Do you need to break-in a new rifle barrel?
You don’t want to break a new rifle barrel, but you might want to break it in. “Breaking in” a barrel simply means cleaning and shooting it so as to minimize fouling, maximize accuracy potential, and reduce cleaning frequency throughout its life. But even if they don’t, you are wise to clean.
Is it necessary to break-in an ar15 barrel?
Breaking in a barrel means it will shoot its best sooner. It also means there won’t be as great an influence from copper fouling; the barrel won’t “foul out” as quickly in extended use. To be clear: The reward from break-in is not longer barrel life.
Is copper in barrel bad?
Copper, smeared on steel, can corrode the steel if there’s moisture present. This creates pits, which do a superior job of gouging jackets as bullets pass over them. Very often, a copper-fouled barrel will shoot OK until it’s cleaned, and then it won’t shoot worth a damn.
Should you clean the barrel of a new rifle before shooting?
Therefore, I advise you thoroughly clean the bore to remove any fouling or dried preservative – then, dry it completely before shooting. Discharging a bullet through a wet bore can damage the rifling and generate dangerously high pressures. For safety sake, ALWAYS run a dry patch down the bore before firing any rifle.
How important is breaking in a barrel?
The theory behind barrel break in is that cleaning the abrasive residue out of the bore after each shot allows the bullet which follows to flatten out or scour away all the tiny nicks, dings, and imperfections that are part of most bores, making the barrel smoother and less apt to pick up copper fouling.
Does Hoppes 9 remove copper?
Formulated especially for bench rest shooters, Hoppe’s® Bench Rest 9 is the standard by which all copper solvents are judged. Though essentially a copper-buster, it’s also great for removing powder, lead and plastic foulings from all shotguns, pistols and revolvers.
What does copper fouling in a barrel look like?
Everything fouls. If you look down your bore in good light from the muzzle end, you’ll probably see copper. If you were to look at the grooves and lands with a borescope, you’d see streaks and lumps of it all the way back to the lede, which is the rear edge of the rifling. If it comes out blue or green, it’s copper.
What is fire cracking in a rifle barrel?
‘Fire cracking’ is a fact of life where burning plasma contacting metal is concerned. The only way to save a barrel is to NOT shoot it.
Does a dirty rifle barrel affect accuracy?
Proper cleaning of your firearm’s barrel, especially rifle bores, determines accuracy. Well, the odds are pretty good your bore is dirty. Every time you pull the trigger your rifle generates around 50,000 pounds per square inch of pressure in the chamber.
What is a foul shot rifle?
Definition of fouling shot : one of several rounds fired before a rifle match to warm the barrel and to furnish some fouling in order that the initial rounds of record fire pass through the bore under conditions similar to those obtaining for later rounds.