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Feb 12th, 2024
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 Is breaking in a modern rifle barrel really needed? >>
#5529100
01/09/15 03:02 AM
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Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 272
bradtown
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Bird Dog
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Gotta RRA Fred Eichler Series LAR-15 coming. I dont really wanna spend a full day at the range cleaning the thing, Is barrel break in an important detail? - specifics - As for Eichler Series barrels, well, here’s where things get kinda interesting. The medium-heavy 16-inch barrel is bead-blasted stainless steel and is cryogenically treated. Cryogenic treatment is something of a hot topic among accuracy-freak rifle shooters these days, and the claims made and positions taken on both sides are nearly as extreme as those of the warring parties in the never-ending gas-piston versus direct-gas-impingement argument.
Proponents of cryogenic processing observe that all barrels are produced by boring and machining, which causes stress in the microstructure of the metal, and that different types of forgings and castings cool at internally differential rates, also inducing residual stress. Heat treating also leaves residual stress. This hidden stress is what causes an individual barrel to bend or warp as it heats up from firing, resulting in “random” stringing, walking, or wandering of your shots. This is one reason why good three-shot rifle groups are easier to get than good five-shot groups. A barrel may seem to shoot well but not as well as it could for as long as it should.
Cryogenic treatment is the process of deep freezing a barrel to around -300 degrees and keeping it there for a predetermined time with periodic thermal cycling to relieve residual stress from the barrel material and permanently stabilize its grain structure at the molecular level. The one-time cryogenic process claims to relieve this stress, provide more consistent groups, less friction, heat and wear for improved barrel life and easier cleaning—and about 50 to 60 fps increased velocity.Read more: http://www.rifleshootermag.com/rifle...#ixzz3OHvsEc8wTIA 
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Re: Is breaking in a modern rifle barrel really needed? >>
[Re: bradtown]
#5529133
01/09/15 03:18 AM
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Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 1,586
ckat
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You'll like that rifle. Congrats!
As far as RRA is concerned, I believe that they specifically state in their owner's manual that barrel break-in is not needed. They may hand lap their barrels. Not certain... it has been too long. I would have to dig and find my manual.
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Re: Is breaking in a modern rifle barrel really needed? >>
[Re: bradtown]
#5529227
01/09/15 03:59 AM
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 4,503
syncerus
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The serious benchrest guys I shoot with take it quite seriously, but most think it pointless for normal sporting arms. Of course, my opinion is worth what you paid for it.
NRA Patriot Benefactor & DSC Lifer
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Re: Is breaking in a modern rifle barrel really needed? >>
[Re: bradtown]
#5529793
01/09/15 03:23 PM
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Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 29,603
Sneaky
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I'm not sure about it. I broke in the barrel on my latest purchase, which is a first for me. It's also built more for precision shooting than my other rifles. I did it for two reasons. One, it won't hurt and might help, so why not. Two, I'm uncertain of the rifles quality (long story), so I'm following the manufacturer's procedure to ensure that I've done my part if it comes up short on the accuracy claims. I haven't sighted it in yet to see. Of course, I won't know if it helped, since I have no comparison. All I can say is that the bore did clean easier as the process progressed, which is in line with their claims. This may be something I continue to do, as a result.
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Re: Is breaking in a modern rifle barrel really needed? >>
[Re: Sneaky]
#5530201
01/09/15 06:01 PM
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 41,160
J.G.
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![[Linked Image]](http://www.precisionriflehunters.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/garvey.jpg) 800 Yard Steel Range Precision Rifle Instruction Memberships and Classes Available
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Re: Is breaking in a modern rifle barrel really needed? >>
[Re: bradtown]
#5530571
01/09/15 08:35 PM
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Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 33,946
Buzzsaw
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Really JG,
my two cents.....On my RR predator pursuit I did no break-in, just cleaned it really good afterwards.
Save the shoot 3 clean, repeat deal for a true custom barrel while developing loads.
Great rifle by the way, should get you.75" MOA easy. Mine did, wish I'd a kept it ....
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Re: Is breaking in a modern rifle barrel really needed? >>
[Re: Buzzsaw]
#5531275
01/10/15 01:01 AM
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 41,160
J.G.
