Barrel break in or no break in?

[1ShotKing]

I recently bought my first brand new rifle (223 VLP). I done some searching regarding barrel break in and have found mixed opinions. Do any of you more experienced savage shooters have any insight? Anyone "break in" one rifle and just shoot one like normal and notice any difference? If so what was your "break in" procedure? Thanks for any help or advice.

1ShotKing

[bigedp51]

How do you "break in" a standard factory button rifled barrel, will a bore brush and copper solvent make the button rifled bore below smoother?

Below, the throat.

http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o254/bigedp51/Throat-1-C-RS.jpg

Below two inches from the muzzle.

http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o254/bigedp51/6inchesfrommuzzle-2.jpg

Watch the video below on a factory barrel and a custom made barrel, the video should answer your question

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hf9zZqn00CA

Shoot your rifle and then use some foam bore cleaner to remove the copper after each trip to the range is the best way to remove the copper in the bottom valleys of the button rifling without undue brushing.

[rjtfroggy]

1Shotking to answer your question YES.
What I found on my very non scientific break in was it made no difference in accuracy when all was said and done.
I followed the recommended procedure more than once and then on a few others just shot then cleaned when I got home then did the same a few more times,and basicily these guns perform the same, they clean up the same(when I clean), no different.
I read once that a barrel maker said that the procedure was to get you to shoot your barrel out quicker,hence needing more barrels leading to more sales.Google "barrel break in" you will find it.

[rattfink]

I have no strong feelings regarding this issue, but I think you should listen to what this man has to say.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TRRahHX9Zkg

[BoilerUP]

Just shoot the thing...

[1ShotKing]

The plan was and is to just shoot it but I didn't see any harm in posing the question since there was no definitive answer. Thanks for the insight.

1ShotKing

[Nandy]

I dont think is necessary but I dont see how it will hurt it. Go for it if you feel inclined...

[kkeene]

My experience with Savage barrels is that it takes about 75 to 100 rounds down the tube plus a good cleaning with JB bore paste to get the best accuracy. I had a 204 Ruger that went from a 1 3/4 inch gun to 1/2 gun. The accuracy has been pretty constant since then. My advice, just shoot it.

[rinodods]

I have no strong feelings regarding this issue, but I think you should listen to what this man has to say.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TRRahHX9Zkg

Classic!!

[Westcliffe01]

Wow ! Way to treat your equipment....

[Westcliffe01]

I think the pictures show a pretty extreme chatter example. If every barrel started out that way, I don't think any amount of lapping would improve it. If I ever get one like that, it goes straight back to the factory.


How do you "break in" a standard factory button rifled barrel, will a bore brush and copper solvent make the button rifled bore below smoother?

Below, the throat.

http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o254/bigedp51/Throat-1-C-RS.jpg

Below two inches from the muzzle.

http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o254/bigedp51/6inchesfrommuzzle-2.jpg

[quickkillaught6]

That's what my model 10 looks like I'm just gonna shoot it out! I got so tired of cleaning it that I quite cleaning the barrel when accuracy drops off I might clean it, it's getting a rebarrel job any way. No sense trying to polish a turd it'll still be brown. If that's a brand new rifle you purchased if it were me like others said I'd be going back! I also asked my gunsmith about lapping compound I'm a neutral stander on it and have used it in extreme instances but this is what he said " when you use lapping compound you elongate the til and chamber of the bore as hand lapped barrels are lapped before they are chambered and finished to length" makes sense.

[Westcliffe01]

The point is that it is a manufacturing defect. There is no other way for those artifacts to get there. If I were you, I would send it back to Savage and tell them to replace the barrel or face a product lawsuit. There is no way Savage or anyone else can escape when they sell defective product with systematic characteristics like that. Just don't take no for an answer. If you want to be kind, you could offer to pay a % of the cost of the barrel based on how many rounds you have fired, but no labor costs for the re-barrel.

[quickkillaught6]

+1 for westcliffe01's answer savage are usually good to deal with and when I get done with my 10 barrel I'll be sending it to them over 800 rounds and it's still corrugated pipe. Might want to save the pics as many as you can take and get jic it gets nasty

[ellobo]

If you are concerned about those chatter marks get that kit of abrasive coated bullets (the name escapes me at the moment) and follow instruction. There have been many posts over time about them and I don't recall anyone saying they damaged a barrel. In fact if memory serves, the comment was that they did not have to use the whole kit of coated slugs to clean up the barrel. Most reported their barrels were easier to clean and accuracy improved.

El Lobo.

[Westcliffe01]

There is no way that barrel is going to "clean up". Did you see the size of the chatter marks relative to the barrel lands ? All fire lapping will do is wear out the throat and void his warranty. The barrel needs to go back to Savage without messing with it.

[ellobo]

I have read a lot of posts about firelapping and you saying it will wear out the throat is the first I have ever heard that. On what do you base this revelation?

[Bossman]

This is interesting about throats-
http://www.lasc.us/bellmFirelappingBarrels.htm

[Westcliffe01]

It is well known that fire lapping enlarges the throat disproportionately. And I am sure that firing abrasive loaded bullets will void your warranty, regardless of what manufacturing defect you are trying to fix. Using very fine abrasive to polish the throat after a less than stellar chambering job is one thing, but you are never going to have any impact on a chattered barrel like that in the pictures.

[jim_k]

Every gun barrel I have fire-lapped with Tubb Final Finish has shot under 1/2 MOA for 5 shots at 100 yds. (They got bedded, too.) The lapped stainless custom barrels may not need this at first, but every barrel needs some lapping to restore optimal accuracy every 500 or so rounds.
This is a response to the original post, not to the comments about the barrel shown in the pictures.