breaking in a new rifle

[Fishpimp]

 i have 2 new tikka t3"s in stainless, 1 for my wife in .243 and 1 for me in .308. 
i hear guys talk about "breaking in" a new gun. i have never owned a new gun{ i have a small heard of savage model 99's that i adore and i have always hunted with them} so i put scopes on both of them, took them out and sighted them in and we shot deer with them this year.
my question is, did i do something wrong?  is there a special procedure that you are suposed to do to break in a new gun? did i mess anything up? they have maybe a box fired through each one.

thanks for the help

[Tony 270WSM]

Most say the break-in process is important, including the custom barrel makers. I do it with mine, some people don't. A simple way is clean it after every shot for the first ten, or so. Then every three shots, about four groups worth. Then I do every five for another three or four groups. After that you should be good.

Different people do it in different ways.

[Rick]

Different people do it in different ways.

IMO break in is over-rated in a hunting rifle. I've never done any break in other than shoting them at the range.

Cleaning them is over-rated as well. Unless I'm in a major downour and they get soaked,I don't clean them until the accuracy goes away. I haven't cleaned my .270 or .300WSM in probably 3 years.

[Ghost1941]

You should break in your rifle if you're range shooting.  If you're taking it out to pop a box before season and then deer hunt with it.  Don't worry, you didn't hurt anything

As for the guy that hasn't cleaned his in the last 3 year, man.  Why??  Why why why?  Lol.  Clean that thing bro.

[dbllunger]

I think break in is hugely important in any rifle.  I have never had bad luck with any rifle I ever broke in.  They clean easier and I get great accuracy.  Is there a difference?  I don't know because I always do it.  I use the heaviest bullet for caliber that I can get, and just the cheapest one on the shelf.  I totally powder, copper, and JB paste after every shot or series.  I use a hand mixed powder solvent and Sweets 7.62 copper solvent.  I use nylon brush with Sweets.  I always leave md amount of oil in the bore with a smaller soaked patch for the first round.  For the multiple round series I shoot them as fast as I can.  It does not take that long is you just plan on it. 

1 shot for 50 different rounds.
3 shots for 10 series
5 shots for 5 series

[bobcat]

I think the whole "breaking in" routine is bogus! But that's just me. I've never done it and never will. My rifles are for hunting...not benchrest competition. I just take them out and shoot them. I might clean the bore once, maybe twice, in a year.

[ICEMAN]

I have an older rifle which I really wish I had payed better attention to keeping clean and lubricated. My beloved rifle rusted a few times in the barrel from lack of care, and it is not as accurate as it once was, one can actually see some pitting in the bore. Also, copper fouling is a true accuracy wrecker and I have read it can occur after very few rounds are sent down the tube.

If I could do it all over again, especially with a new rifle that has not been abused, I would clean and care more often to get the best out of the gun. Cleaning and lubricating doesnt really take all that long to do.

3 years between cleanings? Wow.  Imagine shooting a bullet down a barrel which has some spots of rust, this cant be any good for your barrel.

[Sage Weasel]

Never have been big on the barrel break in on a factory hunting rifle, I just shoot them but I do clean them often. I guess I'm just weird, I really enjoy cleaning/fondling my rifles.   When it comes to custom barrels you bet I break them in, but every barrel is different and all of mine have been stainless. I always clean the barrel super well before the first trip to the range, upon the first shot I clean the barrel with a good copper solvent and inspect the patch for signs of fowling. Most premium barrels will have very little fowling and clean up quickly, I may only have to repeat this for 3-5 rounds and then the same for 3 or 4 five shot strings and after that I just shoot them. Cleaning when appropriate.

[Alpine Mojo]

Break-in is negotiable, cleaning is mandatory!!!

There is no benefit to rust.

[bobcat]

Of course keeping them clean is important but it's possible to overdo it. If the rifle is kept in a dry environment cleaning shouldn't have to be done very often. I always clean mine after hunting in rain, and then always at the end of the season. One thing I forgot to mention is that the one thing I am careful about, whether it's a new rifle or not, is that I don't ever shoot it with an excessively hot barrel. Normally 5 shots is all I will take in a row, sometimes only a couple, and then it's at least 10 minutes or so to let it cool down, of course depending on the temperature. That's why I like shooting in winter or spring, less time waiting for barrels to cool down. And it's always a good idea to bring more than one rifle, so that there's another one to shoot while waiting for the other to cool down.

[Rick]

As for the guy that hasn't cleaned his in the last 3 year, man.  Why??  Why why why?  Lol.  Clean that thing bro.

