I have a standard 10/22 stainless that I would like to upgrade with a new kidde barrel, trigger, and some other parts eventually. when I install the barrel, is there a "break in" procedure that should be followed? I have read some threads about break in procedures where a # of rounds were fired, a patch or snake run down the barrel, and these two steps were repeated for several series. I am new to long guns in general and very new to rim fire long guns. I have owned and fired handguns for years and never done any kind of break in for the barrel. if break in is recommended, is there a generally accepted "standard" procedure?
barrel break in procedure
- Thread starter triton186
- Start date
I built a 10/22 with a Kidd barrel and did not do any kind of break-in and it shot fine. I don't break-in any barrels, rimfire or center fire. My Les Baer is my most accurate center fire rifle and Les said it was already broke in, just shoot it.
GunnyGene
Hawkeye
triton186 said:
Take a look at this. It's specific to competition level, long range shooting. For a .22 I wouldn't worry much about a "break in" . Note the reference to copper (which would also apply to lead to some extent). Open up the "show more" text as well as watching the video.
Point is that break-in is probably overkill for an everyday shooter/plinker. It will have some benefits on the internal ballistics of a competition rifle as mentioned above, but a 10-22 isn't a comp. gun.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AXf6oZzLYaY&index=44&list=PLJUaiRIEduNXoal2_PkBZi0vDCIcEPxUn
Precision32
Blackhawk
The only barrel I have done a break in with was my Kreiger SS Match barrel on one of my AR15s. The bore was lapped at the factory. Kreiger said the only part they could not lap was the leade at the end of the chamber. The break in was fire 1 shot, clean. Fire 1 shot, clean. Fire 3 shots, clean. Fire 5 shots, clean and you are good to go.
The idea is that any roughness will be knocked down by the bullet but some copper from the jacket will be scrapped off and foul the barrel. By cleaning the barrel after 1 shot, it cleans easy. A little copper left in the bore will catch more copper from follow up shots and the cleaning will be harder. After the first shots and cleanings the roughness is smoothed out and cleaning will be easier.
Does it really make a difference? I honestly don't know. At $450 for the barrel, I followed the makers suggestions. What does the manufacture of your barrel suggest?
The idea is that any roughness will be knocked down by the bullet but some copper from the jacket will be scrapped off and foul the barrel. By cleaning the barrel after 1 shot, it cleans easy. A little copper left in the bore will catch more copper from follow up shots and the cleaning will be harder. After the first shots and cleanings the roughness is smoothed out and cleaning will be easier.
Does it really make a difference? I honestly don't know. At $450 for the barrel, I followed the makers suggestions. What does the manufacture of your barrel suggest?
Like some of the others above I've never put much thought into breaking in a new barrel. My most expensive rifle is a Cooper Custom. I didn't do anything special and sleep just fine.
I will say the first shot from a brand new gun is sweet.
I will say the first shot from a brand new gun is sweet.
Pat-inCO
Hawkeye
I have a center-fire competition gun that I did the break-in process on and it
made quite a difference. Repeating, this is for competition guns. For rim-fire,
such as the .22lr that most of us have, my only suggestion is to use copper
clad bullets for the first box or so. After that, worry not.
The other worry item is cleaning. There are a . . very . . few that clean a .22lr
every time they use it. In my opinion, they like to clean rifles. I have more than
one that get cleaned VERY regularly; at least every five years, unless the
accuracy starts to go down (had one do that because it leaded up).
Have fun, shoot safe. 8)
made quite a difference. Repeating, this is for competition guns. For rim-fire,
such as the .22lr that most of us have, my only suggestion is to use copper
clad bullets for the first box or so. After that, worry not.
The other worry item is cleaning. There are a . . very . . few that clean a .22lr
every time they use it. In my opinion, they like to clean rifles. I have more than
one that get cleaned VERY regularly; at least every five years, unless the
accuracy starts to go down (had one do that because it leaded up).
Have fun, shoot safe. 8)
I've never heard of any particular "break in" procedure for a .22RF barrel. Just start shooting it, and check it for leading every now and then, just to make sure you haven't got hold of a batch of ammo with no lube on it or something. (It's happened to me twice.)
Cleaning a .22 barrel...now that is a topic for another thread. (I think we had that conversation here just a few months ago.)
Cleaning a .22 barrel...now that is a topic for another thread. (I think we had that conversation here just a few months ago.)
I have never used a break-in procedure for center fire or rim fire. My guns shoot just fine. Steel is hard. Lead and copper relatively soft. I think people who use break in techniques are merely psyching themselves. Good luck-your choice 
gramps
gramps
