I just bought my first handgun. It's a S&W 627 Pro Series 8 shot .357MAG. I would appreciate points of view on barrel break in. According to the S&W Owner's Manual, all that is needed is a cleaning to remove factory lubrication for shipping before the first outing. No mention of any special cleaning procedures while shooting the first several rounds. Of course, in this day of instant advice through computer searches, I've read enough about barrel break in to make my head spin and invoke complete confusion. I've read everything from just shoot it, to elaborate instructions involving the use of exotic cleaning solvents oils after every five rounds for the first 50 shots, to rapid fire shooting until the barrel gets extremely hot. So what's the collective wisdom here?
Barrel Break In...Is it Necessary?
- Thread starter GAT
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I just bought my first handgun. It's a S&W 627 Pro Series 8 shot .357MAG. I would appreciate points of view on barrel break in. According to the S&W Owner's Manual, all that is needed is a cleaning to remove factory lubrication for shipping before the first outing. No mention of any special cleaning procedures while shooting the first several rounds. Of course, in this day of instant advice through computer searches, I've read enough about barrel break in to make my head spin and invoke complete confusion. I've read everything from just shoot it, to elaborate instructions involving the use of exotic cleaning solvents oils after every five rounds for the first 50 shots, to rapid fire shooting until the barrel gets extremely hot. So what's the collective wisdom here?
Where did all this business about breaking in barrels start? I see all kinds of questions being posted on forums about breaking in barrels: "How should I break in the barrel of my SKS?" or "Will my .25 auto benefit from breaking in the barrel?"
IMHO the only barrels that need "breaking in" are some target rifles that need the last vestige of potential accuracy wrung out. For 99% of the new guns being bought, run a patch through the bore, oil as recommended by the manufacturer, and go shooting! Hours spent breaking in barrels is better spent at the range.
IMHO the only barrels that need "breaking in" are some target rifles that need the last vestige of potential accuracy wrung out. For 99% of the new guns being bought, run a patch through the bore, oil as recommended by the manufacturer, and go shooting! Hours spent breaking in barrels is better spent at the range.
Well, DON'T try to fire as fast as possible to get the barrel hot.
For handguns, clean the gun and magazines prior to use.
Shoot it.
Clean it when you get home.
Repeat PRN. Break-in will take care of itself.
Only "break-in" problem I've seen at the range has been firing a new gun without cleaning it first. "Why should I clean it? It's brand new!"
For handguns, clean the gun and magazines prior to use.
Shoot it.
Clean it when you get home.
Repeat PRN. Break-in will take care of itself.
Only "break-in" problem I've seen at the range has been firing a new gun without cleaning it first. "Why should I clean it? It's brand new!"
m657
Member
GAT:
Like you my initial questions about "break in" met with a huge amount well-intended but conflicting advice from the more experienced shooters.
After many decades of shooting experience myself now, IMHO 'cleaning thoroughly' is important before the first round. Then 'cleaning thoroughly' after your range sessions can be less often, and initiated by what you see in the bore under 'close inspection'.
The target and benchrest crew have their own rituals. I'm talking about hand guns.
Using a decent bore light, inspect for debris on a regular schedule. Depending on what you shoot and what you find, clean it out, as accuracy is affected by clumps of residue. I have never shot any particular handgun so much the metrics of the barrel were altered by wear.
I have managed to use too-soft of lead by mistake in recent years. In my early days, too-hot too-fast jacketed rounds handloaded for IHMSA 200 yard Rams left hard fouling requiring a lot of effort to remove.
I've found following the manufacture's instructions gives the best results.
Cheers on your revolver, you've got a good one.
Like you my initial questions about "break in" met with a huge amount well-intended but conflicting advice from the more experienced shooters.
After many decades of shooting experience myself now, IMHO 'cleaning thoroughly' is important before the first round. Then 'cleaning thoroughly' after your range sessions can be less often, and initiated by what you see in the bore under 'close inspection'.
The target and benchrest crew have their own rituals. I'm talking about hand guns.
Using a decent bore light, inspect for debris on a regular schedule. Depending on what you shoot and what you find, clean it out, as accuracy is affected by clumps of residue. I have never shot any particular handgun so much the metrics of the barrel were altered by wear.
I have managed to use too-soft of lead by mistake in recent years. In my early days, too-hot too-fast jacketed rounds handloaded for IHMSA 200 yard Rams left hard fouling requiring a lot of effort to remove.
I've found following the manufacture's instructions gives the best results.
Cheers on your revolver, you've got a good one.
I have had several new pistols that the barrels were quite dirty on out of the box. I would at least thoroughly clean and lube a new purchase. I will not take a new gun out to a match and fire a couple hundred rounds through it. I will take it out and shoot a box through and take it home and clean it with solvent and patches, not a boresnake. After a few outings it will be what I consider ready.
Racegunner
Member
I wouldn't worry about it for handguns. It usually applies to rifles. For those, you are trying to make the entire long barrel "consistent" in its friction. Slight burs in the lands or rough spots will cause the copper from the bullet jacket to build up. This will cause the bullet to catch and wobble. McMillan explains how to do it well. Abrasives may cause a slight funnel at both ends of the barrel and should be avoided. Chrome lined barrels may take longer to break in. The object of copper solvent is to reduce the build up so the barrel wears in evenly through out the entire length. If copper does build up, no big deal...just clean it well and start over. Beware of most copper solvents like Sweets 7.62, it will destroy a barrel if not washed out thoroughly! KG Gunkote makes barrel cleaning products that will not do this (I think). Some products if applied properly, like TWb-25 grease (sparingly), will make clean up easier since it will keep the lead and copper from sticking too much.
