilja barrel on my Remington 700 a couple of years ago, and followed the break in procedure to the finest detail. I had previously read alot on Liljas site about this topic, and what this procedure was trying to achieve. Lilja recommends using Butches Bore Shine and all the proper cleaning equipment(good cleaning rod, bore guide, bronze brushes, etc..) I noticed that after about 30 to forty rounds, the barrel became very easy to clean, compared to when I first started the procedure. Very minimal fouling, and very easy to clean. No need for wipeout. Some have suggested it is a waste of money and time, breaking in a rifle barrel. I guess I would have to disagree. Barrel makers don't recommend break in because they benefit from selling you ammuntion and cleaning products. Most have some involvement in shooting sports such as bench rest, and have probably done lots of R&D regarding break in, and have found it has relevance. Remember, they want their product to deliver great preformance for the end user.

It is ridiculous for anyone to suggest barrel makers suggest a break in procedure because they may sell more barrels because of wear or sell more ammunition and cleaning products ... 10 or 20 shots breaking a barrel in does not reduce the life of a barrel... it may actually increase effective accuracy life.

Many shooters have had the same experience as you ... with custom quality aftermarket barrels it only takes a few shots to break a barrel in... I have seen this with Gaillard, Lilja, and Kreiger and other Benchrest quality barrels... as little as 10 shots. Both Lilja and Krieger have written informative articles on what a break in procedure involves...

You don't need to spend $5000 on a rifle... but a custom barrel install will run you from $700 on up...

Breaking in mass produced factory rifles - forget it ... they may never break in and are well suited to the hunter who never cleans his rifle and brags about it...

[scoutlt1]

If you had bought a 5000 dollar custom target rifle would you have done the same thing?

So sorry, I can't afford a $5000 custom target rifle. One of the reasons I'm on a hunting website, not a target shooting website.

The OP didn't specify that he/she was asking about a long range target rifle. If that was the case, I wouldn't have responded.

But whatever......carry on.

[donny.brooke]

This is a never ending debate nobody can really prove one way or another but when a young lad who just spent his whole paycheck on his brand new rifle asks a question why not steer him in a direction that possibly could benefit him in the long run. Shooting and cleaning your rifle doesnt cost anymore than just shooting it alone other than the cost of patches and solvents, hell you might not even shoot as much ammo if your taking time between shots to clean. Brand and cost of ammo is up to the shooters budget. I actually handload light charges under a cup and core el cheapo bullet just for break in but not everybody handloads. Anyways the more time you practice the better you are off when it comes time to put the meat in the freezer. I will always point people in the direction of breaking in a barrel no matter what anybody else says as i believe its a good thing. I own cheap and expensive rifles, they all get treated the same way.

[jtred]

I'm not entirely sure anyone is going to agree on whether or not a barrel break in period is actually required however I have noticed that each new rifle I bought took a number of rounds and cleanings in between to find it's mark. This was partly figuring out which bullet/load works best and probably partly "breaking" the barrel in. Just to get rid of factory loads which didn't meet accuracy expectations I've practised field positions at the range and been surprised at how much more accurate they had become. This could also be somewhat accounted for in simply getting to know the rifle but not entirely.

[Sportster]

Weatherby recommends a break-in procedure with there vanguards,using cheap ammo and not worrying about sighting in until the procedure is completed .then which to premium ammo for sight in,which I did with my s2 30-06.Don't no if it made a difference ,but it gave me peace of mind .

[brian]

Go to a high end barrel makers webpage or your rifle manufactures and find a procedure for breaking in a barrel and follow that. At least you will have piece of mind you did it properly. Even if barrel break in is a myth you will never know for sure cause once you dont do it there is no going back on that particular gun. You can always go back and re-break in a barrel. The point of barrel break in is to try to smooth out rough bits in the bore. Without "breaking in" those rough bits get covered in copper fouling and do not get worn down by subsequent bullets going through the bore. You will get the same effect if you shoot plenty of rounds and clean your gun regularly/semi regularly. It'll just happen over a longer span of time. But you can always go back and do the break in procedure if want to try and smooth out the rough bits at a later time. They'll still be there for you. I am dubious if factory sporter barrels can be improved much with the break in routines I have seen being recommended. High end barrels are a different beast from factory sporter barrels. One of the main differences is they are lapped to remove tooling marks and increase consistency.

[tikkatac]

If you had bought a 5000 dollar custom target rifle would you have done the same thing?

