Breaking in a new rifle.

[coriantonk]

I will be taking my wife to the range in a couple of weeks, and I need some help.  What is the process for breaking in a brand new rifle?  I just bought her A marlin XS7, and I need to know what I need to do so that I dont screw this thing up.  This is only the second rifle I have ever purchased new, and I sold the first one after I put about 10 rounds through it.  I am planning on taking my cleaning kit to the range, but I am unsure as to how often I should clean it for the first 100 rounds or so.  Like I said this is my wifes new rifle so if I screw it up I will be in big trouble.  Thanks for your input.

[bobcat]

I wouldn't even worry about it. Breaking in rifles is for benchrest shooters. Not necessary for a hunting rifle. Main thing is just don't let it get too hot. I never fire more than 5 shots in a row with my big game rifles. So it's nice to have at least two guns with you at the range to shoot. You can shoot the other while waiting for the first one to cool down.

[addicted]

there are several topics on the thread. none of them with either a unanimous "right way" nor is it found unanimously necessary.

i've got rifles i never broke in that shoot great. i've got rifles i've broken in that shoot great. 

[Mudeater]

I break in every barrel the same. 3 shots, clean, do that 5 times,- 10 shots,clean do that 5 times- 20 shots, clean, do that until it cleans up nice and fast with little to no copper fouling. if you pay attention, you can feel how the patch starts to push easier, thats because the burrs in the barrel are smoothing out. My belief  about hunting rifles is they to be broken in just like any barrel as very few hunting rifles have hand lapped barrels and that is what you are doing by proper break in. As you are breaking in a barrel, check for copper build up and remove as you go. Your barrel will be more accurate, clean easier with much less copper fouling. Some barrels need more work than others, depends on what method was used for cutting the rifling and quality of the barrel. Good luck and good shooting.

[Jamieb]

Breakin on a factory barrel is a waste of time.

[Huntbear]

A few links on this topic.

http://sports.espn.go.com/outdoors/hunting/news/story?page=h_fea_rifle_break-in_NAHC_040810

http://www.americanrifleman.org/ArticlePage.aspx?cid=24&id=1945

http://www.eabco.com/Reports/BarrelBreakIn.htm

http://www.cabelas.com/story-123/arterburn_seasoning/10203/Seasoning+Your+New+Rifle.shtml

Personally, I break in every barrel, whether factory or not.  It does not hurt, and can help a lot.  Especially on factory barrels.  Plus, you are gonna be shooting anyway, so why not?

[mrolen]

you can also go to midwayusa.com they have a video of how to do it.

[norsepeak]

check out Lilja barrels website, good break-in process.  I've used it several times with good results.  I would take the time and break in every barrel properly...just my 

[high country]

the goal is to powder/carbon fould the barrel before the copper fouls it. there is a bunch of ways to skin that cat.

[Galpster]

The question I have wondered is if you buy a used rifle do you re break it in again? Never know if it was done properly or not and does it matter?

[high country]

I clean then run my foulout 3 on em....then on to load development. the foulout is slow as mold, but it is very thorough.

[257 Wby Mag]

One of the best shooters I've seen was a buddy's 300 RUM BDL. Bought it new, never ran a patch or brush down the snout, and that sonafabitch shoots...

[Mudeater]

the goal is to powder/carbon fould the barrel before the copper fouls it. there is a bunch of ways to skin that cat.

So did you figure a way to get the powder out the barrel before the boolit. 

[Pathfinder101]

There are about a 100 ways to do this, but if you haven't done a lot of large centerfire rifle shooting/cleaning just remember not to whack the handle of your cleaning rod on the crown of your barrel when you clean it.  Get a ding on your crown and you may as well go buy a new barrel. 

[Galpster]

There are about a 100 ways to do this, but if you haven't done a lot of large centerfire rifle shooting/cleaning just remember not to whack the handle of your cleaning rod on the crown of your barrel when you clean it.  Get a ding on your crown and you may as well go buy a new barrel. 

Hmmm, why buy a new rifle. Just have it recrowned. But he is correct. Watch the crown. The best way to clean a rifle his from the other end anyways. Pull out the bolt and go down thru the chamber.