Barrel Break-In (or how to shorten a barrel's useful life)

[LRRPF52]

The Lilja bores are easily the smoothest I have ever seen in top-end rifle barrels. Bill Alexander also mentioned how superb their bores and chambers were finished, to the point that it would require optical instrumentation to detect any marks on the surface.

I'm having very good results with my Lilja barrel. PDS went through the recommended break-in procedure with his 22", because he comes from a benchrest background, whereas I just shoot mine. I've been getting .659" to 1.5" groups with my little lightweight barrel including shooter error, best 5rd group is at .984" at 100yds (.939 MOA). My best 3-rd group is .659" with 123gr SST factory ammo (.629 MOA). That's without shooting from a rest, just a lightweight little gun on a carpeted block at the range with a lightweight rear bag.

It stacks bullets on the same POI at 470yds on steel.

At the end of the day, as the shooter, I realize that I am the biggest variable in the accuracy equation. If I'm in the right mood, I can rapid fire a 5rd group into .6" at 100yds. If I'm not dialed in, the groups will open up to 1.2-1.5".