YES, I don't like to toot my own horn but I've had many $5k+ Rifles and some I've followed break in procedure and some I just shot until accuracy degrades. Guess what... The only thing I noticed without break in was I went through less cleaning supplies and the one I didn't break in took longer to get to my standards of clean once it became time.

If you shoot 50 rounds a day, break in the barrel because it will be easier to clean in the long run. If you hunt or do the odd target session there is absolutely no sense wasting the cleaning supplies and perhaps accidently messing something up during cleaning like your crown for example.

Again just my .02

PS. For anyone who wants to put it to the test there's a beautiful Cadex Precision Rifle in 338 Lapua for sale in the EE :smile:

[Busterpayton54]

This makes me face palm. Literally I just did it.

As someone who knows a little thing or two about metallurgy, machining, engineering, physics, and mechanics I can't for the life of me figure out how the tooling marks in a rifle barrel are going to know if they are at round count 20 of a concentrated break in procedure, or the 20th round in 5 years.

This is what happens.. Tooling leaves marks, microscopic jagged marks, burrs and pores.

When a bullet passes over them, frictional forces help lay them in the direction of passing, smoothing them out, and or breaking them off. Heat from friction help as well.
Some jacketing is snagged and deposited on/in these microscopic burrs and pores. Closer to the chamber the more heat helps burn the burrs off.

20 rounds of this in one day is no different than 1 shot per year for 20 years. The end result would be identical.

Copper likes to stick to copper better than it sticks to steel. So once it gets a foothold in these pores and on the burrs, it will build up more and more and more as more bullets pass, and this protective layer of copper is not only protecting the burrs from being beaten down or broken off but building up even more.. Copper fouling.

So yes running some copper solvent through there will keep the buildups to a minimum, so each bullet passing is acting on bare steel and actually leading towards a smoother bore.

But it will the bore know if it's was one day or 20 years? Nope.

Bottom line is cleaning the copper out regularly will speed up the break in/smoothing process via round count, which eventually means more rounds between fouling and better accuracy.. You do not have to do it all at once.

[REMINGTON JIM]

This makes me face palm. Literally I just did it.

As someone who knows a little thing or two about metallurgy, machining, engineering, physics, and mechanics I can't for the life of me figure out how the tooling marks in a rifle barrel are going to know if they are at round count 20 of a concentrated break in procedure, or the 20th round in 5 years.

This is what happens.. Tooling leaves marks, microscopic jagged marks, burrs and pores.

When a bullet passes over them, frictional forces help lay them in direction of passing smoothing them out and laying them into pores, or breaking them off. Heat from friction help as well.
Some jacketing is snagged and deposited on/in these microscopic burrs and pores. Closer to the chamber the more heat helps burn the burrs off.

20 rounds of this in one day is no different than 1 shot per year for 20 years. The end result would be identical.

Copper likes to stick to copper better than it sticks to steel. So once it gets a foothold in these pores and on the burrs, it will build up more and more and more as more bullets pass, and this protective layer of copper is not only protecting the burrs from being beaten down or broken off but building up even more.. Copper fouling.

So yes running some copper solvent through there will keep the buildups to a minimum, so each bullet passing is acting on bare steel and actually leading towards a smoother bore.

But it will the bore know if it's was one day or 20 years? Nope.

Bottom line is cleaning the copper out regularly will speed up the break in/smoothing process via round count, which eventually means more rounds between fouling and better accuracy.. You do not have to do it all at once.

Excellent ! Yupp barrels are not that " Smart" ! :wink: Just Don't let the copper build up too much ! jmo RJ

[adriaticum]

This makes me face palm. Literally I just did it.

As someone who knows a little thing or two about metallurgy, machining, engineering, physics, and mechanics I can't for the life of me figure out how the tooling marks in a rifle barrel are going to know if they are at round count 20 of a concentrated break in procedure, or the 20th round in 5 years.

This is what happens.. Tooling leaves marks, microscopic jagged marks, burrs and pores.

When a bullet passes over them, frictional forces help lay them in the direction of passing, smoothing them out, and or breaking them off. Heat from friction help as well.
Some jacketing is snagged and deposited on/in these microscopic burrs and pores. Closer to the chamber the more heat helps burn the burrs off.

20 rounds of this in one day is no different than 1 shot per year for 20 years. The end result would be identical.

Copper likes to stick to copper better than it sticks to steel. So once it gets a foothold in these pores and on the burrs, it will build up more and more and more as more bullets pass, and this protective layer of copper is not only protecting the burrs from being beaten down or broken off but building up even more.. Copper fouling.

