Breaking in a new rifle ?

[Noc-Buster]

I bought this new rifle and after reading about it and watching a few reviews,video's. I keep hearing the term's like "After break-in" and "Breaking-in the barrel"
How do I do this? "How I know it's good and seasoned"
I come from a hunting and shooting back ground but Im new to the whole world of High Power Rifle's.
I have a ton of question's so beware LOL!
Thanks for any help with this!

 

[pisgah]

Complex barrel break-in procedures are a balm to the superstitious and those afflicted with OCD, but beyond that the benefits are at best questionable. Some folks claim all sorts of benefits, but to them I would ask -- how do you know? Once you have applied a break-in program, how do you know the rifle would not have shot as well after no special break-in at all? The answer is -- you don't. Some say "it can't hurt", but I disagree, at least to the extent that some heavy-duty break-in rituals involving many rounds and cleanings puts wear on the bore -- that's the point, after all -- and every shot represents a small step toward the end of a barrel's useful life.

My break-in procedure -- sit down with the rifle and read the owner's manual thoroughly; clean the rifle; go shoot the rifle, cleaning the bore as needed; enjoy.

 

[GunnyGene]

^^ Agree to a point. The objective is to maintain bore equilibrium relative to coppering, etc. That said, it's only an issue if you plan on making head shots on woodchucks at 1000yds. :mrgreen:

Rex has a few video's about this. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_KRUAv3Byp4&index=40&list=PLJUaiRIEduNXoal2_PkBZi0vDCIcEPxUn

 

[308longdistance]

Just me, but all I do to a new rifle is break it down clean it. Get all the packing grease out of the barrel. Put a scope on, or open sights. Sight it in and shoot it, wipe it down after shooting and put it away. When it gets really dirty, I clean it again.

Maybe a high dollar competition rifle you might want to follow a specific barrel makers suggestions.

JMO

 

[Noc-Buster]

Wow, well thanks for the replies.
I'll get it cleaned good and just take to the range and see how it does.
I was hopeing it would be easy and not a long drawn out ordeal.
Thanks guy's!

 

[GunnyGene]

Wow, well thanks for the replies.
I'll get it cleaned good and just take to the range and see how it does.
I was hopeing it would be easy and not a long drawn out ordeal.
Thanks guy's!

Just out of curiosity, what rifle did you buy?

 

[Noc-Buster]

I bought the Ruger American in 308.
I'll be putting a Nikon Prostaff BDC 3x9x40 glass on it also.
I know it's not a high end rifle but it's a good entry level rifle for me.
It's kinda like a Gate-way drug LOL, Im already looking at a few other rifle's.

 

[GunnyGene]

I bought the Ruger American in 308.
I'll be putting a Nikon Prostaff BDC 3x9x40 glass on it also.
I know it's not a high end rifle but it's a good entry level rifle for me.
It's kinda like a Gate-way drug LOL, Im already looking at a few other rifle's.

Good choice. I'm sure you'll be happy with it. Now comes the fun part: Finding ammo the gun likes.

 

[Noc-Buster]

I bought the Ruger American in 308.
I'll be putting a Nikon Prostaff BDC 3x9x40 glass on it also.
I know it's not a high end rifle but it's a good entry level rifle for me.
It's kinda like a Gate-way drug LOL, Im already looking at a few other rifle's.

Good choice. I'm sure you'll be happy with it. Now comes the fun part: Finding ammo the gun likes.

Yeah... I hope she has a good temper LOL, my 10/22's don't.

 

[GunnyGene]

I bought the Ruger American in 308.
I'll be putting a Nikon Prostaff BDC 3x9x40 glass on it also.
I know it's not a high end rifle but it's a good entry level rifle for me.
It's kinda like a Gate-way drug LOL, Im already looking at a few other rifle's.

Good choice. I'm sure you'll be happy with it. Now comes the fun part: Finding ammo the gun likes.

Yeah... I hope she has a good temper LOL, my 10/22's don't.

Don't know if you reload or not, but a lot of members here do, so they may have some suggestions for that.

For commercial ammo, I'll suggest Underwood. Excellent customer service & ammo of many calibers, so might be worth a few bucks to try out a box or 2 to compare to the Federals, et al. http://www.underwoodammo.com/308winchester.aspx . They load it a little hotter than most big suppliers, and it's more consistent bullet to bullet, imho.

 

[Noc-Buster]

Thanks Gunny! I took a look at the site. Doesnt seen to bad on price.

 

[welder]

I just clean mine and shoot away. I have a friend who cannot enjoy shooting a new gun due to his "barrel break in protocol". Last time we met at the range I watched him nearly clean a barrel to death. He was keeping notes. A good guy but apparently suffering from severe gun OCD.

BTW, Noc-Buster welcome to the forum.

 

[GunnyGene]

Thanks Gunny! I took a look at the site. Doesnt seen to bad on price.

Ammo is like most anything else. You get what you pay for usually. Occasionally, you get lucky and find a supplier who's more than just a salesman. Kevin is one of the few who gives **** about his product and his customers.

 

[22/45 Fan]

Those laborious break-in methods, if done right, may help a bench rest or serious target rifle where a difference of 0.01" at 100 yards can be the margion between winning and loosing. For most us us, just don't let the barrel remain copper fouled and keep the action lubricated adequately.

 

[Rumrunner]

The Remington Coreloks seem to shoot good in most everything I have used them in. They are on the cheaper end of factory stuff. I used reloads in my 308 with the Coreloks in Africa and they worked great including on Kudu and Gemsbok.
On the more expensive end, the Norma ammo with the Oryx bullets shoot great in my American and my Browning A-Bolt.

Oh, as far as the break-in, just clean and shoot. Clean again when done shooting. The only thing I do when trying different ammo in a new gun is to runa bore-snake through each time I switch to anoter load.

 

[Pal Val]

My routine with a new rifle is simple:

1 - Clean it well before shooting. 2 - Take it to the range and fore a half-dozen "dirtying" shots. 3 - Clean the barrel.

The rifle is now ready for adjusting the sights. After you have the rifle zeroed, try a variety of loads, until you find one the gun "likes". Zero the sights to that load, and you're set to go.

Elaborate break-in procedures apply mostly to barrels that have cut rifling. That's not the case with yours.