Barrel break in and maintenance
Break in:
I am, by no means saying, this is "The Way". But, this has worked for me and my customers over the years.
A modern era quality rifled barrel does not need the "old school break in." Back in the day", I did the: shoot 1/clean x 5, shoot 3,/clean x 3, etc. However, after personally shooting out "several" barrels, I have learned that method is not required. Also, after speaking with a couple owners of top barrel manufacturers, I have learned they agree.
A quality cut rifling (not button or other type of rifling) is the key. Those barrel blanks have been cut with razor sharp tooling and lapped, before it gets to my shop. Next up is my job as your rifle smith.
My preferred "break-in" method.
Insert a bore guide.
Swab barrel with a wet patch with your preferred cleaning solvent. I like Pro-Shot "CLP 1-Step."
Swab barrel with a dry patch
Shoot 20-30 rounds, in strings of NO more than 10 rounds, in 1-1/2 to 2 mins. Don't get the barrel too hot.
Swab barrel with a wet patch (I prefer Wipe-Out/Patch-out)
Swab barrel with a nylon brush (10-20 strokes)
Swab barrel with a wet patch
Swab barrel with nylon brush (10-20 strokes)
Finish with dry patch(es) until patch comes out with no residue
Repeat above until 150-175 rounds have been fired. This does not need to be done in 1 setting.
You will notice that with each string of firing/cleaning, the amount of residue will be less and less.
After approx. 150-175 rounds fired your barrel will "speed up." Meaning, if you shot across a chronograph from round 1 through rounds 150-175, you would notice the fps increase. Once it has reached a 'plateau" in speed, the barrel is "broke-in."
I prefer to shoot no more than 15 rounds within 2 mins., regardless of total rounds down the barrel. Yes, it is "fun" to dump a 30 round mag in 15 seconds. However, Your barrel IS going to not like you!
HEAT is the biggest killer of all metals. The cooler you can keep your barrel, the longer it will last.
I am, by no means saying, this is "The Way". But, this has worked for me and my customers over the years.
A modern era quality rifled barrel does not need the "old school break in." Back in the day", I did the: shoot 1/clean x 5, shoot 3,/clean x 3, etc. However, after personally shooting out "several" barrels, I have learned that method is not required. Also, after speaking with a couple owners of top barrel manufacturers, I have learned they agree.
A quality cut rifling (not button or other type of rifling) is the key. Those barrel blanks have been cut with razor sharp tooling and lapped, before it gets to my shop. Next up is my job as your rifle smith.
My preferred "break-in" method.
Insert a bore guide.
Swab barrel with a wet patch with your preferred cleaning solvent. I like Pro-Shot "CLP 1-Step."
Swab barrel with a dry patch
Shoot 20-30 rounds, in strings of NO more than 10 rounds, in 1-1/2 to 2 mins. Don't get the barrel too hot.
Swab barrel with a wet patch (I prefer Wipe-Out/Patch-out)
Swab barrel with a nylon brush (10-20 strokes)
Swab barrel with a wet patch
Swab barrel with nylon brush (10-20 strokes)
Finish with dry patch(es) until patch comes out with no residue
Repeat above until 150-175 rounds have been fired. This does not need to be done in 1 setting.
You will notice that with each string of firing/cleaning, the amount of residue will be less and less.
After approx. 150-175 rounds fired your barrel will "speed up." Meaning, if you shot across a chronograph from round 1 through rounds 150-175, you would notice the fps increase. Once it has reached a 'plateau" in speed, the barrel is "broke-in."
I prefer to shoot no more than 15 rounds within 2 mins., regardless of total rounds down the barrel. Yes, it is "fun" to dump a 30 round mag in 15 seconds. However, Your barrel IS going to not like you!
HEAT is the biggest killer of all metals. The cooler you can keep your barrel, the longer it will last.
Maintenance:
Should I use "Copper solvent?"
During the break-in period? I say no.
After the break-in period? I say yes, providing the solvent is not too harsh. I will discuss my preferred copper solvent, via phone or in person.
Keep in mind: There is "good" copper fouling and there is "bad" copper fouling.
