Wrangler95
Well-Known Member
Just bought a new varmint rifle and I'd like to know how many shots thru a new barrel is needed to season the barrel?
New Rifle Question!
- Thread starter Wrangler95
- Start date
None, just put some Tony Chachere's down the hatch and call it good.
backyardtndeer
Well-Known Member
Depends. If I run 50 down the barrel and have the accuracy I want, I call it good. Some may take less, some more. I think some ar manufacturers say their barrels don't require a "break in", while if I recall correctly dpms suggested 100 rounds.
Depends on how good of a barrel you bought. Some are finished/honed much better than others
I generally try to shoot 5-10 rounds factory ammo, clean, shoot another round of the same, clean, then check for group accuracy. I really haven't ever gone to extreme measures in "breaking in" a barrel.
fairchaser
Well-Known Member
It's a lot for our match rifles. About 200 rounds before the barrel speeds up then settles down. I probably wouldn't shoot that many through a hunting rifle. I'd say a minimum of 20 with several cleanings.
Wrangler95
Well-Known Member
Thanks for your advice.I will shoot about a box of varmit rounds and then clean the barrel and go from there!BTW,the gun is a Savage Axis 11 in 223 caliber!
backyardtndeer
Well-Known Member
Would follow mup's advice and clean every 5 shots for at least the first 20. Can use cheap ammo for break in.
Wrangler, if we're talking about a $8K precision rifle the "break in" is much different. For your Savage, I'd say less than a box. You'll always have your "cold bore shot" with a hunting rifle. If it were me, I'd get to know how your rifle behaves at different temperatures so you can adjust for that 1st shot. You're not going to have the luxury of warming up your barrel while hunting. I wouldn't worry about your break in period. Focus on that cold bore behavior and you'll be fine. My .243 shoots about 1-2 MOA high on my first shot. If I need to take a follow up shot I adjust my hold, not the scope.
My $.02
My $.02
Wrangler95
Well-Known Member
Yes,Im gonna do that!
My opinion
Shoot 10 rds cleaning after each round
Then do 5 three shot groups cleaning after each 3 shots
That is what I do
Shoot 10 rds cleaning after each round
Then do 5 three shot groups cleaning after each 3 shots
That is what I do
Remember, as fairchaser alluded to, the barrel will speed up at or around 200 rounds give or take, and you may have to re-adjust your zero, or your handloads, however your case may be.
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This is on the Savage Website FAQ's..............
Although there may be different schools of thought on barrel break-in, this is what Precision Shooting Magazine recommends:
STEP 1 (repeated 10 times)
Fire one round
Push wet patches soaked with a powder solvent through the bore
Push a brush through the bore (5 times in each direction)
Push dry patches through the bore (2 times)
Push wet patches soaked with a copper solvent through the bore
Push a brush through the bore (5 times in each direction)
Push dry patches through the bore (2 times)
Push a patch with 2 drops of oil through the bore
STEP 2 (repeated 5 times)
Fire a 3 shot group
Repeat the cleaning procedure from STEP 1 after each group
STEP 3 (repeat 5 times)
Fire a 5 shot group
Repeat the cleaning procedure from STEP 1
They recommend the use of a patch with 2 drops of oil after the cleaning so that you are not shooting with a dry bore. It is also advisable to use a powder solvent and copper solvent from the same manufacturer to be sure they are chemically compatible.
Although there may be different schools of thought on barrel break-in, this is what Precision Shooting Magazine recommends:
STEP 1 (repeated 10 times)
Fire one round
Push wet patches soaked with a powder solvent through the bore
Push a brush through the bore (5 times in each direction)
Push dry patches through the bore (2 times)
Push wet patches soaked with a copper solvent through the bore
Push a brush through the bore (5 times in each direction)
Push dry patches through the bore (2 times)
Push a patch with 2 drops of oil through the bore
STEP 2 (repeated 5 times)
Fire a 3 shot group
Repeat the cleaning procedure from STEP 1 after each group
STEP 3 (repeat 5 times)
Fire a 5 shot group
Repeat the cleaning procedure from STEP 1
They recommend the use of a patch with 2 drops of oil after the cleaning so that you are not shooting with a dry bore. It is also advisable to use a powder solvent and copper solvent from the same manufacturer to be sure they are chemically compatible.
After reading this, I smell a lawyer
or a retired guy with WAAAY too much time on his hands.Holy smokes (pun intended). I fail at barrel break-in's
What??? So all your rifles have been used with no barrel break-in? That's crazy!After reading this, I smell a lawyer
Holy smokes (pun intended). I fail at barrel break-in's
I've done that break-in procedure every time I got a new rifle…. at least twice!
Correct, kinda. Most of my hunting rifles are old or I've bought them used. In fact, all of them.What??? So all your rifles have been used with no barrel break-in? That's crazy!
I've done that break-in procedure every time I got a new rifle…. at least twice!
Most have several hundred rounds down the pipe. I clean them regularly and all shoot lights out.
DaveB
Well-Known Member
Okay, 25 grains of H335 for the lighter bullets===55, 60, 62, or 70 gr bullet is what we shoot. The 60 gr Partition is a favorite along with the 70 Grain Accubond.
or
24.5 grains of Shooters World Tactical Rifle which we use for 55 and 62 only.
You'll probably find the 223 chamber is TIGHT TIGHT TIGHT--ours are loaded long by .013 over SAAMI spec.
Ours is accurate enough to cloverleaf 5 rounds at 100 first serious day at the range.
We did break in sighting the scope on Day 1.
If you want, cut a loop (i did it in 1/4 loop segments) and get the trigger pull down.
Get a Boyds thumbhole laminate or AT, it is not only pretty, it actually helps with your accuracy.
or
24.5 grains of Shooters World Tactical Rifle which we use for 55 and 62 only.
You'll probably find the 223 chamber is TIGHT TIGHT TIGHT--ours are loaded long by .013 over SAAMI spec.
Ours is accurate enough to cloverleaf 5 rounds at 100 first serious day at the range.
We did break in sighting the scope on Day 1.
If you want, cut a loop (i did it in 1/4 loop segments) and get the trigger pull down.
Get a Boyds thumbhole laminate or AT, it is not only pretty, it actually helps with your accuracy.
Wrangler95
Well-Known Member
Beautiful gun!!
DaveB
Well-Known Member
OKAy folks--Some 70 grain accubond results
Here is H322. to me, this is not good enough
so I tried out some of my Tactical Rifle and am thinking we will stay with this one. The first 4 loads of Tac Rif were not so good and I gave up but came back because I cannot let DA get tooo far ahead of me with these babies.
Here is H322. to me, this is not good enough
so I tried out some of my Tactical Rifle and am thinking we will stay with this one. The first 4 loads of Tac Rif were not so good and I gave up but came back because I cannot let DA get tooo far ahead of me with these babies.
If you could get hold of some IMR 8208XBR I'd like to see the results from that combo with the 70 gr NAB's Dave.
