Rifle and handgun break in procedures.

[TDH]

I have almost all new weapons as I've done a lot of buying and selling lately. I have several things I'm taking to the range for the first time. I see several people posting rifles that they say they cleaned between each round. What is the common procedure for this.

I normally take everything down and clean and lube it. And then fire it and clean it after a certain amount of rounds and then clean again when finished. With a handgun I normally fire 50 cleand and then fire another 50 and do that process over until I reach 500 rounds. I usually do that over a few range trips.

I have one handgun that requires the recoil spring to be replaced every 200 rounds. I'm just curious as to what I should be doing when they are new.

 

[dantheman]

What handgun would require the recoil spring to be replaced after 200 rds ? Is that a typo ?

 

[TDH]

No, its not a typo. Its a Rohrbaugh subcompact 9mm. Its about the size of the Kel-Tec 380 but shoots 9mm. It use to be every 100 rounds and they redesigned the spring. Luckily they only cost 5 bucks. They send 1 extra with the case, but yeah 200 rounds and its done.

 

[WHEELER]

1. Clean the factory grease out
2. Shoot 300-1000 rds (unless corrosive)
3. rinse and repeat

 

[TDH]

That sounds reasonable. I normally take so much to the range I never fire more than 100 rounds through anything. If its brand new I normally clean it between every 50.

Why are these people cleaning after every round? I thought I was in the dark on some special break in procedure.

 

[tunatuk]

My break in procedure is as follows:

Shoot it until it gets gunked up. Then clean it.
Shoot it until it gets gunked up. Then clean it.

And keep going until something breaks or I want something else.

 

[dzelenka]

I have a good number of match grade rifles that I compete with (some would say too many), and this is my procedure for cleaning a new match barrel:

Unpack the rifle from the gunsmith. Clean the rifle with Butches Bore Shine and patches. Go to range and shoot a 50 or 80 round match with it. Clean after match. Repeat.

IMHO all of those break in procedures where you shoot one shot and clean are great for barrel companies because they prematurely wear out your barrel. They may have some place in benchrest competition, but not in the real world.

 

[dantheman]

My break in procedure is as follows:

Shoot it until it gets gunked up. Then clean it.
Shoot it until it gets gunked up. Then clean it.

And keep going until something breaks or I want something else.

That's what I'm talking about ! If a gun won't shoot when it's dirty , I have no use for it .

 

[TDH]

My break in procedure is as follows:

Shoot it until it gets gunked up. Then clean it.
Shoot it until it gets gunked up. Then clean it.

And keep going until something breaks or I want something else.

Thats the preferred method I remember when I was a PFC having to go clean all the unit M16's like once a month. It sucked.

 

[dragginaknee]

tdh i want a Rohrbaugh bad! been wanting one for 5 years now. I just won't pony up that much for it tho. I spend way more on other guns, but maybe I will get one in the near future. Let me know how you like it!

 

[TDH]

tdh i want a Rohrbaugh bad! been wanting one for 5 years now. I just won't pony up that much for it tho. I spend way more on other guns, but maybe I will get one in the near future. Let me know how you like it!

The fit and feel are awesome. I bought the black slide Stealth from the buy I buy Barrett from. He sold it about 75-100 less than I've seen it other places and he set up a new account with them specifically for me.

I am planning on shooting the thing Monday or Tuesday. Me and my dad are going to go to the range. He wants a handgun and has never owned one and I'm going to let him play with some of my aresenal.

Some of the early Rohrbaugh's had problems with the slide cracking but Rohrbaugh rapidly replaced all the problemed units. Now other than having to replace the spring every 200 rounds they are supposedly top notch.

The have a Rohrbaugh forum with some decent info. I would like to have had an Elite but refuse to pay that much for the small upgrades over the standard R9S.

 

[LongRange]

I have found this to be a Norm of breaking in a quality barreled rifles..

