New AR - Do I worry about barrel break in?

[cooptire]

Hey "All Knowing Worthies" 

Just got a new Stag Arms 3L!  Should I worry about having to "break in" the barrel? I hear people talk about that with the bolt guns and such, but didn't know what was recommended for the black rifles, or for that matter the new Glock 19 I have?

What say you?

[DesertMarine]

Normally on quality barrels, break-in is recommended.  I have an Oly AR for which I recently bought a new upper and they recommend a 100 round break-in.  I looked at the Stag website and manual and did not find anything pertaining to break-in.  I would suggest some type of break-in.  Like fire 10-30 rounds with cleaning in-between each round.  Then fire 3 rounds and clean for another say 20-30 rds.  Then fire 30-40 rds cleaning every 10 rounds.  Should be good to go after that.  If you know how to hand-lap or fire-lap a barrel, that would be faster and maybe better.  Oly does not like barrel lapping.  I broke-in my barrel the way I described.  Without breaking in a barrel, you eventually get to the same point but takes a lot more rounds and time for your barrel to settle in.

[m25operator]

Don't worry about it, but do it, I consider rifles ( even AR'S ) surgical instruments, and should take a little more care and preperation, and it is definitely not going to hurt anything. At least give the barrel a good cleaning to get the preservatives out, before the 1st shot.

I don't usually do it on pistols, except my fine bolt actions, which are also surgical instruments.

On the Glock, clean it first, and then shoot jacketed ammo, if you reload and can get a fire lap kit in 9mm, it will help, the tenifer finish on it is very hard, 63 rockwell if memory serves, and with just shooting, will take 500 - 600 rounds, but then it stays like that for a long, long time.  Most model 19's shoot better than they ought to.

[MikeBjerum]

DPMS has a good description of break in, and it matches with many procedures I've read before.  Whether it is needed or not, I don't know.  However, I figure it can't hurt, and it gives me a chance to get real familure with the gun.  The only down side I've heard about breaking in was from a guy that claimed you would waste 250 rounds breaking it in, and a barrel only has a 1,000 round accurate life.  I filed his oppinion, because whether it is correct or not I'm going to shoot my guns waaaaaaaaay more than 1,000 rounds between rebarreling.  Damn, I've been known to send over a thousand rounds out of a 1911 in a couple of weekends!

[Hazcat]

OHHHHH what a subject!  

I'll get my popcorn!

[Sponsor]

[MikeBjerum]

OHHHHH what a subject!  

I'll get my popcorn!

Will you fix the clips for us while we shoot 

[Hazcat]

Will you fix the clips for us while we shoot 

[MikeBjerum]

Did I ever say WELCOME  BACK !!! 

[Hazcat]

I think you just did! 

[ratcatcher55]

DPMS has a good description of break in, and it matches with many procedures I've read before.  Whether it is needed or not, I don't know.  However, I figure it can't hurt, and it gives me a chance to get real familure with the gun.  The only down side I've heard about breaking in was from a guy that claimed you would waste 250 rounds breaking it in, and a barrel only has a 1,000 round accurate life.  I filed his oppinion, because whether it is correct or not I'm going to shoot my guns waaaaaaaaay more than 1,000 rounds between rebarreling.  Damn, I've been known to send over a thousand rounds out of a 1911 in a couple of weekends!

I put 1500+ rounds through an AR in a two day training course in October. The any change in rifle accuracy was minimal in comparison to the poor performance of yours truly.