So yes running some copper solvent through there will keep the buildups to a minimum, so each bullet passing is acting on bare steel and actually leading towards a smoother bore.

But it will the bore know if it's was one day or 20 years? Nope.

Bottom line is cleaning the copper out regularly will speed up the break in/smoothing process via round count, which eventually means more rounds between fouling and better accuracy.. You do not have to do it all at once.


Lol, I don't think there is an emoticon for facepalm.
The only time round count could make a difference in metal composition is if you shoot a high number of rounds in a short time and make the barrel over heat. Than you could damage the barrel.

[RiverOtter]

Funniest part of it all is, lotsa guys go through the motions of cleaning, thinking they are doing this wonderous job to the inards of their barrel, "Breaking it In", when in fact they are merely removing powder residue and leaving most of the real copper fouling behind. Patches are coming out clean, barrel must be clean, right? Not necessarily. Factory barrels being the worst obviously, due their rougher interiors. Even using products like Sweets, CR-10 and Wipe Out, I'm sure a bore scope would prove that clean is not really clean.

Funnier yet, every barrel I've owned from new has had copper fouling right from the factory. I would expect this is due to legalities, that every production rifle would be proof fired to rule out a catastrophic flaw, which begs the question, "Was it a single shot from a pristine barrel, then greased for shipping, or was it a few shots and highly unlikely that it was scrubbed to bare steel between each?"

My exact "Break In" for a factory tube is this.
1)Pull bolt, insert Tipton bore guide
2)Run a wet patch of Butch's Bore Shine from chamber to muzzle, via Dewey brass bore jag and discard at muzzle
3)Repeat step 2
4)Let barrel sit horizontal for 10-15 minutes and let solvent work its magic
5)Install bronze bore brush, a caliber or two smaller than bore and wrap it in a cotton patch. Add some solvent and run down the bore
6)Repeat step 5
Now that most of the grease, powder residue and some copper is dealt with, I park the solvent.
7)Reinstall jag and run 2 clean patches down the bore to remove leftover solvent
8.)Soak a patch in Isopropyl alcohol and run down the bore, repeating until patches are clean at the muzzle.
9)Run dry patches until the bore is dry
10)Install a nylon bore brush of smaller caliber, wrapped in a patch soaked in Sweets or CR-10 and work it back and forth in the bore several times.
Even though your bore was "CLEAN", you'll notice a weird blue tinge developing on the patch; that's copper. Lotsa guys would have already blasted off round number 2 after step #9 and been rigorously cleaning for shot #3....but hey, they're feeling good about the "break in" and shooting is way more fun than cleaning anyway. Everyone who knows better is currently waiting 10-15 minutes for the copper busters to work their magic, so they can carry on.
11)Reinstall jag and run a couple clean patches through bore
12)Reinstall nylon brush and work the Sweets/CR-10 through the bore to confirm the blue is gone and patches are clean.
13)If your satisfied with step #12, run a couple clean patches via jag, followed by Isopropyl alcohol and lastly more clean dry patches.
14) Wipe your jag clean with IA, as well as your bore guide and chamber, then allow a minute or so for the IA to evaporate.
NOTE: NEVER leave your rifle at this stage, as it is stripped of anything that would help fend rust
15)Install a clean nylon bore brush wrapped in a clean patch and lightly coated in Kroil and work it back and forth in your now "pretty clean" dry bore, followed by removing the guide and carefully doing same to chamber. Allow it to sit for a few minutes for the Kroil to penetrate the pores of the steel.
16)Take a dry patch and work the bore to remove any excess Kroil, as well as the chamber walls so the case can grip during firing.
17)PHEW, can't hardly wait for shot number #2, so I can hurry back to step #1........

Or, just shoot the freaking thing at this point until there is sufficient fouling to group properly, then wait for groups to open up, signalling it is time to clean.

Or, go a step further and skip the Kroil stage in the bore and give it a JB bore paste treatment (Follow instructions on container). Moly coat your bullets, start shooting same and park your cleaning rod outta the way, as you won't need it again for a loooong time.......

[REMINGTON JIM]

Otter had me going for a second :confused: Holy Phuck its not a IBS Gun ! then read 17 - OK got me ! LOL :-D RJ

[RiverOtter]

Hey, either you're cleaning or you're just going through the motions..........:lol:

[RiverOtter]

Otter had me going for a second :confused: Holy Phuck its not a IBS Gun ! then read 17 - OK got me ! LOL :-D RJ

And that is just it, it's a freaking hunting rifle. Whole different animal.

