Got my new Howa Axiom! Barrel break-in?

[trippledigitss]

That new Axiom shotgun seem's to be pattering very nicely. 

ooooh - ouch! You cut me to the bone man, cut to the bone! 

[MtnMuley]

Sweet looking gun.  Les Johnson has damn near made me go get one of these.

[overunder12]

When almost all professional gunsmiths and MFGs suggests breaking in the barrel using the shoot and clean routine, I know what I do with my guns. Honestly, there's no reason no to. you're already at the range and sighting in an optic, may as well at very least run a bore snake through. 

[trippledigitss]

Yeah I should have went ahead and did it anyway instead of being lazy. I've fired 36 shots thru it altogether now so I dont know if its too late or what but I'm gonna try the procedure again next time at the range. Honestly since I cant consistently shoot tight groups with my skills/methods I cant tell if cleaning is making much of a difference in accuracy! But I can shoot my MP15 tighter than the Axiom.

I am not really impressed by those bore snakes at all. It seems like they never get the barrel very clean at all. I spray or soak the barrel with solvent for 3-5 minutes then run the snake through 5-6 times and follow with a patch and there is always black fouling on it - it bugs me! I cleaned it with patches then the ran snake thru and then a patch and it as dirty again! I did clean the snake last night thinking maybe it was dirty - and it was - so hopefullly that will make a difference. But it has has been like that since I got it.  I just ordered one of those rifle cleaning kits from www.patchworm.com so I'm gonna try that one and see if it works any better. Figured at $12 its not huge risk....

[overunder12]

Yeah I should have went ahead and did it anyway instead of being lazy. I've fired 36 shots thru it altogether now so I dont know if its too late or what but I'm gonna try the procedure again next time at the range. Honestly since I cant consistently shoot tight groups with my skills/methods I cant tell if cleaning is making much of a difference in accuracy! But I can shoot my MP15 tighter than the Axiom.

I am not really impressed by those bore snakes at all. It seems like they never get the barrel very clean at all. I spray or soak the barrel with solvent for 3-5 minutes then run the snake through 5-6 times and follow with a patch and there is always black fouling on it - it bugs me! I cleaned it with patches then the ran snake thru and then a patch and it as dirty again! I did clean the snake last night thinking maybe it was dirty - and it was - so hopefullly that will make a difference. But it has has been like that since I got it.  I just ordered one of those rifle cleaning kits from www.patchworm.com so I'm gonna try that one and see if it works any better. Figured at $12 its not huge risk....

yup! I agree with you on the bore snake. but I was mentioning it as the lowest baseline--hehe not sure if it really matters though, I saw your other post on the coyote so maybe it's enough rifle already!

[trippledigitss]

... I saw your other post on the coyote so maybe it's enough rifle already!

Yeah but she was only about 50yds out! I'm sure I would have still hit her at 100yds...but at 200+?? 

[overunder12]

you should try buying a few different brands and models of your cartridge and put them through--some guns just like eating specific brands of ammo, who knows if it's the powder or the bullet seat depth or what, but you might be shocked at how much difference you can get when you find the right food for your stick.

[bobcat]

Breaking in a barrel is a complete waste of time. Just don't get it hot. I usually shoot no more than 5 rounds at a time, then I will shoot another rifle while that one cools down. You should be using a bore guide to clean your rifles. That actually does make a difference. If you're not going to use a bore guide, then there's definitely no need to waste your time breaking in a barrel. Actually, breaking in a barrel is fine, I do it by shooting, and shooting, and shooting, No cleaning until I get home. So yeah, the breaking in is fine, it's the cleaining that's not necessary.

[trippledigitss]

Breaking in a barrel is a complete waste of time. Just don't get it hot. I usually shoot no more than 5 rounds at a time, then I will shoot another rifle while that one cools down. You should be using a bore guide to clean your rifles. That actually does make a difference. If you're not going to use a bore guide, then there's definitely no need to waste your time breaking in a barrel. Actually, breaking in a barrel is fine, I do it by shooting, and shooting, and shooting, No cleaning until I get home. So yeah, the breaking in is fine, it's the cleaining that's not necessary.

That's basically what the range guy said, dont heat it up. Also on the Howa website it said overheating causes the barrel metal to not find a base form - or something like that. And the cleaning was more to seal the barrel and make cleaner easier down the line.

A bore guide goes on the muzzle end is that right? I usually try & clean from the breech end because...well... I dont know why but thats what I was told & read by someone, somewhere... If it works well plan on using the patchworm cleaner the most but I do like to use a traditional rod & brush sometimes and on this new gun it is hard to keep the rod centered when cleaning from the breech because of the cheekweld pad. Is there a reason cleaning from the breech is better and do you have a certain brand of bore guide you recommend? I found a review online and it says the Lucas guide is the best one. Also, I was told not pull the cleaner back thru the barrel the opposite way, to pull/push thru one way and take the end off before you pull it back.

[bobcat]

A bore guide fits in where the bolt goes. Take the bolt out and insert the bore guide. You want to clean from that end so you don't damage the muzzle. And yes, I just push my patches through one way. Don't pull them back through. If you're using a jag, the patch will drop off as soon as you push it through the barrel. I'm not sure which bore guide is best. The one I have was about $20. I don't think it matters which one you use.

[alvordgen]

got a .204 howa. very heavy rifle. never did anything for barrel break in shoots great. love the p shooter
360 yard rockchuck this spring! ammo could be an issue on your groups, mine wont shoot 40 grain bullets.
no problem with others. Get into reloading its a blast

[trippledigitss]

Thanks for the tips guys and info on the ammo. I think most of it is me but I never even gave a thought that it could be the rounds. I'll have to try a few different kinds and see how it goes. I was using 45gr Winchester Varmint rounds, just some "cheap" stuff that was on the shelf. It has like a cross shaped split in the ends, not smooth. The break in info said dont use moly tipped bullets - but I pretty much skipped all the break in stuff anyway! Plus those cost more so I didnt want to use those to sight it in. At the end I did also shoot 2 rounds of the V-Shok in 55gr and they went pretty much  where I was aiming. I just thought it was because the barrel had cooled but it was the different round? Interesting....