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 again
800 Yard Steel Range Precision Rifle Instruction Memberships and Classes Available
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Re: Is breaking in a modern rifle barrel really needed? >>
[Re: bradtown]
#5531293
01/10/15 01:12 AM
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Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 2,072
cabosandinh
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do break it in
I used to do benchrest and I can really tell
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Re: Is breaking in a modern rifle barrel really needed? >>
[Re: J.G.]
#5531360
01/10/15 01:36 AM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 11,738
passthru
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again I'm in.
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Re: Is breaking in a modern rifle barrel really needed? >>
[Re: bradtown]
#5531369
01/10/15 01:37 AM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 11,738
passthru
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Unless you have what it takes to professionally lap (sp) your barrel then do a break in. It's an investment in your investment.
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Re: Is breaking in a modern rifle barrel really needed? >>
[Re: bradtown]
#5531408
01/10/15 01:56 AM
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Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 6,578
Wburke2010
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I always break mine in. I load up some rounds and go shoot it. Ones it starts shooting like crap I clean it....
Walter
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Re: Is breaking in a modern rifle barrel really needed? >>
[Re: Wburke2010]
#5531419
01/10/15 02:02 AM
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 3,410
Tye
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I always break mine in. I load up some rounds and go shoot it. Ones it starts shooting like crap I clean it....
Walter X2
If you shoot a young deer because a neighbor will shoot it, you are that neighbor.
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Re: Is breaking in a modern rifle barrel really needed? >>
[Re: bradtown]
#5531488
01/10/15 02:46 AM
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Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 6,287
scalebuster
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I had killed over 100 deer by 1989 with a used 30-30 and a used .243 BLR. I had never even heard of breaking in a gun until I bought a new Rem .270 and a freind of mine I shared a reloading setup with recommended breaking in a barrel. We broke that mountain rifle in and it shot just as good as the other rifles I had. That season we also killed over 200 head shot deer with his 22-250 ( 100,000 acre ranch) that had never been properly broken in and bought at a pawn shop.
In conclusion I will always break in a barrel butt I don't think it does anything but make you feel better about your weapon.
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Re: Is breaking in a modern rifle barrel really needed? >>
[Re: bradtown]
#5531518
01/10/15 02:54 AM
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Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 1,499
charlesb
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Some barrels get more good out of a break-in than others. - All get some good out of it, but it varies according to the manufacturing process used to make the barrel.
People who do not break in a barrel have no way of knowing how much better it might have been if broken in properly.
Kind regards, charlesb
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Re: Is breaking in a modern rifle barrel really needed? >>
[Re: charlesb]
#5531531
01/10/15 02:58 AM
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Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 6,578
Wburke2010
THF Trophy Hunter
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Some barrels get more good out of a break-in than others. - All get some good out of it, but it varies according to the manufacturing process used to make the barrel.
People who do not break in a barrel have no way of knowing how much better it might have been if broken in properly.
 I agree to disagree.... What does shooting three rounds and cleaning then repeating that do to "break in a barrel"? Walter
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Re: Is breaking in a modern rifle barrel really needed? >>
[Re: cabosandinh]
#5531600
01/10/15 03:17 AM
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Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 6,578
Wburke2010
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do break it in
I used to do benchrest and I can really tell
When you did bench rest what could you really tell? Walter
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Re: Is breaking in a modern rifle barrel really needed? >>
[Re: bradtown]
#5531608
01/10/15 03:20 AM
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Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 1,499
charlesb
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It polishes out the high spots, as opposed to creating new high spots with carbon and copper build-up.
If pie-plate accuracy will do the job for you, then there's no reason to bother. If accuracy is important enough to go to a bit of trouble for though, well that's a different story.
Match shooters who are after the smallest groups possible tend to use a barrel break-in procedure. Guys with a thutty-thutty who will be shooting deer at under 100 yards seldom bother. Somewhere in-between is a happy medium.
And, as noted before, some barrels will respond better to a proper break-in than others, but all derive some benefit from it.
If it's not important to you why then by all means, don't bother with it. Most hunters get by just fine without going through a proper barrel break-in. It's really more something for the accuracy fanatics.
Last edited by charlesb; 01/10/15 03:22 AM.