Why clean it? I mean come on why? why? why?

Just because you say so doesn't mean it right.

I'll bet you more damage is done to a rifles bore by the wrong cleaning method than by not cleaning until the accuracy goes away.

Lets go to the range and shoot for pinks. My rifle against yours. I'll bet you go home with one less rifle.

[Ghost1941]

Carbon
Copper fouling
Perspiration
Rust
Dirt

Need I say more, why would you NOT clean it?  Laziness.  That's why.

Just because I say so, ok and every shooter who's won ANYTHING will tell you the same...

I'll agree with that, so an individual should educate themselves on how to properly clean a rifle.  Not exactly difficult.

Anytime.  1000m range good for you?

[300UltraMagShooter]

Can I come and watch?

Carbon
Copper fouling
Perspiration
Rust
Dirt

Need I say more, why would you NOT clean it?  Laziness.  That's why.

Just because I say so, ok and every shooter who's won ANYTHING will tell you the same...

I'll agree with that, so an individual should educate themselves on how to properly clean a rifle.  Not exactly difficult.

Anytime.  1000m range good for you?

[Rick]

Carbon
Copper fouling
Perspiration
Rust
Dirt

Need I say more, why would you NOT clean it?  Laziness.  That's why.

Just because I say so, ok and every shooter who's won ANYTHING will tell you the same...

I'll agree with that, so an individual should educate themselves on how to properly clean a rifle.  Not exactly difficult.

Anytime.  1000m range good for you?

My rifle bores don't perspire,they aren't rusted and don't have dirt in them.

That leaves carbon and copper fouling. Like I said they get cleaned when soaked or when the accuracy goes away. Carbon and copper fouling don't hurt *censored* in a dry barrel.

Laziness has nothing to do with it. I just have better things to do than get a hard-on over cleaning a bore when its not needed.

Like I said,just because you say so doesn't mean your right.

[addicted]

the last few rifles i've shot or watched shot straight out of the box shot great right off the bat. We still always made sure we had a couple of boxes of ammo through them before the season though.

as far as cleaning...... It used to be an all day event for me I'd pull out all the family's guns take them all apart and clean them all piece by peice and then put them away with zero finger prints. I didnt feel i had to, I just loved doing it.  I'm hurting over here. rem-oil and good cleaning kits are hard to come by.

[Jamieb]

I did the clean between shots for the fist 10, then between 3 shot groups and so on with new rifles. I did this over the courses of a few years then decided to try no beak in on a new rem 700 in .338. That gun shot as well and cleaned up as easy as the properly broke in rifles. I dont do any break in any more and think break in on factory bbl's is a waist of time. Anymore I just shoot until accuracy goes south then clean, some of my rifles that means close to 1000 round between cleaning.

[ICEMAN]

Lets go to the range and shoot for pinks. My rifle against yours. I'll bet you go home with one less rifle.

Anytime.  1000m range good for you?

Excellent, now this is what I am talking about. Put your money where your mouth is!

Where do you guys live?

Where will you do this?

When are you guys going?

Plus, what rifle will you be using?

What range/distance do you both agree on?

Can we have a few members tag along to mediate and keep things civil and report back to the rest of us?



Personally, I am impressed with both of you for sticking up for what you believe!

[Fishpimp]

thank you all for your input. so i feel the general consensus is that i should probably have done a "break in" but since i didn't i probably didn't hurt anything either.  i feel a little bit better.

thanks againg everyone 

[docsven]

There was an article I read a few years ago about how to re-condition the barrel of an older rifle.  The writer made it sound the same principle as some old timers talk about seasoning their dutch oven.  I can't remember if it was F&S or G&A, but the idea is that if you scrub out the barrel and re-break it in using the clean between shots methods, you can improve accuracy by filling in and seasoning micro-pits in the lands.  Never tried it so I don't know if there is anything to it.

[Ghost1941]

Lets go to the range and shoot for pinks. My rifle against yours. I'll bet you go home with one less rifle.

Anytime.  1000m range good for you?

Excellent, now this is what I am talking about. Put your money where your mouth is!

Where do you guys live?
Fort Lewis

Where will you do this?
Well, depends on the distance he wants to shoot at... Theres a 100-200m range right here.

When are you guys going?
Give me 2 months, I'm taking a vacation.

Plus, what rifle will you be using?
700 PSS .300wm with a few bell's and whistles.

What range/distance do you both agree on?
Hehe...

Can we have a few members tag along to mediate and keep things civil and report back to the rest of us?
Fine with me.


