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Handloader
- Dec 26, 2007
- 4,975
- 24
Explaining Why I Break-In A Barrel - It is emotional 
All I know for sure is the that over last 15yrs of breaking in any new rifle whether new from the factory or a custom build, I have had nothing but accurate rifles in the long run (all but a 30-06 that needed some stock work). I remember that was not always the case in the past when I did not practice doing a break-in, although I did have some very accurate rifles during those earlier years. There were some rifles after I started my break-in procedure, and did my load work, getting good accuracy, that I improved my accuracy by having them bedded.
I do break-in for my friends at our shooting club because they ask me how in the world do you get rifles to shoot so good. The only thing I can attribute to the consistent results I have had over these last 15 years is possibly (note I said POSSIBLY) the break-in, although it might also be due to the evolution of my hand-loading techniques improving over the years and me becoming a better shot with all the years of shooing or a combination of all of these. More than likely a combination of all of these but to what extent break-in or hand-loading techniques, or shooting skills is the main culprit, I don't know.
I look at it this way. Whether one believes in doing a break-in or not, you certainly can't ruin a barrel if you do a break-in (assuming you don't do dumb stuff when breaking in a barrel), I for sure have never ruined one doing so. Even though doing a break-in with a hand lapped barrel is typically not needed (the whole point of hand lapping) I feel it's still a good idea anyway and Pac Nor as well as Nosler recommend a break-in, even though it is a hand lapped barrel. I don't know what their reasoning is and I will not assume anything here, but I agree for my own personal reasons which I am sure have nothing to do with theirs
Besides, I personally (note: this is a personal feeling not fact) would not feel confident that the loads being tested during the work-up (if break-in was not done) is producing the best accurate results. So in essence I feel it helps keep the "doubt factor" from creeping into my mind!!! You know that feeling of, "I wonder how much better this barrel would shoot if I had done a break-in!!!!! Of course not everyone would have the same feeling about this that I do and that certainly is fine, but how would I know if it is the best my rifle could do if I did not break it in?
For the most part I think it removes "MY" doubt factor, but for me to say for certain that it is anything beyond this, I really don't know. Of course break-in is work, and it took me 5 hours yesterday to break in my rifle and that is with cool temps, because I want to do my break-in with each shot in the first 27 rounds to be from a completely cooled down barrel to see if it will hit in the same spot from a cold barrel like when hunting. Then the last ten are shot with the barrel warming up making sure I do not have any bedding problems.
I guess it all comes down to me feeling comfortable and the doubt factor being removed, and outside of that I have no concrete evidence to why my rifles shoot so good, only what I emotionally have attached myself to the process that makes me feel comfortable and good, and my results on a consistent bases of having small groups out of my rifles sure helps my feelings. I don't debate the subject, because most of what is related to the subject is subjective and not empirical evidence.
But do you know for certain, without any doubt that a new rifle you bought whether factory or custom is really doing it's best without a break-in?? No you don't know!!! Just as I really don't know if it is doing it's best after I did a break-in!!! But I assure you I will do a break-in!! Why? It makes me feel good and I think I shoot good when I feel good.
All I know for sure is the that over last 15yrs of breaking in any new rifle whether new from the factory or a custom build, I have had nothing but accurate rifles in the long run (all but a 30-06 that needed some stock work). I remember that was not always the case in the past when I did not practice doing a break-in, although I did have some very accurate rifles during those earlier years. There were some rifles after I started my break-in procedure, and did my load work, getting good accuracy, that I improved my accuracy by having them bedded.
I do break-in for my friends at our shooting club because they ask me how in the world do you get rifles to shoot so good. The only thing I can attribute to the consistent results I have had over these last 15 years is possibly (note I said POSSIBLY) the break-in, although it might also be due to the evolution of my hand-loading techniques improving over the years and me becoming a better shot with all the years of shooing or a combination of all of these. More than likely a combination of all of these but to what extent break-in or hand-loading techniques, or shooting skills is the main culprit, I don't know.
I look at it this way. Whether one believes in doing a break-in or not, you certainly can't ruin a barrel if you do a break-in (assuming you don't do dumb stuff when breaking in a barrel), I for sure have never ruined one doing so. Even though doing a break-in with a hand lapped barrel is typically not needed (the whole point of hand lapping) I feel it's still a good idea anyway and Pac Nor as well as Nosler recommend a break-in, even though it is a hand lapped barrel. I don't know what their reasoning is and I will not assume anything here, but I agree for my own personal reasons which I am sure have nothing to do with theirs
Besides, I personally (note: this is a personal feeling not fact) would not feel confident that the loads being tested during the work-up (if break-in was not done) is producing the best accurate results. So in essence I feel it helps keep the "doubt factor" from creeping into my mind!!! You know that feeling of, "I wonder how much better this barrel would shoot if I had done a break-in!!!!! Of course not everyone would have the same feeling about this that I do and that certainly is fine, but how would I know if it is the best my rifle could do if I did not break it in?
For the most part I think it removes "MY" doubt factor, but for me to say for certain that it is anything beyond this, I really don't know. Of course break-in is work, and it took me 5 hours yesterday to break in my rifle and that is with cool temps, because I want to do my break-in with each shot in the first 27 rounds to be from a completely cooled down barrel to see if it will hit in the same spot from a cold barrel like when hunting. Then the last ten are shot with the barrel warming up making sure I do not have any bedding problems.
I guess it all comes down to me feeling comfortable and the doubt factor being removed, and outside of that I have no concrete evidence to why my rifles shoot so good, only what I emotionally have attached myself to the process that makes me feel comfortable and good, and my results on a consistent bases of having small groups out of my rifles sure helps my feelings. I don't debate the subject, because most of what is related to the subject is subjective and not empirical evidence.
But do you know for certain, without any doubt that a new rifle you bought whether factory or custom is really doing it's best without a break-in?? No you don't know!!! Just as I really don't know if it is doing it's best after I did a break-in!!! But I assure you I will do a break-in!! Why? It makes me feel good and I think I shoot good when I feel good.
