How long does it usually take a barrel to break in

[Gord0]

What are you shooting off from? Bunny ear rear bag can do that to you, had it happen to myself. Also make sure your stock isn't touching the barrel anywhere. Rail and scope mount touque, action screw torque. Try shooting one and give it a good solid 10min between shots.

 

[revturbo9967]

Shooting off bipod, triangular bag in rear . A good .065 clearnece around the barrel to stock

 

[Gord0]

Shooting off bipod, triangular bag in rear . A good .065 clearnece around the barrel to stock

If that bag has ears that stick up and it gets turned slightly between shots it can cause horizontal stringing. As others have said it could be wind too.

 

[Zerk]

I am a novice, just having fun learning and reading. Never had a custom barrel. But I have noticed one of my guns the 3rd shot starts to open up. I was doing 4 shots in a row to test my powder and then waiting to cool barrel. Now on testing I wait between shots.

As 5 minutes between groups seem low to me. But I am not familar witht he barrel.

You are using 2 lightly oiled patches as the last step, make sure you push a dry patch down the barrel before you shoot the first shot, the oil in the bore could be changing your point of aim too.

e.

I have wondered about what to do here. After the dry patches, I push an oil one down whether I am storing, or getting ready to shoot. I then do fouling shots. Which sometimes are close, sometimes need 3 or 4 to settle down.

Maybe a debated topic, but I had though shooting a dry clean barrel was bad.

 

[Laelkhunter]

At range now with fresh clean. 200 yards , first shot point of aim, second 2 inches to the right

Where did the third shot go in relation to the first two? With the cold bore shot, the second shot or someplace different?

 

[revturbo9967]

Well maybe I just went full ******, I don't know. It just all of a sudden stopped and gave me some decent groups .

I upped powder on this set of loads to 84.3

4 shots at 200 yards

 

[revturbo9967]

If that bag has ears that stick up and it gets turned slightly between shots it can cause horizontal stringing. As others have said it could be wind too.

No ears

 

[revturbo9967]

Where did the third shot go in relation to the first two? With the cold bore shot, the second shot or someplace different?

3rd shot went close to point of aim

 

[Zerk]

So it was off or same as the first 2?

 

[Laelkhunter]

Well maybe I just went full ******, I don't know. It just all of a sudden stopped and gave me some decent groups .

I upped powder on this set of loads to 84.3

4 shots at 200 yards

Nothing wrong with that !! Don't change a thing. Don't clean it again until the groups start opening up. Seems like you cleaned it good, then had to foul it, and now you're in the "accuracy node". Nice job.

 

[revturbo9967]

Nothing wrong with that !! Don't change a thing. Don't clean it again until the groups start opening up. Seems like you cleaned it good, then had to foul it, and now you're in the "accuracy node". Nice job.

Let's hope it stays there!!! Lol

Thanks for everyone's input. No bad advice in this one

 

[Laelkhunter]

Seriously, I would be happy with that group at 100 yards, but 200 ? You have a heck of a shooting machine there..

 

[Zerk]

For me, when testing loads, POI is not important. But grouping. So I am not sure if I am getting hung up on word, or a flyer hit bullseye.

 

[Laelkhunter]

For me, when testing loads, POI is not important. But grouping. So I am not sure if I am getting hung up on word, or a flyer hit bullseye.

I agree Zerk. The group is more important for me too. The POI can be changed with a click or two of the scope. The picture shown in reply #20 showing a 4 shot group measuring .4165 shot at 200 yards is a good end result for where he started with spraying the target with a shotgun pattern. As stated earlier, I would be happy with that group at 100 yards.