Thread: Run In / Burn In Process

What's the general view on how to run in a new gun, I have previously gone with the 5 rounds then clean allowing time to cool etc. between rounds and rwpeating for the first 50 or more rounds.

I have seen others run a slower process again with the first five rounds being fire clean fire clean before moving onto the above, also with various mentions of using a soft bruss down the barrel and a drill to remove any burrs (that one terrifies me)

And does this process change for an AR to a bolt action assuming both factory new.

I take a packet or two of ammo to the range and just blast away.
Never had any issues.

Grant from Ballingers HF (who is probably one of the best gun store guys around) recommends 1 shot clean, 2 shot clean 3 shot clean. Has worked for me.

dont do shit. just go and shoot the damn thing.

Originally Posted by mcche171

Grant from Ballingers HF (who is probably one of the best gun store guys around) recommends 1 shot clean, 2 shot clean 3 shot clean. Has worked for me.

Up to how many before normal use, just 5 and then 5 shot groups?

Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2

As others have said, just shoot the damn thing and clean it when you have finished. Running it in with 1 shot, clean, 2 shots, clean etc wont make an ounce of difference.

Not sure why I am concerned as the rifle I am about to run in is a new NEA AR and the barrel has a life time warranty, my understanding feom the claims is that doing it properly can improve the accuracy???

Unsure how, I understand that it takes rounds to clear away the imperfections in the machining and because of those of those imperfections a new barrel is prone to catch corrosive materials and debris until smoothed and its the cleaning part of the process that just prevents any of that build up damaging the surface.

I did 3-5 shot groups before cleaning on my remington 700 but the manner in which that is shot aids that, was a long winded approach continuing that to 50 rounds though and took a good part of an afternoon.... Accuracy did improve to sub MOA (still to concentrate on grouping vs burning in) and alot more crap came out in the cleaning process than with a "used" gun when you consider it was cleaned 10 times on the day and add that up.

There seems to be merit but is it more about you wasting 50 rounds of ammo and 50 rounds of the life of the barrel so you have to buy more lol

I think if it is a quality barrel like a Kreiger, Bartlin etc. its worth following their run in recommendations. For a standard barrel it might not matter.

Originally Posted by graeme

I think if it is a quality barrel like a Kreiger, Bartlin etc. its worth following their run in recommendations. For a standard barrel it might not matter.

I think thats a fair call, it is probably fair to say if it shoots like shit its probably not the gun or the fact that I didn't do it.... its probably me.


Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2

With an AR I generally, got to range, insert mag, shoot lots then go home and clean it. More important to use a bore guide when cleaning I think.

Just shoot it

Huck the barrel with JBs before shooting it and then shoot the shot out of it
Removing the machining marks while they are clean and soft is a lot easier and faster than using fire and a softer metal to do so

Originally Posted by Johnboy007

Not sure why I am concerned as the rifle I am about to run in is a new NEA AR and the barrel has a life time warranty, my understanding feom the claims is that doing it properly can improve the accuracy???

Unsure how, I understand that it takes rounds to clear away the imperfections in the machining and because of those of those imperfections a new barrel is prone to catch corrosive materials and debris until smoothed and its the cleaning part of the process that just prevents any of that build up damaging the surface.

I did 3-5 shot groups before cleaning on my remington 700 but the manner in which that is shot aids that, was a long winded approach continuing that to 50 rounds though and took a good part of an afternoon.... Accuracy did improve to sub MOA (still to concentrate on grouping vs burning in) and alot more crap came out in the cleaning process than with a "used" gun when you consider it was cleaned 10 times on the day and add that up.

There seems to be merit but is it more about you wasting 50 rounds of ammo and 50 rounds of the life of the barrel so you have to buy more lol

http://www.neaginc.com/uploads/1/4/8...anual_v1.1.pdf
This is the official breakin procedure from NEA, I just used a bore snake with hoppes every five rounds or so while adjusting the scope.

NEA barrels are nitrided. You' re gonna go broke before you put a dent in any imperfections. Just shoot it. Seriously I've never done this voodoo to any rifle I've ever owned, and the only only one that shot like shit was a piece of shit anyway.

Originally Posted by Spanners

Huck the barrel with JBs before shooting it and then shoot the shot out of it
Removing the machining marks while they are clean and soft is a lot easier and faster than using fire and a softer metal to do so

I use Autosol first before firing a shot and then again after but didn't want to mention it cause I didn't want to get flamed!!!

I was always told of you do this DO NOT let the patch covered in polish exit the muzzle, no explanation given,