Weird new Savage

[Badgersmilk]

Wanna good reason to NOT buy that next rifle?  Taking the time to be carefull, and do things "right", each shot fired is taking 25-30 minutes.  I'm 5 rounds into this so far...

Q. What is the barrel break-in procedure?
A. Although there may be different schools of thought on barrel break-in, this is what Precision Shooting Magazine recommends:
STEP 1 (repeated 10 times)
•   Fire one round
•   Push wet patches soaked with a powder solvent through the bore
•   Push a brush through the bore (5 times in each direction)
•   Push dry patches through the bore (2 times)
•   Push wet patches soaked with a copper solvent through the bore
•   Push a brush through the bore (5 times in each direction)
•   Push dry patches through the bore (2 times)
•   Push a patch with 2 drops of oil through the bore
STEP 2 (repeated 5 times)
•   Fire a 3 shot group
•   Repeat the cleaning procedure from STEP 1 after each group
STEP 3 (repeat 5 times)
•   Fire a 5 shot group
•   Repeat the cleaning procedure from STEP 1
They recommend the use of a patch with 2 drops of oil after the cleaning so that you are not shooting with a dry bore. It is also advisable to use a powder solvent and copper solvent from the same manufacturer to be sure they are chemically compatible.

Whats "weird" about Savage you ask?  Look at this barrel.

The waves are only visible if you look down the length of the barrel, cant see it from the side at all.

[tombogan03884]

 Those marks are left from the buffing process.
The "Barrel break in" process is to remove fine burrs left from rifling and  to get the grain of the metal to lay all in one direction after being distorted by machining.  It's supposed to give a smoother bore for more consistent accuracy.

[PegLeg45]

Irv Shilen and several other custom barrel makers say barrel break-in isn't really necessary for most rifles.

[MikeBjerum]

I always look forward to breaking in a new rifle, because it is a chance to run lead down the barrel (I do it as a part of my sighting in as well), fondle, make empty brass, get familure with, fondle, burn gunpowder, get comfortable with, fondle ...  I see an adultry issue coming in my divorce  

[fightingquaker13]

I'd like some wisdom on the barrel break in subject as well. This is for purely selfish reasons as I have a new and as yet unfired AR, but I also think it would be useful and interesting for the board. I've never done what Badger described. I've never known any one who has. I just take a gun out of the box, check the bore and chamber and shoot it. Never said "Darn! I should of run a brush every shot because I can't hit the broadside of a barn"! On the other hand, maybe I've been missing out. Any thoughts?
FQ13

[Sponsor]

[MikeBjerum]

This is a topic that has been discussed on this forum and others thousands of times, and it always comes down to those that swear by it, those that refuse, and everyone else caught in the middle.

I do mine because some very good companies and shooters say do it.  Even if it is not needed it leads to what I stated earlier.  I love to shoot, and I need to sight the gun in and get used to it anyway, so why not do the break in procedure?

[tombogan03884]

I'd like some wisdom on the barrel break in subject as well. This is for purely selfish reasons as I have a new and as yet unfired AR, but I also think it would be useful and interesting for the board. I've never done what Badger described. I've never known any one who has. I just take a gun out of the box, check the bore and chamber and shoot it. Never said "Darn! I should of run a brush every shot because I can't hit the broadside of a barn"! On the other hand, maybe I've been missing out. Any thoughts?
FQ13

If you have a chrome lined barrel it will not do any good. Even in an unlined barrel it is most likely unnecessary as modern barrels are subjected to a heat treating process to releave the molecular tension built up during machining.
But as M58 points out, needed or not, it is an excuse for shooting and fondling  

P.S. Helpful or not it can't do any HARM.

[Badgersmilk]

Though I definatly DONT think this is fun, I DO think the process is worth the end result.  I feel a significant differance already in how smooth the patches and brush runs down the pipe.  It IS visible as well when you hold the bore up to a light and look closely at the sides of the bore.  VERY faint marks, BARELY visible in the bore are slowly disapearing more and more.  They could only be seen at all when the bore is dry, and at certain angles.

I've never been disapointed, and am often very surprised how consistant rifles shoot having done this.  Notice I havent even got the scope I ordered yet, and its mount (4 bolt, one piece, picitinny rail) is being made to order, & is still 2-3 weeks out.  Doesnt matter, I'd never expect zero to be the same at the end of all this anyway.

I've always thought the same as Tom mentions on this.  Chrome lined bores are hard enough I dont think this process means much to them (my humble opinion).

Tom, thanks for the heads up on the buffing process.  I've never seen this on a barrel before.  It's kinda neat, unless I pointed it out, I dont think anybody'd ever notice it.  

Savage still does NOT impress me with their machining.  The ejection port, & magazine well opening look like they were hacked out with an axe by a blind woodsman.  Yet, I've read no less than half a dozen articles, and seen no less than 20 reviews saying these rifles are as accurate as money can buy...  "Most accurate ever tested." - Outdoor Life.

[m25operator]

I wish you had a little better picture of the barrel, as it resembles the hammer forged markings on Steyr rifles and ruger 10/22 target model with the heavy barrel. Does it say hammer forged barrel anywhere in the literature?

[1911 Junkie]

I've done the break in on rifles that I wanted max accuracy out of, because people smarter than I said to. I would just hate to lose accuracy because I got lazy.

If you have the barrel cryo treated, does that alleviate the need for doing the entire break in? That's what I have heard.