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Cleaning or Breaking-in New Firearm

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oratius54 View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote oratius54 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: Cleaning or Breaking-in New Firearm
    Posted: September/20/2020 at 13:04
Just want to get opinions on the subject matter. Should one clean their new firearm prior to shooting? Should one break-in their barrel, and if so, how? Thanks for your opinions in advance.
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Longhunter View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Longhunter Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September/20/2020 at 15:24
Clean it or at least check it.  If for no other reason, just to make sure there isn't a bore obstruction 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Bigdaddy0381 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September/21/2020 at 07:48
clean and shoot it!!!  in about 500 rounds reclean and shoot it more.

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote DPI Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September/21/2020 at 12:21
Shoot as much as possible, then hand it to your man for cleaning, simples
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Kickboxer Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September/21/2020 at 16:25
You mean one is supposed to clean a rifle more than once???
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Son of Ed Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September/21/2020 at 17:40
I buy used ones so I don't have to bother....
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote 8shots Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September/22/2020 at 03:59
Don't listen to these guys...they are being frivolous and never owned any decent firearms.

The truth is there is not a simple or correct answer. Some firearms shoot well without needing to be cleaned regularly. But even these firearms needs to be protected from rust and other corrosion. So a less vigorous cleaning regime is required. But some powder and copper solvent cleaning aids run through the bore and a bit of oiling afterwards can do no harm.

Other firearms perform best with a clean as a whistle bore, in which case you need to run copper solvent and powder solvent soaked patches through the bore until they come out clean. 

The so called breaking in of a barrel is also mostly unproven. The idea is to remove any machining marks on the inside of the barrel. So various polishing pastes etc are run on a patch through the barrel to smooth it up. Again the story goes...shot 3 rounds, clean polish barrel....shoot 3 rounds and repeat till you get tired....job done.

Mostly my experience is a barrel either shoots from day one or it never will. My most accurate rifle hold accuracy irrespective of cleaning or not. After cleaning the rifle is slightly less likely to group at its best.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote DPI Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September/22/2020 at 04:34
Personally, I've never owned any firearm. They all belonged to the government. Used them a lot though.
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oratius54 View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote oratius54 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September/22/2020 at 11:41
Thank you for a comprehensive answer.
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tahqua View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote tahqua Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September/22/2020 at 13:43
I have never done the intensive cleaning regimen with a new gun. I clean the barrel and action of all manufacturing residue and shipping coating. I may pull a barrel snake through after 10 rounds. But nothing like cleaning every, then every third round after. 
I agree with Wouter, either it shoots well or it doesn't.

Doug
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Son of Ed Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September/22/2020 at 14:34
I never "broke in" a barrel. I cleaned any grease out of it and shot it. I cleaned it when it needed it. I always shot a clearing shot after cleaning before settling down to shooting for real.  
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Bigdaddy0381 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September/23/2020 at 06:01
I have shot 3 cleaned/scrubbed... shot 3 more cleaned/scrubbed... repeated for 100 rounds.
I have cleaned and shot until it was nasty around 500ish rounds then cleaned.
I have hand lapped the barrel then shot 3 cleaned/scrubbed then repeat till 100 rounds
I have hand lapped and just shot until it was nasty and then cleaned.

 The truth, I really depends on how much time you have and what makes you feel better about your set up. Out of all the shooting I have done, nothing has made such an improvement in my grouping shots that I "just have too" do. basically the only time I will clean one of my rifles is when I'm at a hard core match and having to drag it thru the rain and mud.

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Kickboxer Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September/23/2020 at 08:06
Originally posted by Bigdaddy0381 Bigdaddy0381 wrote:

I have shot 3 cleaned/scrubbed... shot 3 more cleaned/scrubbed... repeated for 100 rounds.
I have cleaned and shot until it was nasty around 500ish rounds then cleaned.
I have hand lapped the barrel then shot 3 cleaned/scrubbed then repeat till 100 rounds
I have hand lapped and just shot until it was nasty and then cleaned.

 The truth, I really depends on how much time you have and what makes you feel better about your set up. Out of all the shooting I have done, nothing has made such an improvement in my grouping shots that I "just have too" do. basically the only time I will clean one of my rifles is when I'm at a hard core match and having to drag it thru the rain and mud.

I've gone through all those regimens as well... what it boils down to is your rifle will tell you when it needs cleaning...  ARs are the most cleaning sensitive shooting sticks I've ever owned, also the dirtiest.  I've pretty much gone back to cleaning them every time I shoot.  
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote koshkin Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September/24/2020 at 13:20
On cleaning the gun overall:  it is a good practice to wipe everything down after you are done shooting especially if you are in an environment that is particularly humid or very dry and sandy.  You do not have to clean the bore all the time (unless you had a very long firing session), but generally wiping down the action and some internal and exposed metal is a good idea.  When I say "wipe down", I am talking about the kids of things that take me about a minute to do.

Once in a while, a thorough cleaning is in order.  Howe often depends on how much you shoot.

Bore cleaning: barrel break-in regiment seems to be a bunch of huey, but it also will not make things worse.  What it does do is help you determine for the future how often you should be cleaning that particular barrel. 

ILya



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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Son of Ed Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November/22/2020 at 10:22
Of course, I always cleaned my rifles before them away for awhile. But I've had 22s that I didn't clean for years! Well, actually, I cleaned them just to handle them and make 'em sparkle, but today's 22 ammunition is so clean that you actually could leave it for years.  
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