{"id":4661,"date":"2019-12-31T16:03:22","date_gmt":"2019-12-31T16:03:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ammunitiontogo.com\/lodge\/?p=4661"},"modified":"2023-03-15T14:19:03","modified_gmt":"2023-03-15T14:19:03","slug":"how-to-break-in-a-rifle-barrel","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ammunitiontogo.com\/lodge\/how-to-break-in-a-rifle-barrel\/","title":{"rendered":"How To Break In A Rifle Barrel"},"content":{"rendered":"

You don\u2019t get a brand-new rifle every day. (I know, it makes me sad, too.) So when you do get a new one, you want to make sure the two of you will enjoy many wonderful years together. This isn\u2019t a relationship you want to screw up before you even get started. So, let’s explore how to break in a rifle barrel properly.<\/span><\/p>\n

There is plenty of conflicting advice about how to make a relationship work. Interestingly, the same is true about how to make a new rifle barrel work properly. There may be no more disputed subject than the breaking in process.<\/span><\/p>\n

Like most things in the world of firearms (and relationships), no one seems to agree on how to break-in a new rifle (or if you need to at all). Some experts claim it is essential for accuracy. Others claim it is a total waste of time and energy.<\/span><\/p>\n

Barrel break-ins are a relatively new ritual. In the not-so-distant past, shooters just pulled a new rifle out of the box and shot it. No elaborate initiation rituals required. While this method worked just fine for previous generations, we\u2019ve learned a lot over the years. After all, our grandparents also believed <\/span>smoking cured emphysema<\/span><\/a> and <\/span>gasoline was a healthy treatment for head lice<\/span><\/a>. If they were wrong about those important things, it\u2019s possible they were wrong about breaking in a rifle barrel, too.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"TheSome shooters claim you don\u2019t even need to break in a new barrel. Some will claim it is just a superstition like picking up pennies, stepping over cracks, and knocking on wood. Whether a superstition or not, there\u2019s nothing wrong<\/span> with going through the ritual of a barrel break-in. It certainly isn\u2019t going to hurt, and it might just help. Plus, it’s a great excuse to spend some time at the range getting to know your new rifle. After all, getting acquainted is the first step to any lasting relationship.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The Theory Behind Breaking In a New Barrel<\/span><\/h2>\n

Every new barrel has tiny surface nicks, dings, scrapes, and imperfections left behind by the tools used during the drilling, reaming, and rifling process. When you \u201cbreak in\u201d a rifle bore, you\u2019re using bullets to burnish those minor imperfections. If those microscopic flaws aren\u2019t buffed out, they will collect metal fouling from the bullet jacket and that fouling will build up exponentially over time. Copper and lead build up in a barrel degrades precision and consistency.<\/span><\/p>\n

This fouling accumulates over time, but it seems to build up faster when the barrel is new. When too many shots are fired before cleaning, the fouling can accumulate so much that removing it becomes a challenge.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Removing the fouling from a new barrel after the first initial shots allows the next few bullets to polish out the imperfections. By repeating this process, the dings and scrapes are gradually smoothed away. Once they are buffed smooth, the lands and valleys in the rifling will affect projectiles more consistently, increasing the precision of your weapon.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

How to Break in a New Rifle Barrel<\/span><\/h2>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

Ask a dozen shooters how to break in a rifle barrel, and you\u2019ll get a dozen different answers. There is no single \u201cright\u201d way to break in a barrel. How you do it isn\u2019t nearly as important as doing it. The critical element is to shoot, scrub the bore clean, and repeat.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

If your new barrel came with instructions from the manufacturer, it is best to follow their guidelines for breaking it in. If not, here is a basic rundown of the process.<\/span><\/p>\n

Supplies<\/span><\/p>\n