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... By Jove, it has been brought to my attention that some of my readers eschew the thought of the "20 Round Break-in" ... Fine, you lazy bastages. Here is the -bare minimum- "Six Shot Break-in". Please proceed 😎 ML


1,075 likes

danielbeckman7282 I did the break-in with both of my Siete barrels- takes about 2.5 hours each if you set timers.....6.5 CM barrel shot 0.300" group afterwards and .308 barrel shot 0.275" group afterwards. Worth getting up early on a Saturday IMO. 7 likes

  -  tcfawley @danielbeckman7282 doesn't really mean anything without control barrels that were shot the same number of times without the break in cleaning. Every barrel I've ever fired shot tighter after copper got laid in it. 3 likes

  -  laruetactical @tcfawley ... You're wrong. Each barrel is an individual, it's the nature of the beast. And you can't know how well it shoots until you shoot a group. And you can't legitimately shoot a group until you are through the break-in process. Otherwise you bastardized the break-in process. A conundrum 🤷 1 like

def3va Procedures have changed over the years as barrel quality and the flow of information increased. Many top dogs these days will say shoot it and see what the barrel tells you. If it's not coppering up, minimal cleaning and shoot it. 4 likes

  -  tcfawley @def3va so what exactly does the soft copper do to the hard barrel steel to polish it?

  -  laruetactical @tcfawley ... 1/4" x 1" x 6" copper bars are a staple in a die-maker's toolbox. Used to break razor emcorners on surface ground edges. 3 likes

offroad_scott You just said shoot it when I bought mine years ago. I did. It was as accurate. Shot it more. Cleaned it when I did. Still accurate as hell. 4 likes

jewandamitey May one ask if this break in progress can be done on a non virgin barrel? As in.....can it make any difference if one is late to this party?

laruetactical @jewandamitey ... Dunno. Easy enough for you to research it for us. Shoot five groups first, then do the 20-shot break-in, then reshoot the five groups. Compare. 2 likes

mikeb945 I remember when the break in procedure was "shoot the damned thing" 21 likes

  -  shooterjosh3 @mikeb945 I prefer those times. 5 likes

  -  jeffck2 @mikeb945 it still is if you listen to kreiger barrels and other barrel turners, there's only a handful that want a break in like LaRue and GA precision 4 likes

  -  swade.300 @jeffck2 Bergara still does as well

tannrkramer What's the purpose of doing this? Noob here 1 like

  -  _stevenmichael @tannrkramer There is no purpose. Just shoot your gun and you're good. 8 likes

  -  laruetactical @tannrkramer ... Meh, it won't help folks too lazy to invest a half hour into a virgin barrel. 6 likes

  -  paprika_sheesh @tannrkramer the way I understand it is that by doing this, you are smoothing out the barrel of any machining marks. It is supposed to help with accuracy in the long run. Most ppl don't have the patience to perform such tasks. 1 like

  -  tannrkramer Thank you! Makes sense I'll be sure to do that on the .308 upper 1 like

tn1822 Just finished mine up yesterday! It's worth the time and effort! 1 like

  -  laruetactical @tn1822 ... What caliber ? 1 like

  -  tn1822 @laruetactical 5.56, but I did this with my OBR 7.62 a few years back.

  -  laruetactical @tn1822 ... How's the 5.56 grouping at 100 yards ?

  -  tn1822 @laruetactical Fantastic!! Hell, if I can figure out how to send you a pic of the group, I would. I was kinda wow that it shot so good!

  -  laruetactical @tn1822 ... Mark (at) LaRue (dot) com

  -  tn1822 @laruetactical sent

  -  laruetactical @tn1822 ... Got it. Looks great 😎

sethctr It's so hard to get on board with this notion when I have shitloads of high end rifles and proof barrels that I may have inadvertently wrecked...

Easier to say "they are wrong" Please share how you came to this conclusion and why there is so much disagreement

  -  laruetactical @sethctr ... Can you assemble your non-LaRue barrels and hit a quarter first shot at 100 yards ? 2 likes

  -  sethctr @laruetactical quarter? Most likely but environmental factors can certainly muck about with your zero.... I'm a half MOA bench shooter. That being said, environmental factors definitely do push that first round.

  -  sethctr @laruetactical did I understand your question? I'm not positive I knew where you were going with a question.

  -  laruetactical @sethctr ... You've got your excuses ready ✔

mkivbb Crazy how different companies recommend different stuff. Noveske doesn't recommend really anything other than advising to not get the barrel too hot. 1 like

  -  angrysteveeye @mkivbb Krieger says the same thing.

