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Mike McDonald
Optics Journeyman Joined: September/01/2004 Status: Offline Points: 739 |
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I guess I don't have any disagreement with anything said here. I do a short break in just to knock the ridges off the throat, and it's proved to make fouling less than if not done.
I've also used the Tubb final finish method and have seen it work wonders on a new custom barrel.
I also tend to shoot mostly custom barrels, factory barrels on my rimfires and shotguns, custom on everything else, and I seem to go through a few every decade :)
Here's what has me absolutely convinced that some form of break in is worth doing;
We chambered a Shilen Match Select at the Shilen shop.
Before crowning but after the chamber was cut and headspaced, we removed the barrel from the lathe and re-lapped the tube down to 600 grit, then crowned it. Essentially we broke it in without shooting it.
Never owned a barrel that would out shoot that tube unless I paid the gun plumber to repeat that procedure when screwing together a new rifle for me. If they won' do it then I do it myself prior to shooting.
The results with every barrel done that way have been consistantly better in terms of accuracy and fouling, or lack of, than barrels I've just shot and cleaned without some form of break in.
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rifle looney
Optics Master Joined: November/21/2008 Status: Offline Points: 2553 |
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Mike that is very interesting..... I wish I had access to a shop of some kind, you can do all the sh*t that needs doing!
Edited by rifle looney - April/21/2009 at 21:46 |
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mike650
Optics God Joined: May/14/2006 Location: West of Rockies Status: Offline Points: 14569 |
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“A hunt based only on trophies taken falls far short of what the ultimate goal should be.” – Fred Bear
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Mike McDonald
Optics Journeyman Joined: September/01/2004 Status: Offline Points: 739 |
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RL,
You can accomplish the same thing using the Tubb method Mr. Barsness referred to.
The Throat Maintenance System uses the lightest grit of the Final Finish kit, 1000 grip iirc.
A fellow by the name of Brand Cole did a 6XC rifle for my shooting partner, full on custom. This thing had every accuracy trick in the book done to it, and Brand does outstandig work.
(If you know reloading, then you'll recognize "Prometheus" as he gold standard that powder scales are judged against. Brand builds this scale)
Well along with the completed rifle comes 10 rounds of loaded ammunition, Tubb TMS bullets,and a note fom Brand " shoot these then clean".
Now you gotta know Ron. He washes his cleaning patches before putting them in his barrels. Now he's been told to shove sand paper down the tube as a first step. The look on his face was priceless...........thought he swallowed a diaper whole.
So anyway he shoots these, cleans, then starts shooting itty bitty measure with a micrometer size groups. Works.
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Steelbenz
Optics Jedi Knight ROLL TIDE ROLL Joined: January/03/2006 Location: Heart of Dixie Status: Offline Points: 5153 |
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You guys are killing me, I guess I'm going to have to break down a spend some money for a barrel. My stock 700VS shoots good and I did use the tubb system, but I just can't get the "one ragged hole" group.
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"Don't argue with a fool! From a distance you can't really tell who's who!"
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rifle looney
Optics Master Joined: November/21/2008 Status: Offline Points: 2553 |
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Yes I have toy'd the idea of the Tubb 's system numerous times I have two rifles that could use some help!
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trigger29
Optics Master Extraordinaire X = 180 Y = 90 (X+Pyro)+(Y-Pyro) = ? Joined: September/29/2007 Location: South Dakota Status: Offline Points: 4353 |
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Try aiming the first shot at the center of your target. Then aim the next four about 3 feet left. Works for me every time. To save time, you can always just fire the first one, and stop.
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"A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed." |
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RONK
Optics Master Extraordinaire Joined: April/05/2007 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 3199 |
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I have used the Tubb fire-lapping system to smooth out rough Mil-surp barrels.
They all shot better and cleaned up MUCH better afterward. It works. And it's EASY.
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RONK
Optics Master Extraordinaire Joined: April/05/2007 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 3199 |
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And you're in a different thread wondering why you're getting two distinct groups?
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Bigdaddy0381
MODERATOR Georgia peach Joined: February/27/2007 Location: Georgia Status: Offline Points: 13682 |
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I have not used the tubbs system yet. On all my new rifles I hand lap the barrels and then shoot a few (5) and clean it really well and shoot a bunch 20+ and then hand lap the barrel again. I don't know if it help anything and take about 6 hours to do it right but it makes the rifling shine and ton easier to clean.
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P&Z Firearms , Pro gun cleanings and gun repair and wood refinishing.
Ecclesiastes 10:2 |
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RONK
Optics Master Extraordinaire Joined: April/05/2007 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 3199 |
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I'll bet all that work makes them shine up very nicely. Do you pour a molten lead lap, Brandon?
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Bigdaddy0381
MODERATOR Georgia peach Joined: February/27/2007 Location: Georgia Status: Offline Points: 13682 |
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no I use patches and lapping paste I starte with 600 grit and lap for a long time maybe 30+ patches untill I get the feel and smoothness i'm looking for and go up to an 800 then to a 1200 then to a 1800 grit and then see if it is as smoth and it should be if not I start over untill there is no to very very little marks in the barrel. After you have done it your arms will feel like jello and be sore for a week or so.
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P&Z Firearms , Pro gun cleanings and gun repair and wood refinishing.
Ecclesiastes 10:2 |
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RONK
Optics Master Extraordinaire Joined: April/05/2007 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 3199 |
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They used to say that you could pick an old-time rifle barrel-maker out of a crowd by the size of his arms!
Hard work.
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Bigdaddy0381
MODERATOR Georgia peach Joined: February/27/2007 Location: Georgia Status: Offline Points: 13682 |
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I can see why, but it is worth it to me to start with the best possible platform I can. If I buy a used rifle I will do this also no matter what the round count is. It really dose makes a difference for what I have seen thus far. |
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P&Z Firearms , Pro gun cleanings and gun repair and wood refinishing.
Ecclesiastes 10:2 |
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RONK
Optics Master Extraordinaire Joined: April/05/2007 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 3199 |
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I would have to think that a barrel that starts out nice and smooth would stay consistent longer than one that was rough to start with and eventually shot smoother. Your handloads would probably stay 'relevant' for a much longer duration, etc. without needing to tweak them as often.
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Dale Clifford
Optics Jedi Knight Joined: July/04/2004 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 5087 |
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barrel break in-- to be differentiated from gun break in-- barrel break includes everything you do to gun up to the point you decide it doesn't shoot for sh*t-- trade or sell and start over on another one.
Edited by Dale Clifford - April/22/2009 at 10:10 |
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Voodoo6
Optics Apprentice Now With Kung-Fu Grip! Joined: March/29/2009 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 213 |
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Can the Tubbs system be used on chromed barrels, like my AR, Gents?
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"A prisoner of the white lines on the freeway"
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Dale Clifford
Optics Jedi Knight Joined: July/04/2004 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 5087 |
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why would you want to???
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RONK
Optics Master Extraordinaire Joined: April/05/2007 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 3199 |
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Mine shoots really well, though, and cleans up slick, so no point in it for me.
I really don't know why you couldn't do it, it just probably would take a lot more rounds down the tube to get similar results as you'd get on an unlined barrel. Chrome is dang hard!
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supertool73
Optics God Superstool Joined: January/03/2008 Status: Offline Points: 11814 |
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I used the Tubbs system in my .308 VS. I saw no improvements in group size, but it did seem to clean the copper out a little easier .
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Lifetime warranty and excellent customer service don't mean a thing when your gun fails during a zombie attack.
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