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... Somebody asked about a "break-in procedure". So I grabbed a cup of coffee, a brand new, unfired Black and Tan (16" 5.56), and a couple boxes of the McCourt 73g Bergers to see what's what. I shot four 5-shot groups, then cleaned it with some Butch's, then shot four more 5-shot groups. Note, I discounted the 1st after-cleaning ... sue me. What, if anything, can be derived from this event ? 🧐 ML (Editor's note - the five shots in the "X"d-out circle are from something else. It was the only target left down on the range this morning, so I used it 😎)


842 likes

amandajohnjenkins I asked a couple weeks ago and I cleaned every shot first five then every other a couple times then got it close on paper cleaned again it's your match 5.56 upper n a savage lower I had and it shoots 2 likes

  -  laruetactical @amandajohnjenkins ... Great to hear. I'm lazy, so I shot it some, cleaned it, then shot it some more 😎 6 likes

bklingensmith61 What's your bore sighting procedure, you sure test fire a lot of rifles daily and you're always close to the X. Just curious.

  -  laruetactical @bklingensmith61 ... Since we are OCD-encrusted toolmakers, we cylindrical grind our barrel extensions after they're assembled to barrels. This easily keeps every barrel on paper at 100 yards. Next is I use a 5-25 NightForce with a fortuitously cool moa reticle that has all sorts of danglers inside that with a little effort can be the hold spot after a single sighter shot that lets me do as you observed. 5 likes

  -  bklingensmith61 @laruetactical Thank you very much! Greatly appreciate your time.

ckpaladin Shooting before coffee starts rough. Groups get better with more coffee. Then you reach a point of diminishing returns and groups get tough again. Gun shoots despite us and our coffee. 7 likes

  -  texan.right @ckpaladin secret is that after the groups start to get worse due to the extra caffeine you have to take a shot of bourbon 2 likes

akscott60 Clearly just shooting sub moa groups from the beginning is the proper break in procedure. Easy. 3 likes

stevenfulton89 Looks good to go! 1 like

texan.right Always have to disregard that first shot after cleaning. I normally shoot 5 rounds then clean. 15 rounds then clean. 50 rounds then clean. At that point I only clean when the groups act up or I shoot dirty ammo. Good post without stepping on toes I expected to see everyone fighting about lapping rounds and acid 😂 2 likes

  -  thirtythree_three @texan.right You're wasting your barrel. Break in procedures are for fools who like to shorten barrel life and use up cleaning supplies. I shoot with the R&D guys from one of the most famous firearms brands in the world....they confirm this. They love it though, because more barrel sales for them. 3 likes

  -  texan.right @thirtythree_three I don't go out of my way to shoot extra rounds just do that at the bench out back when I'm relaxing and throwing lead. My cleaning supplies used consist of 91% isopropyl and some oil. In general, I agree cleaning barrels isn't something super necessary I have a few guns, mainly rimfires, that the groups appreciate the cleaning every few years. When I was younger I tried some of the fancy cleaning supplies out of curiosity, but didn't seem to improve anything.

  -  laruetactical @thirtythree_three ... That explains your line of questioning 😎 1 like

  -  harveymcdinger_iii @texan.right Run a patch of Colloidal Graphite after cleaning. No reason to have shit first shot. 1 like

  -  texan.right @harveymcdinger_iii interesting... I have some sitting in the garage now never thought of that

  -  texan.right @harveymcdinger_iii honestly I never knew what it could be used for she had it on the shelf and uses it for something ? When she takes over the Kiln for her projects. Been sitting there for 2 years and still nothing hardly used so she won't miss it haha

  -  thirtythree_three @texan.right 22lr is a whole different kind of discussion. I have saved my initial targets from all of the following rifles:
-Larue OBR (7.62). -LaRue PredatOBR (.260) -Barrett MRAD (.308 and .338LM) -AIAX (6.5CM and .308 barrels, and a 6mm wildcat). -desert tech SRS-A1 (6mm wildcat, .308 and .338) -Sako TRG 22 (6.5CM) -Sako Trg 42 (.338lm) - PRI MK12 The only barrel that didn't shoot as well (or better) on the initial 5-rounds was the 6.5CM barrel in the AI. But that barrel was so bad, that it went back to Bartlein and they gave it a thorough going-over. Frank couldn't find anything physically wrong with it, so they just replaced it, and the subsequent barrel is straight magic. .
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I now cringe when I hear people talking about "barrel break in procedures". I don't even bring it up, though, because it's not worth it. Let them have their mental health placebo. 3 likes

  -  thirtythree_three @laruetactical What does? I don't follow. I'm not remembering any lines of questioning, and thus am not certain what I said that could relate to/explain said line of questioning.

mrfla04 When are the 2s flat now triggers going to be available?

amandajohnjenkins Be great if you new any leads on a mark 4 Leopold for it

jedwar73 Break em in like you're gona drive em!

highbrow_666 When you blister the finish on the suppressor, break in is complete.

curtdemel I guess that dog'll hunt @laruetactical 1 like