If you believe a perfect barrel can be created by imperfect factory tools and processes, no break in is necessary. While break in recommendations vary, the end goal is the same, to create a barrel that has seen most of imperfections worn away so that bullets pass through the barrel in a more consistent manner. A barrel that has seen break in steps will be far less likely to produce cold, clean bore flyers because the rifling has reached a more perfect state.

It's much the same as breaking in a new engine where rod bearings are allowed to wear to a more perfect match to their mating services on the crankshaft. This is why many old engine buffs still recommend running conventional oil for the first 500 of so miles in a new engine. Synthetic oil doesn't allow proper "bedding" of road bearings and the crankshaft. So then, when you break in a barrel, you're allowing each small group of bullets to wear away factory imperfections before cleaning the barrel and repeating the process several times until the barrel is closer to perfect.

Now having noted these points, two other views come to mind. First, just like those who say factory processes are now so good that breaking in a new engine is no longer necessary, there are those who claim gunmakers are now producing near perfect barrels that don't require break in steps as well. The other view is that if you just always shoot a dirty barrel, the fouling will aid in reducing the impact of those factory imperfections. There is likely some truth in both of these views.

All of my rifles have seen a break in process. They are always taken to the deer woods with clean bores, and they never produce a clean, cold bore flyer. In other words, a "fouling shot" to dirty the barrel is never required.

Have you ever noticed any difference in rifles that haven't been cleaned in a awhile (but were shooting good), and those you clean periodically before fouling again?

I have a couple rifles that haven't been cleaned in a year or two, that shot perfect last time I took them out.

Seen plenty of fouled barrels that have sat in the safe for months and come out shooting fine. My 7 Rem Mag sat in the back of the safe for 10 months. It did not have a scope on it. I moved a scope to it, and zereoed in 2 shots. Last shot would have hit a dime at 100 yards. From my experience round count, for a particular barrel, is what matters most. And from my experience button rifled barrels like to be cleaned on a lower round count than cut rifled barrels.

I have more trouble out of customer's rifles that were cleaned the night before than those that arrive fouled. We've had to keep shooting at 100 yard paper looking for consistency, before heading down range way more than we've had to clean one, and try again.

If memory sereves, we've had to foul one for 30 customers. We've had to clean one for 1 customer.

I've never even cleaned one before shooting it. Take it out of the box, mount a scope, go shooting.

I'd recommend a new practice. New barrels, mass produced rifle, or custom, can have metal chips in them from machining, machining fluid, and packing oil.

Why else would solvent, followed by patches come out with discolored patches?

I only saw one rifle last year that didn't show dirty patches on a brand new barrel. A Police Sniper's brand new, unfired, GAP-10.

You're not taking into account most rifles don't shoot well when they're clean. I would never take a shot with a clean bore.

The whole ritual of shooting 5, cleaning, standing on your head, saying hail mary's, etc. is ridiculous. You're not going to affect steel using material that is designed to conform to it's surrounding.

No arguement there. Clean, cold bore shots from barrels that were not properly broken in are far more likely to produce flyers. But when broken in properly, that first, clean bore shot will be just as accurate one made many shots later. If you are one who doesn't subscribe to keeping a barrel clean, by all means ignore the break in process.

Hogwash.

Consider the source. "Texas Dan" from Mississippi that disrespects our American flag by throwing it in a trash can without honor because he didn't like the sitting president. Yes I'm digging up bones for the newer viewers and to remind everyone what a scumbag looks like on the internet. Comes on here and wants to lecture folks about rifles and hunting in Texas, can't even pay our flag proper respect. POS.

Least he does not have it in a lead sled in the article...

What's wrong with a Lead Sled? Looks like a great way to reduce the human influence on accuracy.

Not for those who consider themselves a shooting and hunting legend in their own mind.

What's wrong with a Lead Sled? Looks like a great way to reduce the human influence on accuracy.