_esstac I swear LaRue you always posted "just shoot it" 3 likes

  -  laruetactical @_esstac ... I did say "just shoot it" in the old days. But after competing for military contracts that had set-in-stone accuracy requirements, slight barrel improvements cannot be ignored. 🤷 6 likes

cland3stinewrx So what exactly does this accomplish and is this for a certain gun you make or any run of the mill ar? 2 likes

  -  john_of_the_bridge @cland3stinewrx it "polishes" the barrel and makes sure you get the most accuracy from it. This method can be used on all rifles but you'll only really see the difference if you are both an excellent shot and using a very high quality rifle. 2 likes

scumcity Is there anything to be done for a barrel that hasn't had this break in procedure? The barrel shoots fairly accurately with box loads but would there be anything to tighten it up any? Shooting .600 currently. The barrel in question is not a larue.

  -  laruetactical @scumcity ... 0.600" ? I scanned your IG page and saw 600 fish 🎣💪

  -  scumcity @laruetactical I don't really post much gun stuff. I can dm a picture though

  -  laruetactical @scumcity ... Don't DM me. The boomer in me doesn't go down that hall much.

  -  scumcity @laruetactical ignore that message then, I sent it before your reply.

  -  scumcity @laruetactical but yes. .600" with 40gr from a 20" .223 with a wylde chamber

harry_the_stove I believe in 20 round breakin. You can monitor progress by the number of patches it takes to complete the clean. They should start to get fewer and fewer as you go. If you don't like LaRue's 20 round steps, after the 5th round, shoot 5 then clean, repeat 2x. Good to go BUT, I would clean again after 10 more rounds!

  -  laruetactical @harry_the_stove ... Your patch comment is spot on. And patches noticeably start sliding through easier and easier as shots/cleaning progresses. 1 like

darylbarker65 If all you did was "just shoot it" initially, is there value in going back and doing the break-in procedure? Or maybe all is lost?!

g_man_505 I thought it was 3 mag dumps in under 60 seconds. 1 like

  -  usagunbunker @g_man_505 it is

kilburnc I typically have always done a "break in" except for range toys....I feel like some of my rifles (and pistols) out perform others with similar barrels. I always clean my barrels after shooting (not necessarily the whole weapon) and I have melonited AR's that are moa or better with mediocre ammo.

gospencer1 I need to reread my directions! I don't remember the 4 hour one! May need to be sick from work one day! 2 likes

breedlove.ben Any problems skipping the break-in procedure? I didn't break in my Bergara and it seems to be fine. Interested in the Siete was just curious

  -  laruetactical @breedlove.ben ... "Seems fine" ??

  -  breedlove.ben @laruetactical Shoots sub-MOA. Not saying it was the right thing to do but bought it right before deer season a couple years ago and only had a chance to zero the scope before rifle season started. Go fast take chances 🤟

icecoldmn I see no reason not to do the long break in? Sounds like a fun range session, for shits and giggles I may just swap my barrels while waiting between shots and cooling to break them in in 1/2 the time🔥

southernfusionphotography If it's worth doing it's worth doing correctly. Stopping by my FFL this weekend and plan to break in my Siete next weekend.

tactical_brass_recovery Does anybody make a bastage moral patch? 4 likes

7.62stu Always heard if you grounds get smaller keep keep it up, if they don't pretty much done with standard procedure.

lostabroadphotography Load 3 mags fire all 60 rounds into pile of trash as fast as possible. Got it 👍 1 like

jeepin4l1fe I just mag dump and throw back into the safe 😎 1 like

gbellhunts I say just send it. Look forward to shooting mine. Thx again!

billsnearly Don't forget- use a nylon brush and the correct bore guide. And only enter from the chamber end. 1 like

whiskey_n_bbq Can you post the original break in technique for comparison? Thanks.

laruetactical Don't hesitate to shoot me quick pics for me to critique

yosemite_556 ML do you prefer a Carbon fiber or brass cleaning rod?

rplhvac Man I just don't have 4 hours to put in at the range to shoot 20 rounds, wish I had that kinda free time 1 like

laruetactical No sweat 😎

bill9mill Sounds like a great opportunity. I'm in

drknyt67 My pop and uncles always taught me to "season" in a barrel...that proved to me that doing so will help with accuracy...#kickitoldskool 1 like

istrupinskiy Shoot, should I have done this with my 5.56 match grade upper?

voodoosurvivor 😔Guilty as charged.

doss_summers Looks like I'll be bringing my cleaning gear with me to the range when I begin the break in for my 6 ARC upper.

jmguill22 How about the 200 round?

reloaderguy I wish I was retired too 1 like

mattieic3 Awesome now just waiting on my siete, going on 6 months...

macman_lifestyle Added to my "Words of Wisdom from Mark LaRue" folder in my notes

kcgunner @largemouthbassman

lawrenceigoldstein 🧡

666goatspullmychariot Anyone want their barrel seasoned let me know. $100 for the short version $400 for the long 😎 1 like