Barrel break in

[Waterbuck2008]

If breaking in a rifle is fun for you and makes you feel good, do it. As for me, I clean the bore before shooting a new barrel, then clean it after zeroing. Maybe three shot, maybe 12. I don't get too hung up, and have plenty of rifles of many uses I trust to keep a two inch or better group past 100 yards.

 

[Vanguard2279]

I'm one of those suckers that generally follows the break-in procedures. It's my OCD. I can't help it. I'm not sure if it works or not. I do believe it makes subsequent cleanings a bit easier.

I also can't put away a rifle with a dirty barrel. Again the OCD. After a range session or after the end of the season, I thoroughly clean the barrel, run a patch of oil down the barrel, then a clean patch then put it away. I also wipe all the metal down with a very light coat of oil and then wipe it down with a clean rag - similar to what @bruce moulds mentioned.

I will say that @Vanguard2279 introduced me to Wipe-out and I'm not sure I'll ever be the same. That stuff is magic on copper and powder fouling. Cut my cleaning time significantly and leaves the bore shiny as new. But I still run an oiled patch afterwards and then a dry one before the rifle gets put away.

I told you that life would never be the same afterwards.