Barrel break in

[TMC]

So I Replaced a barrel with a EABCO stainless competition barrel.. EABCO sent instructions to shoot and clean after every shot for 25 rounds before zeroing . I was taught many years ago to break in a barrel shoot and check zero then clean repeat until zero stabilized then leave a fouled barrel for that first cold bore shot it has served me well since. Having never delt with a stainless barrel before has anyone followed factory , should I stay with what I am doing with non stainless barrels or do you have a better suggestion ?

 

[Carlos Hathcock]

Follow manufacturer's advice. Barrel break in is much like a Chili cookoff... everyone has their own winning recipe.

 

[Mosinitis]

Clean it before you shoot, shoot it and clean after you shoot. There is no evidence these break in procedures have any benefit. People no longer do them. Waste of time and ammo.

 

[Robin]

I would (did) follow the manufacturers protocol. They made it, they know the alloy's, the heat treatment and stress relief applied, they did the testing for break in. It may seem like a pain in the rear but when you are done, you are done and have no reason to blame them when you shoot like crap.
Robin

 

[togmaster]

I would (did) follow the manufacturers protocol. They made it, they know the alloy's, the heat treatment and stress relief applied, they did the testing for break in. It may seem like a pain in the rear but when you are done, you are done and have no reason to blame them when you shoot like crap.
Robin

Or don't do it and you can always say it's the barrel's fault when you miss the X.

 

[Mosinitis]

There are much more people who use barrels than people who make barrels. Much bigger pool of information. Manufacturers don't update their instructions to keep up with the times.

 

[Vapor]

Probably depends on who made the barrel...

Kriger for instance does not reccomend break in anymore. It is fairly superfluous with modern manufacturing.


I've personally never had any issues with not doing so either. I have many guns that shoot sub moa. (Every modern bolt gun I've owned in moa at least.)

 

[Jaywmustang]

I don’t break in any of my barrels.

 

[TMC]

I didn't know if a stainless match grade barell needed such a special break in.It was costly and I don't want to ruin accuracy I wanted to go 24" stainless match barrel for my last replacment setup .Supposedly stainless was most accurate but holds up to less rounds.

 

[TMC]

AR-15 HBAR Accuracy Barrel by EABCO - Stainless Fluted Threaded 5.56 NATO/.223 Rem National Match Chamber

www.eabco.net

 

[Mosinitis]

I didn't know if a stainless match grade barell needed such a special break in.It was costly and I don't want to ruin accuracy I wanted to go 24" stainless match barrel for my last replacment setup .Supposedly stainless was most accurate but holds up to less rounds.

95% of barrels shot in matches are stainless steel. All of the cleaning and accuracy protocols are made with that in mind.
90% of shooting is mental, if break in routine gives you more confidence it may be worth doing even if it does nothing for your barrel.

 

[TMC]

confidence isnt the issue rather if somehow Breaking in wrong affects potential accuracy.. A chrome lined molly barrel is a little more forgiving. like a $20.00 steak if you treat it like a $3.00 cube steak it is still eatable but not enjoyable. I figured this is the last top quality thing I'll own I want to do it right. A Chevy owner never drives like he owns a Ford

 

[Mosinitis]

Confidence is always an issue in shooting. This is not my opinion this is well proven fact.
Chrome lined barrels rarely shoot well. Your precious stainless barrel has about 3000 to 5000 rounds of accuracy life a little more at distances less than 300 yards.

 

[TMC]

If you don't have confidence in yourself, your abilities and your equiptment you don't belong doing what your doing .On the line I focus on breathing , shooting form and target. . I expect my equiptment to be ready . I was so focused once a long time ago on the line I forgot to rack a round and was charged with a safety violation so now I have a pre line then a on line routine. Chrome lined have issues because the chroming process is not uniform in the barrel but cleaning is easier . Non chrome lined shoot better but are tougher to get clean the stainless being softer takes rifeling better cleans easier but wear out faster all from experiance and asking people with years experiance hence the stainless barrel break in questions I'm positive there are members that can enlighten me I'm always looking to learn

 

[Mosinitis]

You asked a question and I gave my opinion. I am NRA classified high master and distinguished rifleman. Hold several range records, won countless competitions. All with over a dozen stainless barrels. If I failed to enlighten you, I appologize.
I will give someone else a chance.

 

[TMC]

You asked a question and I gave my opinion. I am NRA classified high master and distinguished rifleman. Hold several range records, won countless competitions. All with over a dozen stainless barrels. If I failed to enlighten you, I appologize.
I will give someone else a chance.

You are the people who's knowledge I desire the more information and input I can get from many places gives me a better understanding and more knowledge. The one thing is I have zero experience with match grade stainless barrels I am no where near your class but I have 40 years of experience with some FBI weapons certification and weapons training and I am ALWAYS WILLING TO LEARN .If I in any way I slighted you , you have my sincerest apology often the written word fails to convey the true contex of a statment

 

[meketrefe]

Like Mosinitis said, shoot and clean.
you might want to clean it well when the rifle is new to remove any residues or oil from machining but after that it is ready to go.
Perhaps the first session is a good time for doing that cleaning, shoot a few rounds, adjust sights or scope and then clean and go home.
Also if your barrel is lapped is less prone to fouling but even the bullets you shoot from one type to another can take more time
to accumulate foul.
So just keep a healthy routine and forget about recipes and voodoo + chicken leg + candle rituals.

 

[MuttCat]

There's a guy on You Tube who speaks to this issue. Gunblue490. Very knowledgeable on a host of shooting and firearms topics. Give him a look, interesting and well qualified.

 

[TMC]

There's a guy on You Tube who speaks to this issue. Gunblue490. Very knowledgeable on a host of shooting and firearms topics. Give him a look, interesting and well qualified.

Very informative especially the discussion on cleaning fluid and storage

 

[Robin]

Just drag it behind the car on the way to the range, should be good to go!
Robin