I had the privilege of spending quite a number of hours/days with the Forslund brothers, 2 of the best BR shooters this province has ever seen, so I've seen the lengths people go, to eek out a few thousandths in a 5 shot group. Fact is, 99% of regular shooters/hunters would/could never realize that difference, even if that caliber of gun(Pardon the pun) was placed in their lap; me included. Reason being, even if you master the rifle(the easiest part of the equation) you will get used ugly style by atmospheric conditions, which is what really seperates the men from the boys, if you will.

[brian]

I had the privilege of spending quite a number of hours/days with the Forslund brothers, 2 of the best BR shooters this province has ever seen, so I've seen the lengths people go, to eek out a few thousandths in a 5 shot group. My wobble zone alone is 3000/1000th of an inch for seated so I naturally pay extremely close attention to any factor that can shave .0002 or .0003 thou off that number.

[hoochie]

....................................

[guntech]

I had the privilege of spending quite a number of hours/days with the Forslund brothers, 2 of the best BR shooters this province has ever seen, so I've seen the lengths people go, to eek out a few thousandths in a 5 shot group.

They were quite the guys... I remember when we hosted a Registered Benchrest Super Shoot back in Alberta at the Namaka Benchrest Range south of Strathmore in the early 70's ... they showed up and cleaned up... they knew what to do when it came to rifles and shooting... I forget which brother won the 40X as first prize...

[REMINGTON JIM]

And that is just it, it's a freaking hunting rifle. Whole different animal.

I had the privilege of spending quite a number of hours/days with the Forslund brothers, 2 of the best BR shooters this province has ever seen, so I've seen the lengths people go, to eek out a few thousandths in a 5 shot group. Fact is, 99% of regular shooters/hunters would/could never realize that difference, even if that caliber of gun(Pardon the pun) was placed in their lap; me included. Reason being, even if you master the rifle(the easiest part of the equation) you will get used ugly style by atmospheric conditions, which is what really seperates the men from the boys, if you will.

I SPENT a LOT of time with twins ! I even shot some ( un OFFICIAL) WORLD record size groups in the under ground range ! I built my first 2 rifles with them when they Lived in Vernon before moving to CheeryVille ! The first a 243 Win and the then a 22-250 Rem . Many years ago now ! Meet them in Vernon when they moved in from Edgewood ! :grin: Cheers RJ

[REMINGTON JIM]

They were quite the guys... I remember when we hosted a Registered Benchrest Super Shoot back in Alberta at the Namaka Benchrest Range south of Strathmore in the early 70's ... they showed up and cleaned up... they knew what to do when it came to rifles and shooting... I forget which brother won the 40X as first prize...

Bob won the 40 X :biggrin: RJ

[RiverOtter]

They were quite the guys... I remember when we hosted a Registered Benchrest Super Shoot back in Alberta at the Namaka Benchrest Range south of Strathmore in the early 70's ... they showed up and cleaned up... they knew what to do when it came to rifles and shooting... I forget which brother won the 40X as first prize...

Not sure if it was the same match, but Bob talked about the grass/grain field nearby and spending a day prior the match with Al, watching the wind cycles on the crop. He always chuckled about local paper running the headline, "Two Hill Billies came down from the mountains and stole all our prizes"....:-D

Al actually went to a big BR shoot in the States in the mid 90's and placed second in his class and 7th overall, IIRC. A great achievement, in and of itself, but to do it with a rifle you put together and an action you machined yourself at home, puts it in a whole nother league. He rebedded the action 3 or 4 times before he was satisfied that it was stress free. And I still remember him explaining to me in great detail how he taper cut the barrel threads to even the load, as in a regular system the bulk of the strain is put on the first couple threads. The first day while he was setting up with a lot of his homemade stuff, all he could hear was snears and chuckles and no one would converse with him.....By day 2 guys they were crowding his table asking questions.....:mrgreen:

Truly a great loss when Al and Bob passed on.....

[donny.brooke]

New savage 16 light weight hunter 7-08 showed no more coppering at 14 rounds today. Did a 5 shot clean every shot. Then 3 round groups then clean. After that its shoot it til your out of ammo. 150 ballistic tips ran 5/8 inch clover leaf groups for 3 groups straight. That was my modified barrel break in cause it showed signs of no more copper fouling.

[RiverOtter]

What is your solvent of choice db?