Barrel Break In Procedures
If you've just bought a Ballistic Advantage Barrel and would like to know their recommended procedures for barrel break in, read on. Alternatively, you can also view the original article here.Achieving A Smooth Throat
Regardless how polished the finish is inside the chamber, tool marks in the throat will always be across the direction of projectile travel. When a bullet is fired, copper dust that is dissolved in the expanding hot gasses, travels through the bore and then condenses on the bore and rifling. To the untrained eye, fouling appears to be caused by the bore due to the projectile travel, but in fact it is the cross sectional feed lines in the throat that cause fouling. Now, with this understanding we see that barrel break in is really a smoothing effect about the throat.Typical Break In Cycles
The following procedures are based on the years of experience at Ballistic Advantage. This information should only be used as a guide, and your results may vary. Always start with one shot, followed by running a patch down the bore in the same direction of travel as the bullet. Once you notice fouling has reduced, move to the next series as laid out below. Your individual barrel break in may require additional cycles. Be more concerned about ensuring fouling is reduced before moving to the next series, rather than performing the exact number of cycles below. Do not be alarmed as your seating depth increases during this break in period. Typically the throat will grow .005 - .01 of an inch during break in.
If you have a preferred method and would like to share, please leave a comment below; your feedback is always welcome.
Chrome Moly Vanadium (CMV)
- 5-25 one shot cycles
- 2 three shot cycles
- 1 five shot cycle
Stainless Steel
- 5-10 one shot cycles
- 1 three shot cycle
- 1 five shot cycle
