Barrel break in accuracy

[Shawn Carverelli]

A new barrel needs a break in such as; 1st 10 shots, clean after each shot. 2nd 10 shots, clean after every 3 shots, 3rd 10 shots clean after each 5 shots.
It should be ready then for accuracy testing.

or...clean after every couple until you stop getting green patches then go 3 and clean
if you can shoot 5 without blue green copper satyrsted patches you're good

 

[Shawn Carverelli]

Yes, I've good luck with H4831SC. I've also had good luck with Magpro. My Ruger no 1 in 25-06 will print 1" groups with 55.3 grains of Magpro pushing the Rem core-lokt 120 grainers. I'm plenty happy with that since the Ruger no 1 can be an aggravating sonofagun. As far as Sierras, nope. Don't shoot em', don't like em'. I've drank the hammer koolaid with this rifle, so that's where my head is. The REM core-Lokts are my 2nd choice, based on how they shoot and how they did on 2 deer last year. And I have about 1200 of em', so I have plenty.

 

[RCMSTER]

rl26 might be too slow for 25-06. Mine liked rl19 best. just my .02

Not interested in shooting light bullets in my 25-06. That's what my 257 roberts is for. 110-120 grain is where I'm going, and what I spent a thousand bucks on the rifle for. The only question is getting there. 1st bullet choice is 116 gr hammer. 2nd bullet choice is 120 gr rem core-lokt. 3rd choice is, well, not sure, but thanks for your input.

 

[RCMSTER]

or...clean after every couple until you stop getting green patches then go 3 and clean
if you can shoot 5 without blue green copper satyrsted patches you're good

Right now, I'm cleaning with Butch's bore shine after 10. Shoot 10 and clean with Montana extreme.

 

[RCMSTER]

Finding R-19 can be the issue. I gotta go with what I have until more powder becomes available.

 

[Shane Lindsey]

Once you establish the BTO it's really easy then to go to COAL unless you're going to measure and seat each bullet individually to BTO.

There's some variation in bullets no matter how well made but I have never met anyone that loads each one to BTO individually.

I don't even know how one could practically do so.

Do you not measure each bullet with a caliper after it comes out of the press for consistency?

Cup and core with irregular tips, comparator.
Hammers, just OAL because they are so consistent.

 

[Shane Lindsey]

Have to agree with the load in 1gr increments find pressure and back off 1gr. process. I did that the first time loading hammers in my 6mm rem and ended up with a .8" group. I tried another lower gr load and it was a 4" group.

Some just prefer the hard way...

 

[RCMSTER]

Do you not measure each bullet with a caliper after it comes out of the press for consistency?

Cup and core with irregular tips, comparator.
Hammers, just OAL because they are so consistent.

Yeah, pretty much every one, but I admit, I'm not using a comparator, so I get some variance. Even with the hammers, I get some variance. For the most part this, the variance is .005" or less.

 

[J.J. Weiland]

In my experiences a barrel which likes the bullet will shoot pretty accurate at the onset and increase accuracy a bit after 10-40 rounds. If your accuracy with that bullet is pretty bad, I would try different loads/bullets. This has just been my experience.
I have gotten lucky with several new rifles that liked the first handloads I fed them and they achieved .5" groups or better with the first shots after getting zeroed... so in the first 20 rounds.
What kind of mediocre accuracy are you talking?
I imagine some of the serious target shooters will come along shortly and have some input. I shoot and handload a good bit, but am not a professional target shooter.

I completely agree, some barrels/calibers are more forgiving than others.

 

[manitou]

I have a sealed 8lb of RL26 I will trade for 8lb sealed H1000 if you have it?

No 1000, but I have lots of Varget.

 

[PatriotHenry]

No 1000, but I have lots of Varget.

Bummer.

 

[Zen Archery]

Surprised smith didn't leave you instructions.

 

[WildRose]

Do you not measure each bullet with a caliper after it comes out of the press for consistency?

Cup and core with irregular tips, comparator.
Hammers, just OAL because they are so consistent.

I'm just not that anal. OAL works for me just fine once I have established my baseline.

I have a little tool to quickly check OAL similar to a caliper I use to double check but that's as deep as I get into it.

 

[manitou]

Bummer.

I know, right?