Breaking in a new rifle barrel. Need to or myth?

[Badhabit]

Went back to the range yesterday with different targets. I was using the same off the shelf ammo. 130 grn .270 Win. 100 yds. The target was 5 shots from my 24 yr old daughter. Last time she shot a rifle was 12 yrs ago for hunter safety.  I think she's dialed in.

[257 Wby Mag]

I just shoot em.  Always works on factory and custom snouts. My RAR 22 Mag I’ve never cleaned, shoots awesome.

[Bob33]

The problem with a thread like this is there’s never a two-way test.

“I broke my barrel in, and it shoots great.” What would have happened if you hadn’t broken it in? Would it still shoot great?

“I didn’t break my barrel in, and it shoots great.” What would have happened if you had broke your barrel in? Would it shoot better?

We’ll never know the answers.

Since every barrel is different and there’s no way to test both conditions, drawing conclusions that apply to every gun is essentially impossible.

[Jonathan_S]

 

I would add that I’ve never seen anybody say it’s absolutely necessary but I have seen it called a complete scam. If a barrel fouls heavy and quick, it’s something to consider

I’ve never thought it was -directly- an accuracy thing. Just a clean less often thing. 

[wooltie]

Here's my experience--only broken in 1 barrel 'properly', a benchmark 30 cal.  Just did this last month.

I did the shoot 1 / clean 1 approach for the first 10 shots.  Then, I fired 3 shot groups, cleaning after each group.

The patches were a dark, vibrant blue for the first 5 shots.  The 6th patch did not have this dark, primary color blue.  Thereafter, the shots were more bluish-green and lighter in color.  Once I hit the 10-20 shot range, I saw no difference in patch color--just a light blue-ish green.  I cleaned with Butches, but now use Boretech eliminator.

I used the same 150g soft point ammo for the break in.  Around round 20 I fired some 180g accubond handloads.  I cleaned the barrel after firing the first handload.  The patch was that dark, vibrant, primary color blue.  Subsequent handloads did not have this primary color blue, but exhibited the light blu-ish green color.

I don't know if the break in made any difference, but I did observe a difference in the patches going from primary color blue to light blue-ish green, and I haven't seen this primary color blue since.

So something was changing in the process.  I called the good folks and benchmark who said that once the barrel is effectively broken in after that dark blue stuff is gone.

[jaymark6655]

I think it is neither. I do not do it. I do think if you have a fresh cut chamber some of those sharp edges need to be worn down before it really shoots, but why waste all of the good groups before that point and lower your round count before your barrel is shot out? 

[magnanimous_j]

The consensus seems to be that its unnecessary for a high end, or custom rifle, but its a good idea for a production rifle. 

[Magnum_Willys]

If I put $4000 into a rifle I would follow the smiths recommendation - most it seems suggest clean between each  first 3-10 rounds then between next couple 3-5 round groups. 
We are talking a box of shells and if reloading need up to half a box to dial in what will be loads anyway.   Small investment overall.