Personally, I am impressed with both of you for sticking up for what you believe!
I know I can shoot, and I maintain my weapons.  If he can shoot just as good or better more power to him, then I still have the upper hand considering he uses factory ammunition and doesn't clean his weapon.  I stand firm to what I believe in.

Now after, utterly stealing this thread and making it a my dick is bigger than your dick.  You got the general consensus Fish, your rifle is fine.  Clean it when you shoot but if you're just shooting for the practice to take it to the field, don't worry about harming it.

[Fitz]

Impressive passion here.  I'm all over the map on this topic.  I go to extreems in the very beginning with the following before I ever shoot a new rifle:

- clean and de-grease barrel (normal bore cleaner then bore scrubber or brake cleaner)
- I then pour a lot of boiling hot water down the tube to try and remove as much oil and machining debris as possible (not sure where I read this)
- I then run a jag and patch through the barrel from the chamber end (20 strokes per patch times 10 patches) with Rem bore cleaner with half the liquid poured off...this is supposed to polish the barrel
- clean throughly until patches come out clean and then a lightly oiled patch

Then the range work begins but not quite as much as others do:
- clean after every shot for the first 10 shots
- clean every 2 shots for 10 shots (5 cleanings)
- clean every 3 shots for 15 shots (5 cleanings)
- clean after 5 shots for 20 shots (4 cleanings)
- and after all this typically after every 20 or so shots

I sight in the scope while doing all the above and ALWAYS fire one "foul shot" after the last cleaning as my first shot after cleaning always seems to be a bit off.  I try not to clean much durring the hunting season due to this "foul shot" theory.

With all that said, I can't honestly say my barrels are better than yours or that it helps much but it does instill confidence for me.  I also shoot much better at the range than I do in real hunting conditions  so you'll not see me challenging anyone here for a match on the bench or in the field    So if/when I miss a shot in the field I ALWAYS assume it is my fault and not my gear.

[h2ofowlr]

I do a lot of competition shooting and typically have not had to clean after the first or second shot on a new barrel.  I would run a half box of shells through the rifle, then run a patch through it.  I typically clean the barrel after each use.  Some of the old timers that shoot the CMP matches clean more frequently depending on what powder and bullets they are using.  Good thing is that most powders aren't as corrosive as they used to be, so you probably won't get the pitting in the barrel.  You will get diminished accuracy if don't get the fowling out of the rifling and bore.  If your goal is to just hit a pie plate at 50-100 yards then it's your call.
I personally like those groups that are under a dime at 100-200 yards.  Keep that bore clean and the 10x's will come.

[norsepeak]

I've got a lot of $$$ tied up in my customs and the barrel mfg's say to break them in a certain way for the longevity of the barrel and for ultimate accuracy.  So if the mfg. says do it, I do it and have way better downrange accuracy with my customs than my factory stuff.  Not cleaning for 3 years....ouch!  I shoot my rifles too much for that, I clean after every outing and during the outings if we're shootin milk jugs full of water at 1130yrds for beers!  I'd like to get in on the 1000m action too!

[HawkenBob]

Lets go to the range and shoot for pinks. My rifle against yours. I'll bet you go home with one less rifle.

Anytime.  1000m range good for you?

Excellent, now this is what I am talking about. Put your money where your mouth is!

Where do you guys live?

Where will you do this?

When are you guys going?

Plus, what rifle will you be using?

What range/distance do you both agree on?

Can we have a few members tag along to mediate and keep things civil and report back to the rest of us?



Personally, I am impressed with both of you for sticking up for what you believe!

It'll be like PINKS, but with guns!

[Ghost1941]

That's nice norse, what is that?  Remmy 700 in what?  .308?

[norsepeak]

.270 Allen Mag. 30" SS fluted, floated, bedded, Teflon coated, re-cut bolt face, re-cut threads, holland recoil lug, trigger, laminate A-5 Russo stock, Leuppy VX-III 50mm, 30mm tube,4.5-14, shooting 169.5 grn. wildcats @ 3300fps.  TACK DRIVER @ LONGRANGE!  fun gun too!

[PolarBear]

[/quote]
Lets go to the range and shoot for pinks. My rifle against yours. I'll bet you go home with one less rifle.
[/quote]

I'll take you up on that!  I will put any of my rifles against yours (you pick) and if you win, you pick any 2 that you want.  And none of this 100-300 yard crap, it has to be 500+.

[Ghost1941]

Hehe, looks like this guy might be needing to buy a few more rifles >.<