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bore break-in

bwabwa Member Posts: 224 ✭✭✭
edited February 2002 in Ask the Experts
Butch of Butch's Bore Shine fame recommends breaking in a new barrel by cleaning every round for a while, then every few rounds, and so on. What do you guys think? I'll be shooting a new .44 mag. revolver with an 8-3/8" barrel. Is this really necessary/important/helpful?
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Comments

  • bwabwa Member Posts: 224 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I thought about that, but I try to give people the benefit of the doubt. Let's see what some others say(but you may be entirely correct).
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  • Mr. LoboMr. Lobo Member Posts: 538 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I wonder who is working for the gun cleaning supply company now... There is a lot of talk on this site regarding cleaning, over cleaning, under cleaning, I think it makes good sense to clean you gun a lot when you are breaking it in, just like changing the oil in your car. The specifics I will leave to the experts.
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  • rg666rg666 Member Posts: 395 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I would not think that since the Manufacturers of modern firearms don't say clean after every shot for break in, why would a solvent company presume to say otherwise. I clean my guns after every use. In long gun competitions I clean it after every stage. I've never cleaned any gun after every shot. RG
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  • bwabwa Member Posts: 224 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Yes, Mr. Lobo, but can you give me a reason? I know the purpose of frequent oil changes in new engines, but what about new barrels would require the extra cleaning?
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  • Mr. LoboMr. Lobo Member Posts: 538 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    From what I have read here it is all about small particles of lead, copper, powder that would possibly scratch the bore. I think the major mistake that I made for years is cleaning from the end of the barrel not the breach. I personally clean every firearm the day I shoot it. I bring firearms out of my collection to shoot just because they have not been cleaned in awhile. I think if I had a new expensive firearm what would it hurt to clean it after every round the first 5 or 10 rounds then clean it after every 5 rounds for the next 50 rounds or so and then go to my normal cleaning procedure. What the heck it's fun to clean the gun, so what could it hurt. Just my unprofessional opinion.Jim
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  • bwabwa Member Posts: 224 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Thanks for taking the time to reply, Jim. You and I are cast from a different mold. I think cleaning anything is about as fun as intestinal flu(well, that's exaggerating somewhat). I don't want to clean any more than is necessary.Thanks again.
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  • simonbssimonbs Member Posts: 994 ✭
    edited November -1
    Its funny how stuff grows on a person. When I was in BCT and AIT, I loved to shine my boots. I like the smell of Kiwi, I like the time I spend alone with my thoughts while cleaning. Its kind of relaxing.I feel the same about cleaning my guns - A) I just love handling them. B) More time alone with my thoughts, very relaxing. C) I LOVE the smell of Hoppes #9!
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  • Mr. LoboMr. Lobo Member Posts: 538 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    amen!
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  • beachmaster73beachmaster73 Member Posts: 3,011 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    There has been a lot of controversy on this site regarding proper rifle barrel breakin. Their are two schools of thought: 1) You don't need to to it for extreme accuracy and 2) You do need to do it for extreme accuracy. Without belaboring the point why don't you try calling up some previous postings and make your own decision regarding a rifle. As far as pistols go there is near unanimous agreement that you only need to shoot it and shoot it and shoot it. The barrel really doesn't need a breakin. However I'd clean it after every match or every 150 rounds. Beach
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  • robsgunsrobsguns Member Posts: 4,581 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    I've done break in procedures, I've done fire lapping, I've just bought it and shot it. I've had guns for years, I've had guns for a couple years, I've had guns that are 100 years old. Bottom line is this. No matter what you do to a gun, as long as you keep it from rusting by cleaning it when it NEEDS it, it will shoot fine if it started out shooting fine. Guns wear out sure, but for my purposes, I dont think you can hurt a gun through a lack of RECOMMENDED cleaning, or a lot of cleaning, so long as you clean it and use common sense. I dont even sweat this question any more. I have my own standards as to what clean is and I make sure its clean, thats it. No rust, its good. No obvious signs of copper at the muzzle, its good. Wipe 'em down after handling whether or not I shoot 'em, its good. Thats how I take care of mine, and I've never had a problem, works for me bud. Anyone who has been in the military can tell you that if a gun was picky about how it was cleaned, not a military weapon in the world would shoot worth a crap, but they all shoot fine for the most part, and you know how we clean ours, from the muzzle, breach end, what ever suits us, steel jointed rod that sucks, everything you'd never dream of doing on your own weapon. Break in, ha! yeah right, heres 200 rds. go shoot it, and if you clean it afterwards great, if not its your butt.No I think how you clean and break in a gun in most real life scenarios is irrelevant to a hunting/utility gun. If you have some high dollar toy that shoot 1/4 MOA, then maybe do something different with it, but other wise, I dont see how it makes a hill of beans worth of difference. I've yet to meet the man or woman that could shoot as good as their gun is capable of, so I dont think it really makes much difference, a little off topic there, but ya know why I say that.
    SSgt Ryan E. Roberts, USMC
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  • JustCJustC Member Posts: 16,056 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    taking into consideration my arguments on previous related posts, I have to agree with Robsguns. The average shooter won't know the difference, only the benchrest guys and long range target guys will see any value in it. When I build a rifle with a nice stainless barrel, I always break it in. If it makes no difference, it still gives me more confidence in the rifle which translates to better groups.No confidence= no accuracyHowever, pistols make no difference. Clean em at the end of the day.
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  • Richie RichRichie Rich Member Posts: 439 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    just from another point of view, going to what mr. lobo said about the first # of rounds then so on and so on. With a recent purchase of a dpms ar-15 dcm along with it came a card that suggested proper barrel brake-in. I do not recall it exactly but it is on that premise of what mr. lobo said. and I think they said to do this for the first 200 rounds. I can see if I can find the card and quote it, because I now have to do it to my new 22-250.Also have to agree with the comments about the #9. mmmmmmgoood
    Remember,"your woman may not find you handsome, But atleast she'll find ya handy". I love that show..............
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  • steve45steve45 Member Posts: 2,940 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Im in the same camp as Robsguns, I wouldnt bother with it unless it shoots 1/4 moa or better.
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  • chappsynychappsyny Member Posts: 3,381 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    I was reading the posts and had a million dollar idea. There ought to be a company out there that specialized in selling "new," barrels that are broken in by cleaning after every round, then every 5 rounds, etc. Considering how many people believe in properly breaking in a barrel but don't want to take the time, I bet a fella could do all right.
    New Hampshire, USA - "Live Free or Die!!!"
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  • boeboeboeboe Member Posts: 3,331
    edited November -1
    Not that I really want to get involved, but DSA is reasonably reputable. At the bottom of the following link is what they say about barrel break-in. http://www.dsarms.com/front_ends.htm
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  • bwabwa Member Posts: 224 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Just got home from work a while ago and was surprised at the number of posts accumulated since this morning. Sure have enjoyed reading them.I should have mentioned initially that, as I recall, Butch(can't remember his last name) recommended break-in not to preserve barrel life or accuracy, but for ease in removing copper build-up later on down the road(don't recall his reasoning).
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