Do You Run In Your Barrel?

Post by **kjd** » Mon Oct 14, 2013 6:54 pm

So do you and why or why not?

Camel · Post by **Camel** » Mon Oct 14, 2013 7:16 pm

No Keith, Ive never done it, but then I haven't had too many rifles over the years that aren't factory. My 20/222 is a Pacnor match grade, if they cant get it right, and they have a very good reputation for excellent barrels, what am I, who know nothing about barrel making/polishing insides, going to be able to do to improve it. My 7-08 is an A&B, cheap and as its a hunting rifle, cant see the point. All I did was give them a very good cleaning, a few passes with Isso bore paste, clean then shoot them. Seems to work rather well.

First 7mm08, second 20/222

Post by **GriMo** » Mon Oct 14, 2013 7:18 pm

kjd wrote:So do you and why or why not?

Jesus not this again....

And no I don't. The less time I spend with a cleaning rid in my hand the happier I am

mn1863 · Post by **mn1863** » Mon Oct 14, 2013 7:33 pm

No just clean the bore, sight it in and go shooting.

WhiteMeat · Post by **WhiteMeat** » Mon Oct 14, 2013 7:36 pm

Only clean the crud out on first fire, then go shoot until accuracy suffers, then clean, then go shoot some more!

Buffy · Post by **Buffy** » Mon Oct 14, 2013 7:40 pm

I like Dr G's method..... shoot the shit out of it method!

jeffk · Post by **jeffk** » Mon Oct 14, 2013 10:16 pm

Only as part of initial zeroing and load dev. shot and clean while getting it zeroed, then clean between groups while doing load dev.

mick_762 · Post by **mick_762** » Mon Oct 14, 2013 10:25 pm

For my competition rifle - yes.

For hunting rifles - no.

makrand · Post by **makrand** » Tue Oct 15, 2013 6:21 am

No.
I researched it a great deal when buying my .223/308 earlier this year and decided not too bother.
If I was shooting for competition then I would. But then I would also wear my lucky socks and clean my fingernails in the same order as that time I got a perfect score.
NOT saying it's superstition btw. Just that in order to win I would do everything I could think of to maximise my chances.
(Have you seen Valentino Rossi before races? Lots of silly stuff and it isn't working any more.)

Glenn · Post by **Glenn** » Tue Oct 15, 2013 8:59 am

Do I clean the barrel before I fire the first shot? Yes.

Do I clean the barrel after I fire the first shot? Yes

I have to get the gun on paper and sight it in so I will fire 3 and clean to see
how much copper it has picked up.

I will continue to do that till the gun is sighted in.

Shoot till accuracy drops off.

Is that "running" in a barrel?

Because I clean the barrel after 3 shoots to make sure it is not fouled people say " are you one of THOSE barrel run in people"

In your eye YES I am!
All I am doing is making sure I don't have a carbon/copper fouled barrel.

If you say no I don't "run" in a barrel dose that mean you just shoot it and not clean it?

And no I don't. The less time I spend with a cleaning rid in my hand the happier I am

Yeah your right, that five or ten minutes after shooting can really ruin your day!

The running in argument has more to do with peoples disdain for cleaning their gun than anything else.
The above quote is perfect example!

Glenn

The Raven · Post by **The Raven** » Tue Oct 15, 2013 9:11 am

The only new centrefire rifle I've purchased was a plain jane OEM one.

Did I run it in? Yes, but as a OEM rifle I didn't get all crazy with mystical running-in ceremonies.

Good clean from new, fire a few shots, clean, and repeat a few times.

Did I notice any magical improvement? No, but it didn't hurt the rifle either.

macca · Post by **macca** » Tue Oct 15, 2013 9:29 am

I have done this experiment a few times with different manufacturers and different calibers.
I usually purchases my barrels in pairs,sometimes threes.
Same reamer same gunsmith same day.
I really hate the slow process of shoot one clean etc but it was how i was taught so i decided to test it on a pair of barrels.
I broke one in the traditional way i was taught and the second i cleaned before use and then shot it.
Two things were apparent by five hundred rounds, the the broken in barrel was way easier to clean and was marginally more accurate,.The second barrel still shot well but always fouled and after a good clean took much longer to settle back down.

I have had similar results in 308,223,257weatherby,7mm mag 300 win mag. 22-250 and 220 swift. 6.5mm swede.

The advent of borescopes showed me some interesting things about fouling and copper deposits.
My experience has been that if you clean more often early the barrel retains less copper through out its life then one where you allow it to build up early.
Carbon well that has a lot of influences and cleaning it out is a good thing.

Moly and other coatings have some good and bad things and I don't use them any more.

It all gets down to the level of accuracy you are willing to except and the amount of work verses the return you can measure.
I really don't care whether people break them in or not. If you get good results with your method good luck and more power to you.
To me I have seen a measurable return in accuracy,clean ability and longevity, so I will break mine in. I don't use many factory barrels but given my rem police put down a sub 0.150 as its first group I made an exception and treated it like a match barrel.

My thoughts and experience for what it's worth.
cheers

curan · Post by **curan** » Tue Oct 15, 2013 10:30 am

macca wrote:...... Moly and other coatings have some good and bad things and I don't use them any more......

Hi Macca,

That was a great post mate, I reckon one of the best I have seen on this subject.

I am interested in your comment on the coatings. I am thinking of travelling down the moly path myself, but I am definitely in the learning stage.

If it's not to much to ask, could you post a topic (rather than hijack this thread) with your thoughts on the pros and cons of moly?

Thanks very much, curan

Flip · Post by **Flip** » Tue Oct 15, 2013 11:10 am

I would not consider what I do as running in a barrel more just not allowing it not to fowl up. I clean my rifles after every outing no matter how many shots fired or if at all. Especially after the pitting of my sako barrel

. No one to blame but myself for that one.

I treat mine like Jeffk and Glenn. I was taught by my old man as he always cleaned his 17 rem after 10 shots or every time out as they were renowned for fowling ( well that's what he was told and I turn told/thought me) mthat rifle cleans up so fast it takes no time at all.

I Don't go to the extreme but I understand the principal of reducing copper and carbon build up in a new barrel or any barrel for that matter. All my rifles are factory for hunting. They clean up quite a bit quicker than when they were new.

I know a lot of people don't like cleaning their equipment but I personally quite enjoy it. I may be a little odd I know

for me it's part of the whole hunting/shooting exercise and just like any pice of equipment needs to be looked after. You don't buy a car or any thing mechanical an not service it.

Flip

James270 · Post by **James270** » Tue Oct 15, 2013 11:12 am

I tend to do the same as Glenn and clean it every few shots as part of the sighting in/load development process. Gives me something to do while the barrel cools down.

I have, however, been known to sacrifice the odd animal to the Gods of accuracy as part of a barrel run in procedure

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