Breaking in a barrel?

twoclones · Dec 15, 2009

I watched a YouTube video on breaking in the barrel on a Ruger 10/22. Is this necessary? Does it really make a difference?

The video said to fire one round then run a cleaning patch through. After many times of doing this, fire 10 rounds then run a cleaning patch through for several times, etc....

What do you think?

Bello425 · Dec 15, 2009

Is it a factory barrel or aftermarket one? Never heard of a 10/22 factory barrel requiring a break-in.

JAFO · Dec 15, 2009

There are two camps when it comes to breaking in any barrel. One says you have to do some weird voodoo cleaning/shooting/cleaning/shooting procedure and the others says just shoot it.

If you have a barrel that has a warranty then follow the makers instructions on break-in. If not, flip a coin, then just shoot it.

Logical1 · Dec 15, 2009

and if you hit the coin, then the barrel is broke in....

Benny503 · Dec 15, 2009

You guy are cracking me up, the only thing i heard need to break in is 308.

twoclones · Dec 15, 2009

It's a factory, stainless steel barrel. I just can't imagine a metalurgical reason for the shoot/clean/shoot/clean process.

Deavis · Dec 15, 2009

Tons of evidnece on both sides on this... I dont get many new guns.... but the last one I got I did break in with the voodoo...... I was happy with result, but... I dont know what it would have been if I did not break it in.

I have a new sage rat rifle I need to shoot... I will probably break it in, cant hurt. CZ527 Varmint/Tactical in .223.

I dont know about 10-22 ..... I havent had good experience with their factory barrels... couldnt possibly hurt.

UncalledForGabe · Dec 15, 2009

At least clean it before you shoot it. Old cutting oil and shavings cant be good for your rifling.

Partsproduction · Dec 15, 2009

I read a thread about this, some guys even using lapping compound to "break" their barrels in faster. McMillen, of some barrel making fame said it was all hogwash (In many more words) and that lapping was a great way to shorten the life of the barrel.
I don't know, some barrel makers suggest breaking in a new barrel, I don't know enough about it to say, but it seems silly to me. Often I'm wrong though.

Walter Sobchak · Dec 15, 2009

I used the shoot - clean - repeat method with my Savage 10fp in .308 when I first got it. Watched it go from minute-of-all over, to minute-of-awesome in about 30 rounds. Now, I don't know if that was as a result of the shooting, or the cleaning, or some mystical combination.
As for a 10/22, the only way I've ever broken one is was to shoot it 'til the ammo's gone.

twoclones · Dec 16, 2009

Partsproduction said:
I read a thread about this, some guys even using lapping compound to "break" their barrels in faster.

Now that's just silly.

TonsOfOregonBrass · Dec 16, 2009

I am pretty sure the lapping compound is a great way to "Break" your barrel. I don't see that doing anything to help at all.

OregonJohn · Dec 16, 2009

Most, if not all, upper end barrel companies hand lap the barrels they sale. This removes tooling marks in the bore. The better the bore, the better it will clean and shoot. Most factory guns do not, unless they use a custom barrel in the guns they sale. My Cooper has a factory Shilen and my Kimbers use a factory Krieger. All are hand lapped at the factory. All shoot perfect. You can have a factory gun hand lapped by a good gunsmith. The second best thing you can do is break in your barrel. You can even use the break in system on a used gun to improve accuracy and ease of cleaning. The only real question I know about, is weather you should break in a barrel that has been hand lapped. Since all of the tooling marks have been polished and removed. I still do. All of my target and varmint guns shoot under 1/2 inch at 100 yards, with hand loaded ammo. As far as a factory 10/22, I would not waste my time. Just hit it with a bore snake and shake the dirt out. John

Partsproduction · Dec 16, 2009

The great question no expert has ever answered for me, when is it "broken in" and when does it start to "wear out"? It seems to me that "Finished" is a better goal, and guns should be finished at the factory. From there they begin the long process of wearing out.
Most guns are test fired at the factory, so, do the companies that suggest that we run copper cleaner through after each of the first ten shots, and then after each of the following ten at 2 round intervals, are they doing that when they test shoot it?

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OregonJohn · Dec 16, 2009

From the production guns I have purchased, with factory barrels. I don't think they are cleaned at all. John

Hondo · Dec 18, 2009

A match barrel I feel should always be broken in like this. Now on the other hand when I got my 10/22 I believe the process was.. Shoot 1000 rounds clean shoot 1000 rounds clean. Most of the stuff I'm shooting isn't that far out past 100 anyway.

chiefchip · Dec 18, 2009

Hondo said:
A match barrel I feel should always be broken in like this. Now on the other hand when I got my 10/22 I believe the process was.. Shoot 1000 rounds clean shoot 1000 rounds clean. Most of the stuff I'm shooting isn't that far out past 100 anyway.

+1

Grizzly_A · Dec 23, 2009

Ha! Now that's funny!

For a stock 10/22 I'd clean it first and then shoot it. It's not like the factory barrel is going to have match grade accuracy anyway. On a .22LR, it's not like you're going to be wearing out the barrel anytime soon. The projectiles are going to be lead or electroplated copper on lead.

On a match grade barrel, that's hand lapped to remove tooling marks, I would do a "break in" process, but that is more for finding out where the cold bore shot is and how it groups, but I wouldn't really bother with a 10/22.

If you're worried about accuracy with a 10/22, you've either got LOTS of money to replace everything to minimize the variables, or you'll drive yourself crazy trying to make it so by tinkering.

They are very fun to shoot. But I'd give it a good cleaning and worry about break-in once I get something with more kick.