For my handguns, I just shoot them and swab/brush the barrel and cylinder when needed. I don't think any type of break in on a handgun will be noticed in accuracy unless you are benchrest shooting at some distance.
So, for most handguns: Shoot, clean, repeat like the shampoo bottle says.
-Brian
For my handguns, I just shoot them and swab/brush the barrel and cylinder when needed. I don't think any type of break in on a handgun will be noticed in accuracy unless you are benchrest shooting at some distance.
So, for most handguns: Shoot, clean, repeat like the shampoo bottle says.
-Brian
FrankD45
Absent Comrade
The only "official" word I have ever had regarding break in is in the manual that came with my Kimber Pro Aegis 2. Under "Break In Period" the manual says;
"Before firing the pistol for the first time, field strip and clean the firearm following proper procedures. Kimber firearms are quality custom pieces. Our firearms are hand fitted to tight tolerances. For proper break-in of the firearm shoot 400-500 rounds of quality factory ball ammunition, cleaning and lubricating the gun every 100-150 rounds.
I am not sure what the purpose of this is, other than to get you in the habit of frequently cleaning the firearm. I have heard (from the unimpeachable internet) that this exercise will remove faint tool marks and improve accuracy. I did notice with the Kimber that accuracy did improve the more I shot it. You don't think that was because I was becoming more familiar with it, do you?
"Before firing the pistol for the first time, field strip and clean the firearm following proper procedures. Kimber firearms are quality custom pieces. Our firearms are hand fitted to tight tolerances. For proper break-in of the firearm shoot 400-500 rounds of quality factory ball ammunition, cleaning and lubricating the gun every 100-150 rounds.
I am not sure what the purpose of this is, other than to get you in the habit of frequently cleaning the firearm. I have heard (from the unimpeachable internet) that this exercise will remove faint tool marks and improve accuracy. I did notice with the Kimber that accuracy did improve the more I shot it. You don't think that was because I was becoming more familiar with it, do you?
Racegunner
Member
FrankD45, that sig line is spectacular! Three years of high school latin class got me nowhere and this really made my day!
-Brian
FrankD45
Absent Comrade
Glad I was able to help Brian. I have a bunch of them but this one kinda got to me.
Frank
The Shottist
Member
The only advantage to using the barrel break-in procedure on a handgun is that is will make the barrel smoother, less prone to fouling, and MUCH easier to clean through out the life of the barrel. An hour in the beginning will save you hundreds of hours over the life of the handgun.
Paul105,
Thanks! Very good answer.
520
Thanks! Very good answer.
520
After trying to answer GAT's original question, I Googled "barrel break in" and he is absolutely correct! There is more advice on how to break in and clean a barrel than on how to make gravy! Here's one from www.gunnersden.com/index.htm.rifle-bore-cleaning.html that I really loved:
"Once you have fired a round through the barrel it will begin filling the bore with copper and powder fouling, after 5 - 10 rounds through the average hunting rifle, accuracy will start to deteriorate. Between 10 - 20 rounds enough copper and powder fouling has accumulated in the lands and grooves of the bore to change its true bore diameter. It is at this point where bullets are barely being gripped by the rifling and accuracy is a total failure."
What a bunch of baloney! It seems to me that most of the advice being given is based on what somebody thinks rather than actual experience. Until there are objective tests showing that barrel break in and elaborate cleaning procedures actually produce a difference in accuracy in the average gun, I'll stick with what has worked for the past 60+ years.
"Once you have fired a round through the barrel it will begin filling the bore with copper and powder fouling, after 5 - 10 rounds through the average hunting rifle, accuracy will start to deteriorate. Between 10 - 20 rounds enough copper and powder fouling has accumulated in the lands and grooves of the bore to change its true bore diameter. It is at this point where bullets are barely being gripped by the rifling and accuracy is a total failure."
What a bunch of baloney! It seems to me that most of the advice being given is based on what somebody thinks rather than actual experience. Until there are objective tests showing that barrel break in and elaborate cleaning procedures actually produce a difference in accuracy in the average gun, I'll stick with what has worked for the past 60+ years.
m657
Member
RE:
If he shows me the data AND the barrels I'd love to see this!
Otherwise....no sale.
If he shows me the data AND the barrels I'd love to see this!
Otherwise....no sale.
I appreciate all the responses. The post about the origins of the barrel break in "folklore" by the independent barrel manufacturer is quite interesting. I had seen that one in my searches and had to really wonder what the heck was going on after I read it. I'm one for usually following what the manufacturer recommends, but sometimes folks do find better ways to do things. Based on all the comments here, I believe this is one of those times when following the simple instructions of the manufacturer is the best course. Besides, doing all that other suggested crap would certainly take a lot of fun out of the first shoot. Anyway, after cleaning it, I look forward to shooting my gun out real soon. I hope that I can make a contribution to the forum in the future and help someone else out who has a question.
Derek Martin, of Accuracy Speaks our local builder of high-end, competition grade ARs, jokes that breakin is complete when the burr left from drilling the gas port is worn off... If it doesn't worry competition class shooters of precise rifles, it's probably not much of a concern in handgun barrels. On the other hand, I've occasionaly seen some potentially damaging crud in actions and barrels as they come from the factory, so I always give everthing a thaorough cleaning and appropriate lubing before initial use.
RG, thanks for breaking the ice. I've been meaning to comment on Frank's tag line for weeks and just never got around to it. Reminds me of a similarly-themed T-shirt I saw once on an older guy (you'd never see it on a younger guy): Si hoc legere scis nimium eruditionis habes -- or loosely Englished, "If you can read this you are WAY overeducated."
That was probably the last time I had to use Latin, which I once knew fairly well. And to tell the truth, when I look around at the world today I don't feel overeducated at all, even if a T-shirt once told me I was.
David W.
