Author Topic: Breaking in an Encore bbl  (Read 707 times)

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Offline New Hampshire

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Breaking in an Encore bbl
« on: February 21, 2004, 01:03:24 PM »
Im just curious how everyone here breaks in a new Encore, or even contender, bbl?  I was thinking of doing what the Author of "The Ultimate in Rifle Accuracy" does.  His method is to fire a shot, clean, fire a shot, clean and do this for about 5 to 7 shots till the patches come out fairly free of copper.  Then he fires a handful of three shot groups with cleanings in between the groups.  Is this a little excessive (after all the Author is a benchrest shooter,) or is this similar to what everyone here is doing.  So how do you do it?
Good day,
Brian
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Offline MarkJ_Thompson

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Sounds right...
« Reply #1 on: February 21, 2004, 09:30:09 PM »
What you are saying sounds like what I have heard but have only done on one rifle I own. I believe the system won't really improve accuracy as much as making your shots more consistant. ...Does that make sense to everyone?

MJT

I have also heard of coatings for bullets to lap with and some people just using Flitz metal polish.

Offline New Hampshire

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Breaking in an Encore bbl
« Reply #2 on: February 22, 2004, 01:42:25 PM »
I know that David Tubb has a set of bullets coated with a progressing to finer polishing coating for sale.  It seems like a neat idea, but sounds like it would be just as easy to do it the traditional way I described above, as you are required to handload the bullets yourself (which is not a problem for me, but it just seems like more work.)  I am, however, interested in hearing more about the Flitz idea.  It will be a few weeks till I can get back out to my club to shoot the gun (because of the damn snow) so I have time to fiddle with it.  If I can artificially break in the gun then that just means when I do get out there I can get right to business instead of toying around.  So how would one go about polishing the bore with Flitz.  Use a bore mop?  Cleaning patches?  Is it really as good as fire breking a bbl?
Thanks,
Brian M
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Offline longwinters

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Breaking in an Encore bbl
« Reply #3 on: February 22, 2004, 02:11:24 PM »
Hmmm. I don't know.  Every accurate rifle I ever had shot MOA out of the box.  No "breaking in" or any of that stuff.  I have read about the David Tubb system, but have never talked to anyone who actually used it.  

long
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Offline New Hampshire

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Breaking in an Encore bbl
« Reply #4 on: February 22, 2004, 03:18:37 PM »
From what I understand is that breaking in a barrel is supposed to simply help remove any rough toolmarks, and cleaning as many times is supposed to help avoid any initial large amount of copper build up so that in the long run your bbl does not foul with copper as quick.  With cut down copper fouling you supposedly get easier cleaning and more consistent shots.  BUT, I tell you, I dont really know what to believe.  As a matter of fact I found out that T/C bbls (at least those w/ iron sights) are shot at the factory for sighting.  Maybe Im just being picky.  Well, keep those thoughts coming, I guess Im still on the fence on wether or not it really is necessary.
Thanks,
Brian M
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Offline MarkJ_Thompson

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Flitz...
« Reply #5 on: February 22, 2004, 04:35:15 PM »
The Flitz idea...

I had been using Flitz to clean the powder/burns off some of my stainless revolvers (everyone knows the rings that develope)...Then I read in a magazine (cannot recall which one) where Flitz and a bore mop was used to prepare/lap a new barrel. I cannot remember the technique...just that when you are finished with the how ever many passes you take, to clean the barrel until there is no residue on the patch (common sense).

MJT

I will see if I can find the article...

Offline MarkJ_Thompson

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Flitz...
« Reply #6 on: February 22, 2004, 04:49:07 PM »
This is one place I found it....But is about a specific manufacture's barrel...

Centerfire Maintenance

We recommend that your new Lilja rifle barrel be properly broken-in to obtain the best accuracy. A proper break-in will help ensure that your barrel will clean easily in the future and that you will achieve maximum accuracy potential. Please follow these important instructions.

We are concerned with two types of fouling: copper fouling, which is caused by bullet jacket material being left in the barrel, and powder fouling. During the first few round a lot of copper fouling will be left in the barrel. It is important to remove this fouling completely, after each shot, to help prevent a build-up later on. Powder fouling is ongoing, but easy to remove. Do not use moly-coated bullets during the break-in procedure.

