Barrel Break-In: What’s the Right Way?

Ask 20 shooters how they break in a new barrel, and you may get 20 different answers. Some follow an elaborate process of firing one shot, cleaning, firing another, and repeating. Others take a much simpler approach: just shoot the rifle and let the barrel break itself in.

Over the years, professional PRS shooter, Josh, has developed a process that falls somewhere in the middle. It’s the method he uses on his own match barrels and the one he recommends when someone asks where to start.

From there, the break-in process begins.

A Practical Barrel Break-In Process

5 ROUNDS → CLEAN

Start with five rounds while getting the rifle sighted in, then clean the barrel. Using a product like Bore Tech Eliminator or C4, run 5–6 patches—or until they come out clean—then dry patch the bore to remove any remaining solvent.

Use a chamber mop to remove excess cleaner from the chamber and make sure both the bore and chamber are completely dry before firing again.

10 MORE ROUNDS → CLEAN

Shoot another 10 rounds and repeat the cleaning process. By this point, you should be getting sighted in and can begin testing or practicing as the barrel continues to break in

25 MORE ROUNDS → CLEAN

Shoot approximately 25 more rounds, then clean again.

50 MORE ROUNDS → CLEAN

After another 50 rounds, you’ll be around the 100-round mark with four cleanings completed. During this cleaning, you can incorporate a nylon brush for about 20 strokes before finishing with wet and dry patches.

After the Break-In

From here, return to your normal cleaning routine and keep an eye on velocity. Most barrels will finish speeding up somewhere around 150–200 rounds