BREAK-IN a Barel

[denton]

First, you probably aren't going to get complete agreement on this topic. And I'll be the first to admit that I don't have a lot of "hard data" on the topic.

Most barrels foul more when new. If you properly break in a barrel, it will go longer before it builds up to an unsatisfactory level of fouling.

My method is to pick a fairly warm day for the job. Ammonia works faster in warm weather. Below about 60-65F, the process just takes too long.

I shoot, and clean after each shot, until I see a substantial decrease in the amount of copper I am getting out (powder solvent, then ammonia, then oil, then dry patches). This usually happens around 10 rounds. Then I start cleaning after three rounds, until the amount of copper diminishes. That seems to happen after about 20-30 rounds.

A non-broken in barrel will often shoot just fine. The tendency is that a properly broken in barrel will also shoot well, but will need less frequent copper solvent cleaning.