How long does it usually take a barrel to break in

[revturbo9967]

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.

Now I have to consistently do this. Not an easy task for me who's technically a beginner. . Next range day I'm bringing the target back to 100 and getting this load zeroed. Then start pushing it to 400+

 

[Zerk]

.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.

Sounds great to me. I'd be happy with it. My loads and shooting are not there. Under 1",but 1/2 at 100. Starting to experiment with seating depth now.

 

[darldavidson]

I just had a custom rifle built by Valhalla Rifleworks. It was built around my old Rem Mag action ... HS Precision stock, Precision Research barrel (1:8 twist), Jewell trigger, and a Nightforce 5.5 by 22 scope. I shot and cleaned after each shot for the first 15 then 3 shots and cleaned. It only took 24 rounds before I found the correct load: 69.1 grs H1000, GM210M primers, 162 gr Amax Match ... round 25 was a fouling shot and 26, 27, 28 were .072 group.

When reloading: full resize works best for this rifle (head space .003), clean with ultrasonic, adjust powder by tenth of a grain to get best group, adjust bullet depth (5000th of lands best for this rifle).

 

[tim2446]

Just like the title says, how long does it take a custom barrel to break in and even out?

I've been shooting my new 28 nosler, and have been having some funny grouping . Only seems to shoot well when freshly cleaned . Getting .4 groups with Berger 195s at 100 yards ( that's good shooting for me) with 82.3 gr of rl33 .020 off lands .

Have about 60 rounds down the tube , cleaned it 3 times now. Groups well after cleaning then opens up. Tonight I went out to 200 yards , got some funky 4 shot groups . 2 shots touching at point of aim, 2 shots about 2 inches to the right. On 3 targets I had similar groups, all flyers to the right. Coppered up again? Is it safe to assume The barrel isn't ready to even out yet or am i loosing my mind

Nothing wrong with anything, the deal is there is so much surface on this bullet its just laying that much copper down the barrel
i'm shooting a 7RUM and a 28 and they both do the same thing, this bullet is over a inch and a half long.
300 RUM shooting a 210 is not as bad but it also likes to be clean.
i'm one of those guy who don't clean anything until it opens up but these longer bullets will change your habits. Clean it with the Sinclair paste and sweets it really does not even need a foul shot!
15 or 20 shots just clean it!

 

[maninthemaze]

R33 is dirty powder as well. Ryan Pierce and a few others who specialize in the 28 are recommending VihtVouri N570. I'm running it in my 28/195 combo. It's throated long for the 195s though. But I'm right around 80 grains and getting 3040 fps. YMMV

 

[strap14]

I just had a custom rifle built by Valhalla Rifleworks. It was built around my old Rem Mag action ... HS Precision stock, Precision Research barrel (1:8 twist), Jewell trigger, and a Nightforce 5.5 by 22 scope. I shot and cleaned after each shot for the first 15 then 3 shots and cleaned. It only took 24 rounds before I found the correct load: 69.1 grs H1000, GM210M primers, 162 gr Amax Match ... round 25 was a fouling shot and 26, 27, 28 were .072 group.
View attachment 77649
When reloading: full resize works best for this rifle (head space .003), clean with ultrasonic, adjust powder by tenth of a grain to get best group, adjust bullet depth (5000th of lands best for this rifle).

 

[strap14]

What caliber? You mentioned the load of 69.1 grs of H1000,
Primers, 162 Amax but I wasn't seeing which caliber. Also I've been a machinist most of my adult life, so the amount you said your bullet was off (you wrote of), the lands I presume was meant to be, five one thousandths of an inch, is that correct? That would usually be marked as .005". With these longer bullets, we really need to have a good gage to consistantly set them don't we? They have so long of an tangent/ogive area, reducing slowly from the shorter major diameter, especially if they are a BT bullet that you have to creep up on the seating depth, to get it set just right. Great shooting, I've never had a rifle that accurate myself.

 

[TwoMore]

on his target where he sized his group it says .284

 

[TwoMore]

Nothing wrong with anything, the deal is there is so much surface on this bullet its just laying that much copper down the barrel
i'm shooting a 7RUM and a 28 and they both do the same thing, this bullet is over a inch and a half long.
300 RUM shooting a 210 is not as bad but it also likes to be clean.
i'm one of those guy who don't clean anything until it opens up but these longer bullets will change your habits. Clean it with the Sinclair paste and sweets it really does not even need a foul shot!
15 or 20 shots just clean it!

I am shooting a big Seven with the 195 , one thing I do is after cleaning and before my first shot I dry patch, then run a patch of graphite thru it, amazing how that relieves copper. I only do it before the first shot but it has really helped keep the copper down. and my first shot is always in the group

 

[TracySes23]

Just like the title says, how long does it take a custom barrel to break in and even out?

I've been shooting my new 28 nosler, and have been having some funny grouping . Only seems to shoot well when freshly cleaned . Getting .4 groups with Berger 195s at 100 yards ( that's good shooting for me) with 82.3 gr of rl33 .020 off lands .

Have about 60 rounds down the tube , cleaned it 3 times now. Groups well after cleaning then opens up. Tonight I went out to 200 yards , got some funky 4 shot groups . 2 shots touching at point of aim, 2 shots about 2 inches to the right. On 3 targets I had similar groups, all flyers to the right. Coppered up again? Is it safe to assume The barrel isn't ready to even out yet or am i loosing my mind

 

[TracySes23]

Only 60 rounds thru your rifle. I'd try changing your load some up or down your powder charge. I'd be flinching on a load that heavy myself. I bought a new rifle 5 years ago & even with hand loads it never seemed to shoot well. I tried everything except factory loads. It was depressing to say the least. I was thinking maybe it was my age, I was 70 at the time. Finally I invested in a premium barrel from Shilen & after getting it sighted in, I was no longer depressed. I still ain't as good as I was when I was 30 years younger, but I don't feel so bad anymore. Now I'm 76 & can't see those fine crosshairs on a 36X target scope well. They sometimes seem to disappear. Changing back to a lower powered scope with a thicker crosshair solved that problem. But it sounds to me you're doing pretty good!

 

[Switchback2]

I wouldn't worry about it all that much till 140-160 rds though barrel.. Not sure which brand barrel you running but all my Bartleins seem to be in that range when they speed up and steady in,, I also have a 28 Nosler mine is Thoated just for 195s (3.800)like you with only 60 Rds on barrel and its shooting Great but I know when I get to that point I will have to tweak my loads alittle as I am on the Higher Node of RL33 and 195s,