AR-15 Barrel Break in

EagleScout · Mar 31, 2011

So it looks like I may finally get out this weekend and shoot my AR.

What is the best way to break in a new AR?

Wormydog1724 · Mar 31, 2011

Here's what I did.

Step 1: clean it
Step 2: lube it
Step 3: shoot it

Repeat steps 1-3 every 500 rounds.

jtischauser · Mar 31, 2011

Break in procedures are like assholes, everybody has one.

pyplynr · Mar 31, 2011

Wormydog1724 said:
Here's what I did.

Step 1: clean it
Step 2: lube it
Step 3: shoot it

Repeat steps 1-3 every 500 rounds.

+1

Barrel break in is a load of crap. The biggest part of premature barrel life is too much cleaning. Just do what Wormy said and clean when you start losing accuracy.

Wormydog1724 · Mar 31, 2011

Jesse Tischauser said:
Break in procedures are like assholes, everybody has one.

And they all stink!

redneck1861 · Mar 31, 2011

The way that I was told to break in an AR, was to fire 2-3 rounds and then clean it. And repeat for about the first 100-150 rounds. I ended up cleaning my rifle about 30 times for the first 100 rounds. Now I just clean it after 200 or so rounds

Wormydog1724 · Mar 31, 2011

Redneck1861 said:
The way that I was told to break in an AR, was to fire 2-3 rounds and then clean it. And repeat for about the first 100-150 rounds. I ended up cleaning my rifle about 30 times for the first 100 rounds. Now I just clean it after 200 or so rounds

Is your barrel chrome lined?

Did it help?

redneck1861 · Mar 31, 2011

Wormydog1724 said:
Is your barrel chrome lined?

Did it help?

My barrel is chrome lined, I have no idea if it helped or not, because it is my first and only AR. So the dealer that sold it to me probably could have told me to clean it after every round for the first 500 and I would have done it

pyplynr · Mar 31, 2011

I've got roughly 900 rounds on my AR since it's last barrel cleaning. My .308 bolt gun was cleaned before the first shot and I haven't cleaned it yet after 760 rounds. Both still shoot great.

Matt1911 · Mar 31, 2011

I usually clean after my 3rd or 4th trip to the range which is roughly 400 to 500 rounds.

DoctorJJ · Mar 31, 2011

Jesse Tischauser said:
Break in procedures are like assholes, everybody has one.

And like clockwork, ten people chime in with theirs.

Just like in certain aspects of medicine, if there was one way that was great, everyone would do it every time. Since there are multiple ways of doing it and none are proven better then, obviously, none of them are great. That's why I'm a fan of less is more. Shoot the dang thang and stop worrying.

ryanncass · Mar 31, 2011

I put my new barrel on and went and shot a match. I knew nothing about break in oh well

jtischauser · Mar 31, 2011

Ryan Alexander said:
I put my new barrel on and went and shot a match. I knew nothing about break in oh well

That barrel is junk now! I'll get rid of it for you.

Wormydog1724 · Mar 31, 2011

Here's what I did.

Step 1: spray PAM (non stick cooking spray) down the barrel, make sure you do this from the chamber to keep it out of the action
Step 2: run a bore snake through the bore 4 times
Step 3: crunch up some cheetohs and pack them into the flash hider as tightly as you can
Step 5: fire one round into the dirt but make sure its at least 10 feet away but no more than 12 feet away
Step 6: repeat steps 1-5 until you have used up an entire bottle of PAM and/or a bag of cheetohs

This is the break in procedure I recommend. Redneck, you had better try this on your next AR or you run the risk of ruining it like your last AR. Don't bother telling the gun shop guy about this trick, its super secret and I doubt he has ever even heard of it but it works.

Wall · Mar 31, 2011

Wormydog1724 said:
Here's what I did.

Step 1: spray PAM (non stick cooking spray) down the barrel, make sure you do this from the chamber to keep it out of the action
Step 2: run a bore snake through the bore 4 times
Step 3: crunch up some cheetohs and pack them into the flash hider as tightly as you can
Step 5: fire one round into the dirt but make sure its at least 10 feet away but no more than 12 feet away
Step 6: repeat steps 1-5 until you have used up an entire bottle of PAM and/or a bag of cheetohs

This is the break in procedure I recommend. Redneck, you had better try this on your next AR or you run the risk of ruining it like your last AR. Don't bother telling the gun shop guy about this trick, its super secret and I doubt he has ever even heard of it but it works.

Does it have to be actual pam or will the generic stuff work? Same question for the cheetos. Oh, & if the pam runs out before the cheetos, is it ok to go ahead & eat the rest or do we continue stuffing them down the flash hider until gone?

Matt1911 · Mar 31, 2011

Are we talking regular cheetos or puffs?
Will the flaming hot cheetos work?

dennishoddy · Mar 31, 2011

Dog, you've obviously been preverted by the internet gun ninja's.

Grasshopper, let me guide you to proper barrel break-in.

Cheeto's are a ploy of barrel manufactures to increase sales. They secretly put grains of sand in their to wash out barrel throats, resulting in short barrel life.

Real affectionado's like myself use only pringles. Very few top shooters know that the jalepeno, and sour cream are what can "grease" the barrel to increase its life.