McGowen Barrel Break-In Procedures
To obtain the best accuracy from your new McGowen Precision Barrel we recommend that it is properly
broken in. The procedures outlined below are our recommendations and not “set-in-stone” procedures,
we have found that there are a wide variety of break in procedures available out there and one may fit
you better than others. To get the most out of your barrel and ensure that it won’t foul in the future
please use these or your ideal break in procedures.
There are 2 types of fouling that will affect your accuracy, copper fouling which is caused by the jacket
from your bullets being stripped off in the barrel and powder fouling. Typically the first few rounds shot
through your rifle will cause copper fouling. It is very important in order to prevent the fouling from
building up in your barrel to remove this fouling after each shot. Powder fouling is normal with any rifle or
pistol and is easy to remove.
DO NOT USE MOLY COATED BULLETS DURING BREAK-IN
1. We have found with experience that for you to get the best results out of your barrel that
you should clean after each shot for the first 10 rounds or until the copper fouling stops.
With all of our barrels being honed and hand-lapped we have found that fouling is minimal.
2. Always use a bore guide and a good, coated rod when cleaning.
3. Use good quality phosphor bronze brushes
4. Use good quality cotton flannel patches
5. Use a quality bore cleaner like Butches Bore Shine or Sweets to remove any copper. Copper
residue will show up as blue with these cleaners.
6. Soak your cotton patch in your bore cleaner and swab through the barrel. Once the barrel
has been completely coated let sit for 30 seconds and use your phosphor bronze brush
dipped in the same solution and scrub your bore (about 10 to 20 strokes)
7. Afterwards, run a clean patch through your bore until it shows no signs of copper. You may
have to repeat steps 5 through 7 until it is clean
8. Use a good bore cleaner (not a copper remover) to clean the bore completely of the copper
remover afterwards.
9. After you have cleaned after each shot you will be able to tell when your bore is no longer
copper fouling. Once you have seen this you can move on to cleaning after every 3 to 5 shot
group. This should be done for the next 40 rounds.
10. After which it is probably wise for you to check your barrel after each day of shooting or at
least every 25 rounds.

Neveruse Stainless Steel brushes in your barrel at any time.

 

[charlie12]

I was reading this on Bushmaster's website last night.

Question / Issue

What is the proper "break-in" procedure for a chrome lined AR barrel?

Answer / Solution

After firing a couple hundred rounds, the chrome lining will "polish out" from its light, flat gray, factory-new look to a brightly reflective, polished appearance. During this break-in period, excessive cleaning with solvent or brush should be avoided as that will only prolong the time (and number of rounds) it takes to achieve the final "bullet polishing" of the barrel.

 

[charlie12]

Thats the preferred method I remember when I was a PFC having to go clean all the unit M16's like once a month. It sucked.

What did you do? Did you screw up having to clean everybody else's 16?

We had to clean our own.

 

[TDH]

We have to clean our own on active duty and during basic. This was the guard and deployments kept getting in the way of me finishing my MOS training. So basically I wasn't MOS qualified so when there was stuff to be done while everyone else was training that didn't involve me, they assigned me to go with the Privates and Specialist to clean rifles and do vehicle maintenance. It sucked and is probably the reason I didn't re-enlist when I ETS'ed last year.

They promised to send me to my MOS school if I re-enlisted but I was in the middle of law school and didn't want to leave school for 18 months.

 

[leVieux]

I have found some strange factory ammo lately.
Picked up a few K rounds of .22LR Federals at a big Texas gunshop for the grandkids last Fall. They looked like black powder. When fired, gave a sick "pop" and smoke and sparks would fly out the barrel. After firing about 300 rounds, I took the rest back for swap-out. This is the first problem I have ever had with Federals in 45 years of using them for all sorts of firearms.
Anyone ever heard of something like this?

 

[Ritten]

I have a good number of match grade rifles that I compete with (some would say too many), and this is my procedure for cleaning a new match barrel:

Unpack the rifle from the gunsmith. Clean the rifle with Butches Bore Shine and patches. Go to range and shoot a 50 or 80 round match with it. Clean after match. Repeat.

IMHO all of those break in procedures where you shoot one shot and clean are great for barrel companies because they prematurely wear out your barrel. They may have some place in benchrest competition, but not in the real world.

+1000

Although I will go even further between cleanings. Some days I may put 200 rounds down range. I try to clean the barrel every 200-300 rounds. My .308 700 has shot it's tightest groups between 150-250 rounds.

Rimfire rifles which have ONLY shot lead bullets may go 400-500 rounds before the barrel gets cleaned.