Kind regards, charlesb
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Re: Is breaking in a modern rifle barrel really needed? >>
[Re: charlesb]
#5531623
01/10/15 03:26 AM
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Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 6,578
Wburke2010
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It polishes out the high spots, as opposed to creating new high spots with carbon and copper build-up.
If pie-plate accuracy will do the job for you, then there's no reason to bother. If accuracy is important enough to go to a bit of trouble for though, well that's a different story.
Match shooters who are after the smallest groups possible tend to use a barrel break-in procedure. Guys with a thutty-thutty who will be shooting deer at under 100 yards seldom bother. Somewhere in-between is a happy medium.
And, as noted before, some barrels will respond better to a proper break-in than others, but all derive some benefit from it.
If it's not important to you why then by all means, don't bother with it. Most hunters get by just fine without going through a proper barrel break-in. It's really more something for the accuracy fanatics.
When you say it pushes out the high spots, what is it? I never did a break in on my rifle. The group above was shot at 250 yards with rounds 10,11,12,13,14 through the gun. I have a little over 200 rounds through the gun to date and it will get its first cleaning tomorrow. Accuracy is why I built this rifle and I still don't believe in break in and the gun shoots. Walter
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Re: Is breaking in a modern rifle barrel really needed? >>
[Re: bradtown]
#5531988
01/10/15 11:00 AM
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Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 8,322
Dave Davidson
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Brad, this is a topic that has been cussed and discussed for years. Experts and wanna be experts have pretty well agreed to disagree. I believe in doing it but don't consider myself an expert on anything.
I've been to precision shooting matches and found that some even clean between 5 shot groups and some don't.
This is a blond/brunette and Ford/Chevy question.
Without a sense of urgency, nothing ever happens.
Boy, if I say "sic em", you'd better look for something to bite. Sam Shelley, Rancher Muleshoe Texas 1892-1985 RIP
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Re: Is breaking in a modern rifle barrel really needed? >>
[Re: Dave Davidson]
#5532045
01/10/15 12:55 PM
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Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 22,252
Texas Dan
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Brad, this is a topic that has been cussed and discussed for years. Experts and wanna be experts have pretty well agreed to disagree. I believe in doing it but don't consider myself an expert on anything.
I've been to precision shooting matches and found that some even clean between 5 shot groups and some don't.
This is a blond/brunette and Ford/Chevy question. Very true. Some men will argue over anything, just for the sake of it.
"Some people will never like you because your spirit irritates their demons."
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Re: Is breaking in a modern rifle barrel really needed? >>
[Re: bradtown]
#5533091
01/10/15 10:26 PM
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Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 272
bradtown
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Bird Dog
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Thanks for all the replies. I'd hoped technology had come far enough along to perhaps offer up a more definitive answer. It makes sense that its still personal perspective.
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Re: Is breaking in a modern rifle barrel really needed? >>
[Re: Wburke2010]
#5533104
01/10/15 10:37 PM
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Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 1,499
charlesb
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When you say it pushes out the high spots, what is it? Read again. I said it polishes out the high spots. I own a bore-scope and have watched this process many times. If you don't want to break in your barrels, be my guest. - I have no problem with that.
Kind regards, charlesb
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Re: Is breaking in a modern rifle barrel really needed? >>
[Re: charlesb]
#5533139
01/10/15 10:55 PM
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Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 6,578
Wburke2010
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When you say it pushes out the high spots, what is it? Read again. I said it polishes out the high spots. I own a bore-scope and have watched this process many times. If you don't want to break in your barrels, be my guest. - I have no problem with that. My bad, but that still never answered the question. What is it? And what high spots? Walter
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Re: Is breaking in a modern rifle barrel really needed? >>
[Re: bradtown]
#5533159
01/10/15 11:04 PM
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Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 6,219
dee
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The throat area is the only thing that could help from any break in. If you aren't running a good bore guide with proper equipment then skip the process and just shoot.
"A vote is like a rifle; it's usefulness depends on the character of the user" Theodore Roosevelt
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Re: Is breaking in a modern rifle barrel really needed? >>
[Re: bradtown]
#5533434
01/11/15 12:48 AM
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Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 33,946
Buzzsaw
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OK .....But.......how do I clean my gun??? 
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