01-03-2020, 01:28 PM
I break a barrel in using the "clean after each shot for the first 10 shots" then I do three to five shot groups and clean" for 5 to 6 times. During all this, I never heat the barrel up that I can't hold my hand on it.
As "Bluesgunner" above stated, the patches are clean in 2 to 3 swipes after it's broken-in. During the break-in, and especially with a new barrel, (and really evident, on a cheap barrel), the patches are filthy with up to 20 patches going through the barrel on bore cleaner before they are nominally clean. I also see specs of metal from many new barrels and that included two Rem 700's. One I bought in 1976 and a more recent 700 Classic in 300 Savage that was never shot. The specs are visible on the patches during the first couple shots. (A BCA upper in 6.5 Grr was blowing metal specs after 5 shots and I ALWAYS clean and mop the chamber and bore on any gun I acquire, new and used before shooting). That upper was a turd by the way!
I have done this on rifles since I was old enough to own my own in the 1970's and it was told to me by two local gunsmiths who's knowledge I valued. (plus what has been printed over the years in the trade mags).
It is a major PIA and it does add some cost and mostly time that many of us simply don't have but I will always do a new barrel break-in. If only to satisfy in my mind, that I did everything I could do for a gun that I own to be as accurate as it could be. It's an opinion and like anatomical parts we all share, everyone has one.
As "Bluesgunner" above stated, the patches are clean in 2 to 3 swipes after it's broken-in. During the break-in, and especially with a new barrel, (and really evident, on a cheap barrel), the patches are filthy with up to 20 patches going through the barrel on bore cleaner before they are nominally clean. I also see specs of metal from many new barrels and that included two Rem 700's. One I bought in 1976 and a more recent 700 Classic in 300 Savage that was never shot. The specs are visible on the patches during the first couple shots. (A BCA upper in 6.5 Grr was blowing metal specs after 5 shots and I ALWAYS clean and mop the chamber and bore on any gun I acquire, new and used before shooting). That upper was a turd by the way!
I have done this on rifles since I was old enough to own my own in the 1970's and it was told to me by two local gunsmiths who's knowledge I valued. (plus what has been printed over the years in the trade mags).
It is a major PIA and it does add some cost and mostly time that many of us simply don't have but I will always do a new barrel break-in. If only to satisfy in my mind, that I did everything I could do for a gun that I own to be as accurate as it could be. It's an opinion and like anatomical parts we all share, everyone has one.