Q. What is the barrel break-in procedure?

A. Although there may be different schools of thought on barrel break-in, this is what Precision Shooting Magazine recommends:

STEP 1 (repeated 10 times)

• Fire one round
• Push wet patches soaked with a powder solvent through the bore
• Push a brush through the bore (5 times in each direction)
• Push dry patches through the bore (2 times)
• Push wet patches soaked with a copper solvent through the bore
• Push a brush through the bore (5 times in each direction)
• Push dry patches through the bore (2 times)
• Push a patch with 2 drops of oil through the bore

STEP 2 (repeated 5 times)

• Fire a 3 shot group
• Repeat the cleaning procedure from STEP 1 after each group

STEP 3 (repeat 5 times)

• Fire a 5 shot group
• Repeat the cleaning procedure from STEP 1

They recommend the use of a patch with 2 drops of oil after the cleaning so that you are not shooting with a dry bore. It is also advisable to use a powder solvent and copper solvent from the same manufacturer to be sure they are chemically compatible.