I've owned a brand new TVM Lancaster rifle, for 3 years, in a 40 caliber with a 42" barrel, real nice to, finished in German Silver. I am going to shoot it in this summer. TVM said to put at least 100 balls through it first before I start to sight it in. I have heard about Scotch-Brite pads and also JB Compound to save the 100+ rounds to break it in. Any advice? Should I do the 100 rounds or can I cut to the chase and start sighting in after I do the other process with the JB or the scotch brite pads. :: If so how do I go about that process. Any help will be greatly appreciated. Thanks
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break-in
- Thread starter Griz
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Griz, I really feel by taking short cuts in the breaking in period a person misses an opportunity to learn their rifle and how it handles... One-hundred shots is not all that many and it may not even take that many shots to break in the barrel??? Even if you do polish the bore, how do you know you still won't have to shoot an additional fifty or more shots to complete the break in of the barrel? We discussed this earlier on the forum. I believe if you do a search for; "Polishing Bores", or "Bore Polishing", you'll find a lot of info... 
If asking for Advice (opinions) my personal opinion is that a rifle is best broken in by firing the actual rifle.
Everything else is an attempt to simulate the effects and there's no way to really know if the simulation was enough or if it will produce the same results as actual firing. And finally, to me, any chance to go to a range and shoot is what it's all about anyway...enjoy!
Everything else is an attempt to simulate the effects and there's no way to really know if the simulation was enough or if it will produce the same results as actual firing. And finally, to me, any chance to go to a range and shoot is what it's all about anyway...enjoy!
No apologies necessary, Griz!!! :no: :no: :no If you want to polish the bore before using that new rifle you could wrap some 4aught (0000) steel wool around a ramrod or dowel then do about thirty to fifty strokes up and down in the bore, but do not take the steel wool completely out of the bore until your last stroke... If there is anything that might snag a patch on the rifling this should smooth it down... Also, read your patches after each shot to see that your not blowing a patch... If your blowing a patch it could be your getting snagged on an area of rifling while loading, though you should be able to feel this during the loading process and seating of the patched ball. It would feel like your getting hung up... Or,,, it could be when your short starting the ball if you do this, your stressing the patch,,, or,,, it could be your patch lube that causes blow-by... In any event, read your fired patches for blow holes, or stress points... I would give the barrel a good cleaning then do some shooting and patch reading before polishing the bore... You may find out that you don't have to do anything!!!
If you want to polish the bore before using that new rifle you could wrap some 4aught (0000) steel wool around a ramrod or dowel then do about thirty to fifty strokes up and down in the bore, but do not take the steel wool completely out of the bore until your last stroke... If there is anything that might snag a patch on the rifling this should smooth it down... Also, read your patches after each shot to see that your not blowing a patch... If your blowing a patch it could be your getting snagged on an area of rifling while loading, though you should be able to feel this during the loading process and seating of the patched ball. It would feel like your getting hung up... Or,,, it could be when your short starting the ball if you do this, your stressing the patch,,, or,,, it could be your patch lube that causes blow-by... In any event, read your fired patches for blow holes, or stress points... I would give the barrel a good cleaning then do some shooting and patch reading before polishing the bore... You may find out that you don't have to do anything!!! 
I use the JB paste on a double patch, but I still shoot in a barrel. It is not as critical as with an adjustable sight rifle, but I don't want to file down a front blade on a rifle with a fixed rear only to find the groups wander off that point as the barrel & stock settle in.
:bull:That must be one rough barrel if you have to shoot 100 shots before sighting in. Sight in now and after 100 shots report back and tell us if there's any difference.
I've been doing this for a long time and I haven't found any. I build a gun, center the sights, leave the front sight a little high, shoot the 1st shot on a 25 yd. target, it will be a few inches low, file the front til it shoots center(3 or 4 more shots)Done. Group size may be slightly better after awhile but shouldn't move. It'll be more likely that you got better with experience. This, of course, is only an opinion from my experiences, yours may vary.
I've been doing this for a long time and I haven't found any. I build a gun, center the sights, leave the front sight a little high, shoot the 1st shot on a 25 yd. target, it will be a few inches low, file the front til it shoots center(3 or 4 more shots)Done. Group size may be slightly better after awhile but shouldn't move. It'll be more likely that you got better with experience. This, of course, is only an opinion from my experiences, yours may vary.
First, I say shoot the barrel in. It's much more fun and educational.
Second, Go ahead and get your sights close. It is very frustrating, not to mention a good way to form bad habits, to shoot your rifle 100 shots with the point of aim a good deal off target.
In the worst extreme, if after shooting in your barrel, your POI did move, then all you need to do is buy a new front sight. A silver blade primitive sight is still around $10. probabaly less. Thats a small price to pay to have 100 rounds hit where you aim.
Second, Go ahead and get your sights close. It is very frustrating, not to mention a good way to form bad habits, to shoot your rifle 100 shots with the point of aim a good deal off target.
In the worst extreme, if after shooting in your barrel, your POI did move, then all you need to do is buy a new front sight. A silver blade primitive sight is still around $10. probabaly less. Thats a small price to pay to have 100 rounds hit where you aim.
Guest
By all means polish the cut rifled barrel a bit, with 4-ought steel wool or JB on a thick patch - about 50 strokes should do it.
; Cut rifling leaves fine 'hairs'on the edges of the lands that need to be removed and the steel wool or JB will do this. Actually it's the patch that does it with the wool or JB further polishing the bore.
: Do sight it in with the first 5-10 rounds. Like Deadeye says, the group won't move much if at all.
: With a cut barrel, polished, it should shoot well right off the bat & cntonue to shoot well, perhaps even better as it shoots in.
: Not removing the rough spots (hairs) from the lands first will cause cut patches, foul excessively due to cut patches and produce less than great accuracy. Polishing first will prevent that from happening & shoot perfectly right off the bat. Why not treat yourself to a properly shooting rifle, right off.
Daryl
; Cut rifling leaves fine 'hairs'on the edges of the lands that need to be removed and the steel wool or JB will do this. Actually it's the patch that does it with the wool or JB further polishing the bore.
: Do sight it in with the first 5-10 rounds. Like Deadeye says, the group won't move much if at all.
: With a cut barrel, polished, it should shoot well right off the bat & cntonue to shoot well, perhaps even better as it shoots in.
: Not removing the rough spots (hairs) from the lands first will cause cut patches, foul excessively due to cut patches and produce less than great accuracy. Polishing first will prevent that from happening & shoot perfectly right off the bat. Why not treat yourself to a properly shooting rifle, right off.
Daryl
Daryl and others, Thanks for all the advice. I am thinking more like what Daryl said. I would rather try to get that rifle shooting good by polishing the bore so I can shoot it more seriously right of the bat rather than just blowing 100 rounds away to get the roughness out. I will be doing the 0000 steel wool before I shoot it. I just wanted to say that I really enjoy this forum and all you guys sure are great, patient and have lots of good advice. Keep up the good work.
Guest
Now get out and shoot that rifle - could have gone through a pound of powder already.
: A few (30 to 50) swipes of 4-ought and it's ready to shoot without harming the patches.
Daryl
: A few (30 to 50) swipes of 4-ought and it's ready to shoot without harming the patches.
Daryl
