handi 45-70

[teddybaham]

wife bought me my first handi in 45-70. ive used a optima pro for muzzle loader season for a few years with great sucess and although i have great affection for this gun because i took my first deer with it,and it has been accurate and reliable season after season, ive succomed to the lure of quick cleaning, and unloading hassle free. ive thumbed through the FAQs and i didnt really get the awnswer i wanted to hear haha barrel break in seems to be somethin of an art for some with endless methods and tecniques and procedures. all of them seem ok, sure  but running 200 rnds of ammo through a barrel is certianly over kill for break in. im quite certian that 20-30 rounds cleaning between them weould lay down and tool marks or burrs in the right direction.  im no expert but i have new guns that group 1/2 moa with less than 50 rnds through them. not so sure about adding a compound to polish either. so as my question is more specific to a method i wana try and not a FAQ here it goes. i got a freind who is queer for 45-70. hes developed a 365gr load he is proud of. the bullets he casts are pretty hard as he adds tin to them and i belive there moly coated(dont matter to me if they are or arent). do the experts think runnin 20-30 of these with thourough cleaning in between be adequate to break in the barrel before i sight in for hunting? thanks in advance. 
wish there was a sceintific guns and ammo mythbusters lab where you could get proven results from test to develop the best method. im sure they all work good thats not what im sayin, but there seems to be simpler ways to do it also

[Catshooter45]

Congrats on your .45-70, many here think it's the best of 'em all, including me!

I read an article by Gail McMillian (of McMillian barrel fame, yep that's him) and he said that for a quality barrel any 'break in' was a waste of time.

I bought my Handi in .45-70 ten years ago and it really looked un-fired.  I didn't fire it until this year.  I don't use hardly any jacketed bullets at all.  I started with home cast and stayed there.  With a scope, mine will give you inch and an eigth three shot groups at 100 yards.

I suppose I could break it in, but I'm not sure why. 

Why don't you try yours out, it might surprise you.  Either way, have fun.  I sure do with mine.


Cat

[teddybaham]

haha thanks, im in nursing school, as soon as i get a break ima take some asprin and head to the range ahaha

[Datil]

 That's My idea, take her to the range exercize her1
 Datil

 P.S. Welcome to GBO forums and wonder world of Handi-holics.

[STUMPJMPR]

I have sighted in 3 Handi 45-70's over the last couple of years.  They were all 3 new out of the box.  I didn't do any barrel break-in on them and most of them shot around 1" group at 100 yards.  Just remember not to rush it.  Give your barrel time to cool down or you will never get it to group.

[briannmilewis]

Based on looking at this forum for a year now, when I get a new Handi, I will just put 50+  rounds thru it to break it in and establish accuracy, without cleaning it at all. If you aren't shooting MOA or thereabouts after 50 rounds, you need to look thru the FAQs and start trying one thing at a time, and when you get the accuracy you need, DO NOT clean it till the accuracy starts to wain.

MHLDBB.....Many Handis Like Dirty Barrels Best.

[Lazermule]

I have had good luck just cleaning a new barrel and then running some Flitz on a tight patch through it.  Takes out any burrs and seems to work for me.

LM