Barrel break-in - How often do you clean

[scootrd]

I was reading an article and it stated   -  There are three schools of thought on barrel break-in.

First, famed barrel-maker Gail McMillan believed "less is more". Simply shoot five shots, clean, shoot another five shots, clean, and then clean every 5-10 shots or so over the life of the barrel. He argued that the "one-shot, one-clean" ritual was a gimmick devised by barrel makers to wear out barrels more quickly so they can sell more product

The second school of thought, with Krieger in this camp, suggests to shoot and clean after every shot for 5 shots, then again after every 3 shots, until fouling is not noticeable: "Initially you should perform the shoot-one-shot-and-clean cycle for five cycles. If fouling hasn't reduced, fire five more cycles and so on until fouling begins to drop off. At that point shoot three shots before cleaning and observe. If fouling is reduced, fire five shots before cleaning."

 The third and last school of thought says to clean aggressively after every shot for a dozen shots or more, and to use an abrasive lapping compound such as JB after each of the first few shots. The idea is that this will "polish" up the throat to reduce fouling and enhance velocity. Along with bore paste, you can fire-lap the bore using bullets impregnated with fine abrasives. This is done most easily with the Tubb Final Finish system which contains bullets with five different grit levels.


So, in your opinions what procedure is best to follow ?

[AtlLaw]

I tell ya, I'm a sucker for every new thing that comes along...    When this "break-in" hype started I musta worn out 3 cleaning rods and my right arm was one big carpel tunnel syndrome!   
 
Never did see a bit of difference or improvement in any rifle I worked with, old or new.  Matter of fact the smoothest, slowest to foul and easiest to clean barrel was the one on my first factory hunting rifle, a M-70 30-06.  I never did nothing but shoot and clean it.   
 
That said, I do stroke my H&R Handi's a few times with JB Bore paste.  Other then that, if I were concerned I would just lap the barrel.  Even that's not worth the effort to me nowadays.   
 
I tell ya boy, that readin stuff will get you in trouble every time!   

[kynardsj]

New barrel on my Encore from MGM came with this recommendation for break in. Clean after each shot for the first five shots then clean after each five shot string. They also mentioned that some folks don't do it that way and their barrels shoot just fine. If mine is grouping great with a dirty barrel, unless I get caught in a rain with it while hunting, I check it at the beginning of the deer season and hunt with it dirty till season is over. Then it gets a good cleaning till next season. That's on the inside of the barrel, I put a light coat of oil on the outside several times during the season even though it's stainless. Folks that think a stainless gun won't rust are in for a rude awakening.

[Catfish]

Like AtlLaw I also was very meticulas about breaking in a new barrel. Over the years I have came to the concluesion that barrels vary alot and what it takes to break them in also varies alot. When I start on a new barrel I clean with a good soulvant befor I shoot it. I then shoot 5 rounds through it and clean it good. Depending on how how easy it cleans and how much copper folwing determins how I break-in the barrel. If the barrel is rough I will use JB`s and have even fire lapped a couple that were real rough. I will say that those that I had to fire lap never did shoot very good, but were easier to clean.

[woodchukhntr]

Like AtlLaw I also was very meticulas about breaking in a new barrel. Over the years I have came to the concluesion that barrels vary alot and what it takes to break them in also varies alot. When I start on a new barrel I clean with a good soulvant befor I shoot it. I then shoot 5 rounds through it and clean it good. Depending on how how easy it cleans and how much copper folwing determins how I break-in the barrel. If the barrel is rough I will use JB`s and have even fire lapped a couple that were real rough. I will say that those that I had to fire lap never did shoot very good, but were easier to clean.

This sounds like good advice.  I have often thought that the various extended shoot and clean methods were written by cleaning equipment suppliers anyway.

[gunnut69]

I suppose I'm of the do as little as possible school.. I've never seen any advantage to the more aggressive breakin routines at all. Fire lapping is another story.. It affects the wear at the throat of a barrel the most as the abrasive is not broken down at all and the impact and stresses are the greatest. This is most often the last place one wants to accelerate any wear! In a bore already damaged (usually by rist/pitting) it is a beneficial technique but on a new bore I usually clean as the barrel dictate.. When fouling gets heavy or accuracy falls off I clean.. In rimfires I usually clean at the end of the season or when accuracy starts suffering.. If one decides to use a more aggressive technique the cleaning process has to be perfect. One piece rods (I much prefer stainless steel-uncoated) and rod guides are necessary. Flexing rods rubbing on the throat or bore of a barrel and embedded with unburned or partially burned powder granuals are sure death to accuracy...

Note - Sorry I've gone a while but suffered equipment problems and have just gotten back online-a bit anyway..