Do I have to wait until my barrel "speeds up" to start load development?
Absolutely not!
After round 2, I start load development. That is when I am "learning" what my barrel likes, as far as speed. Barrels and bullets like to "live" at a certain speed (+/- 25-50fps). So, why not find that speed during the 1st 150 rounds or so? Once the barrel "speeds up", then all you have to do is back your powder charge down to match that speed.
When/How often should I clean my barrel?
This is the day old question. Ask a bench rest shooter and they will say, "after every string of fire."
Personally, I clean after each firing session. Be it, 30 rounds or 200 rounds. I clean after each session.
How/When do I know when my barrel is "Shot out?"
Typically, you will notice a reduction in velocity when your barrel is "on it's way out." This of course, is with the same load and temps you normally have records for. When you fire a round, every round slowly erodes the 1st few inches of a barrel, because that is where the most heat is produced. How much, every caliber is different. I've seen some calibers go as many as 5-6000 rounds. Conversely, I have seen calibers smoke a barrel inside of 800 rounds. When in doubt, we can check it out for you.
If my barrel is "Shot out", can you fix it.
Yes/no/maybe. We can, sometimes "set back" a barrel 1 time. This is basically, removing the "bad section" of the rifling. However, this can only be done 1 time and it also depends on the amount of "shank" on the barrel.
By "setting back" my barrel, can I expect the same number of rounds before it is "shot out" again?
No, typically, once a barrel is "set back", expect about 1/2 life. Meaning, if, say you new barrel went 3000 rounds. Once we "set back' the barrel, you can expect another 1500-ish rounds before the barrel is no longer useful.
Do you charge different to "set back" a barrel vs chambering a new barrel?
No, the amount of labor is no different from setting back a barrel vs chambering a new barrel. The process is the same.
As a well known rifle instructor once said, "...Barrels are like tires on your truck. They wear out! Expect to replace them, eventually. Barrels are the "consumable" part on a rifle..."
Should I use "Copper solvent?"
During the break-in period? I say no.
After the break-in period? I say yes, providing the solvent is not too harsh. I will discuss my preferred copper solvent, via phone or in person.
Keep in mind: There is "good" copper fouling and there is "bad" copper fouling.
Do I have to wait until my barrel "speeds up" to start load development?
Absolutely not!
After round 2, I start load development. That is when I am "learning" what my barrel likes, as far as speed. Barrels and bullets like to "live" at a certain speed (+/- 25-50fps). So, why not find that speed during the 1st 150 rounds or so? Once the barrel "speeds up", then all you have to do is back your powder charge down to match that speed.
When/How often should I clean my barrel?
This is the day old question. Ask a bench rest shooter and they will say, "after every string of fire."
Personally, I clean after each firing session. Be it, 30 rounds or 200 rounds. I clean after each session.
How/When do I know when my barrel is "Shot out?"
Typically, you will notice a reduction in velocity when your barrel is "on it's way out." This of course, is with the same load and temps you normally have records for. When you fire a round, every round slowly erodes the 1st few inches of a barrel, because that is where the most heat is produced. How much, every caliber is different. I've seen some calibers go as many as 5-6000 rounds. Conversely, I have seen calibers smoke a barrel inside of 800 rounds. When in doubt, we can check it out for you.
If my barrel is "Shot out", can you fix it.
Yes/no/maybe. We can, sometimes "set back" a barrel 1 time. This is basically, removing the "bad section" of the rifling. However, this can only be done 1 time and it also depends on the amount of "shank" on the barrel.
By "setting back" my barrel, can I expect the same number of rounds before it is "shot out" again?
No, typically, once a barrel is "set back", expect about 1/2 life. Meaning, if, say you new barrel went 3000 rounds. Once we "set back' the barrel, you can expect another 1500-ish rounds before the barrel is no longer useful.
Do you charge different to "set back" a barrel vs chambering a new barrel?
No, the amount of labor is no different from setting back a barrel vs chambering a new barrel. The process is the same.
As a well known rifle instructor once said, "...Barrels are like tires on your truck. They wear out! Expect to replace them, eventually. Barrels are the "consumable" part on a rifle..."