Quick Tip: What Is "Breaking In" a New Barrel?

Published on August 5, 2020
Duration: 5:16

Breaking in a new barrel is primarily recommended for premium match-grade rifle barrels to smooth microscopic machining imperfections. Cold hammer forged, chrome-lined, and nitrided barrels, common in AR-15s, generally do not require break-in. Pistol barrels and smaller rifle calibers benefit more from break-in than larger ones.

Quick Summary

Barrel break-in is primarily for premium match-grade rifle barrels to smooth microscopic machining imperfections. Barrels with hard finishes like cold hammer forged, chrome-lined, or nitrided (common on AR-15s) generally do not need break-in.

Chapters

  1. 00:00Intro: Barrel Break-In Controversy
  2. 00:41When Break-In is Necessary
  3. 01:01The Physical Process of Breaking In
  4. 02:11Barrels That Don't Need Break-In
  5. 04:02Pistol Barrels & Caliber Considerations

Frequently Asked Questions

What is barrel break-in and why is it done?

Barrel break-in is a process to smooth microscopic rough edges left from machining in new barrels, primarily recommended for premium match-grade rifle barrels to ensure optimal accuracy and performance.

Which types of barrels do NOT need breaking in?

Barrels with hard finishes like cold hammer forged, chrome-lined, or nitrided (common on AR-15s) generally do not benefit from break-in, as their surfaces are too hard to be significantly altered by bullets.

Does barrel break-in apply to pistol barrels?

Pistol barrels rarely require a break-in procedure. This is due to their typically larger bore diameters and different throat geometries compared to rifle barrels.

Are there specific calibers that benefit more from break-in?

Yes, smaller rifle calibers like .17 or .22 caliber tend to benefit more from a break-in process than larger calibers such as .45, as the smaller bullets may interact more effectively with the rifling.

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