How to break in a barrel with handloads

[Crunchy Taco]

So I have a new Grendel arriving. I plan on 100% handloading for this cartridge as I do of all my cartridges. Living in California I refuse to subject myself to background checks for ammo purchases. I plan to start with a 123gr OTM on top of CFE223. I plan on making a ladder in .3 gr increments looking for accuracy nodes. I have numerous loading manuals that I utilize in reloading and have yet to see this question answered in one of my manuals. My question is: what load or what percent of a max load should be used with hand loads when breaking in a barrel? Just enough to cycle it? Something more than that? It seems kind of crazy work up a ladder until the barrel is properly broken in. I know this is a weird question because normally I would just go buy some steel case wolf to break in the barrel. Thanks in advance for your advice.

[Popeye212]

Wouldn't break it in with steel case but I will buy a box of Hornady Black and use that. Reloads are cheaper and should not make a difference. Last two I broke in with load development. Might as well get two things done at once realizing I have to go back and verify... Course that means I have to shoot some more...

[Crunchy Taco]

So I can do load development and break in the barrel at the same time. This is the answer I was looking for. Start at the bottom, work my way up, and follow the standard break-in process. Thank you.

[Klem]

The only 'breaking' a barrel needs is to be properly fouled with copper and I imagine that occurs in the first few rounds. A quality barrel will not be a cheese grater so may only take four or five to be sure. It doesn't take a hot load to fill the micro-pores with copper. Factory loads can be hot. If you are hand-loader why not load 10 loads 10% below SAAMI.

I shoot the first round through every new barrel from the hip while looking away (for safety) and then shoot as normal after that.

[FLshooter]

The only 'breaking' a barrel needs is to be properly fouled with copper and I imagine that occurs in the first few rounds. A quality barrel will not be a cheese grater so may only take four or five to be sure. It doesn't take a hot load to fill the micro-pores with copper.

I shoot the first round through every new barrel from the hip while looking away (for safety) and then shoot as normal after that.

Yep. My 6.5 Grendel Bartlein barrel was broke in upon zeroing.5 shots.

[bruceleroy]

Exactly what Klem said. Barrel break in is an old wives tale.

[Red*Lion]

So folks must think that the following recommended barrel break-in for Criterion barrels is a waste of time then?

https://criterionbarrels.com/media/barrel-break-in-procedure/

[Happy2Shoot]

I think this is a great thing to do if your barrel is not already hand polished.

finalfinishcat-642x220.jpg

David Tubb's FinalFinish Bullet Kits

http://www.davidtubb.com/final-finish-bullet-kits/finalfinish-bulletkit-264

[southpaw]

[Red*Lion]

A good vid of John Krieger's thoughts on barrel break-in and cleaning.

[Klem]

So folks must think that the following recommended barrel break-in for Criterion barrels is a waste of time then?
[/URL]

Yes.

There is a conflict of interest when barrel manufacturers encourage more cleaning than necessary.

[A5BLASTER]

So folks must think that the following recommended barrel break-in for Criterion barrels is a waste of time then?



https://criterionbarrels.com/media/b...-in-procedure/

I don't do a break in at all. I think it's pure hogwash.

Non of the rifles/barrels I have now had a break in done and all of them shoot sub moa. Only one of those barrels is a custom made barrel the rest are rack grade.

Only thing I do is shoot about 200 rounds of factory ammo to get the rifle functioning and some base velocity's.

After that I don't clean the bore till the groups start to open up, that normally takes a few hundred rounds for that to happen.

[Crunchy Taco]

The only 'breaking' a barrel needs is to be properly fouled with copper and I imagine that occurs in the first few rounds. A quality barrel will not be a cheese grater so may only take four or five to be sure. It doesn't take a hot load to fill the micro-pores with copper. Factory loads can be hot. If you are hand-loader why not load 10 loads 10% below SAAMI.

I shoot the first round through every new barrel from the hip while looking away (for safety) and then shoot as normal after that.

Thank you for the advice.

[Crunchy Taco]

Thank you all for the info. I enjoyed the spirited discussion on barrel break in. I am going to really like this community. I think I will just work up a 5 shot ladder clean the barrel and then reconfirm the data with another 5 shot ladder. I will be shooting the first from the hip. ????

[Popeye212]

Thank you all for the info. I enjoyed the spirited discussion on barrel break in. I am going to really like this community. I think I will just work up a 5 shot ladder clean the barrel and then reconfirm the data with another 5 shot ladder. I will be shooting the first from the hip. ????

Depending on the barrel it may take a 100 to 150 rounds for it to settle in. Premium barrels tend to shoot well right out the gate if it's a good one.