Break-in Procedure
For an effective break-in the barrel should be cleaned after every shot for the first 10-12 rounds or until copper fouling stops. Our procedure is to push a cotton patch that is wet with solvent through the barrel. This will remove much of the powder fouling and wet the inside of the barrel with solvent. Next, wet a bronze brush with solvent and stroke the barrel 5-10 times. Follow this by another wet patch and then one dry patch. Now soak the barrel with a strong copper removing solvent until all of the blue mess is removed from the barrel. The copper fouling will be heavy for a few rounds and then taper off quickly in just one or two shots. Once it has stopped or diminished significantly it is time to start shooting 5 shot groups, cleaning after each one. After 25-30 rounds clean at a normal interval of 10-25 rounds. Your barrel is now broken-in.

Normal cleaning
For a normal cleaning (after a string of 10-25 shots) after break-in, the above procedure should be used, but stop short of soaking the barrel with the strong copper remover. A good rule of thumb is to stroke the barrel with a brush, one cycle for every shot fired.

Periodic cleaning
It is probably a good idea to use a strong copper removing solvent every 200 rounds, or so, to check the barrel for copper fouling. We do not recommend the routine use of abrasive cleaners for normal cleaning. However they can be used every 500-1000 rounds to remove the carbon build-up (caused by powder fouling) in the throat area of the barrel. To use, wrap a cotton patch around a worn out brush or a cleaning jag and liberally apply the abrasive cleaner to the patch. Short stroke the abrasive for 6" or so in the throat area and one or two full length passes through the barrel. Do not clean the barrel like this for more than 1-2 minutes.

Suggested equipment and solvents
It is important to use an action rod guide when cleaning. The guide aligns the rod with the bore and helps prevent uneven wear in the throat area. Be careful not to raise the handle end of the rod while stroking. This will put a "belly" in the rod that will wear the barrel. We suggest that plastic coated rods, like the Dewey and Parker-Hale, be used.

Our preferred cleaning solvent is Butch's Bore Shine made by BBS Industries (406-652-2495). This solvent is excellent at attacking both powder and copper fouling. We recommend it for both break-in and regular cleaning.

For occasional use only, abrasives like J-B paste, Flitz, or RemClean can be used.

Do not use a stainless steel brush in your barrel under any circumstances.

Do not apply a strong copper remover, like Sweets, on a bronze brush. It will ruin the brush and give the false indication that the barrel has copper in it.

For shooters wishing to use moly-coated bullets we do not recommend shooting more than 25 rounds or so without using the normal cleaning procedure outlined above.

Offline New Hampshire

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Breaking in an Encore bbl
« Reply #7 on: February 23, 2004, 12:02:31 PM »
I have some JBs on hand, perhaps that would serve just as well as the Flitz?  But then again,  is breaking in a bbl all that necessary as long as you really claen the bbl with a potent copper remover after your first range sesion?  Boy oh boy this subject has really got my head spinning :( .
Brian M
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Offline longwinters

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Breaking in an Encore bbl
« Reply #8 on: February 23, 2004, 12:10:29 PM »
Do a search on this site for the topic.  It has been discussed extensively in the past.

long
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Offline New Hampshire

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Breaking in an Encore bbl
« Reply #9 on: February 23, 2004, 03:15:37 PM »
Thanks long Ill do that,
Brian M
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Offline New Hampshire

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Breaking in an Encore bbl
« Reply #10 on: February 24, 2004, 02:25:51 PM »
Well I just got through looking at the search results.  Im gonna just shoot the damn thing and say to hell with it.  I figure that as long as the barrel is kept clean over its lifespan then it should not matter.  I really want to try and milk accuracy from this gun as much as possible, but in the end it is still nothing more than a hunting rifle.  So even if my groups could possibly shrink by 15% I doubt a deer will care or notice  :grin: .  I may give it a quick lap job with the JB compuond.  Thanks again everyone I appreciate the responses.
Brian M
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Offline Bullseye

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Breaking in an Encore bbl
« Reply #11 on: February 24, 2004, 04:47:30 PM »
Good decision New Hampshire, that is just my opinion though.