What to do with brand new gun?

[tg]

If you have spare time on your hands and don't have a set you can make a couple of V blocks for working on ML's they are handy for working on sights, installing flints/niples and a lot of other things the upright on the one below is
1 1/2" x 6" wide x 7" high the base is 3/4 thick and 7"x10" these are not set in stone, just have to hold the gun and not fall over. leather or wool or most any soft fabric will work to line the V and prevent scratches

 

After cleaning a new gun, I lap the barrel a little with 200 strokes of fine steel wool on my cleaning jag.

I could see where this could help in a rifle but see no use for it in a gun.

 

[musketman]

After cleaning a new gun, I lap the barrel a little with 200 strokes of fine steel wool on my cleaning jag.

I could see where this could help in a rifle but see no use for it in a gun.

If by gun, you mean smoothbore, they too can benifit from barrel lapping/polishing, it gives less places for fouling to grip.

 

[artkodiak]

My apology, and point taken.  Allow me to re-phrase, 'smoothing out or breaking in the barrel' vice literal 'seasoning' (like a frying pan).  My experience, although by no means as vast or weighty as the other, more worthy, opinions expressed, is that my barrels have all shot a bit wild for a number of hundred rounds, and my Pedersoli experienced severely cut patches for quite a period. It settled into a very consistant shooter and a pleasure to shoot. Good cleaning techniques, as indicated, will pay off in accuracy and loading. At any rate, enjoy the world of load experimentation, etc and just plain pleasant shooting that you are embarking into.
Shoot Safely,
ArtKodiak

 

[paulvallandigham]

Cut patches in new guns comes from two sources, with the most common source in factory produced guns being poor muzzle crowns. If sharp edges are left on the front of lands at the muzzle, you can bet you will have cut patches. The second source comes from burrs left on the lands. Factories are notorious for NOT lapping their barrels before shipping them. Its a time consuming step and one of the first things the Bean Counters stop to save costs.

One of the reasons you will read here of members spending lots of money for custom made barrels is because of the extra care barrel makers take in finishing the barrels before they are shipped.

Its not uncommon for any new barrel to need some " breaking in" to achieve its best accuracy, whether a rifle or smoothbore. In reality, this may be more a function of getting the barrel to seat itself properly in the stock, than anything much to do with the inside of the barrel. 50-100 shots is not a surprising number before a gun settles down and begins shooting its best groups.

The best advice is to read your fired patches. Address those with the square holes around the circle FIRST, by smoothing that crown at the muzzle. Only then can you learn if you also have burrs in the barrel that need to be lapped off.

I also agree that a smoothbore will benefit from being lapped, with toothpaste on a damp couple of patches on your cleaning jag, so there is a tight fit. The smoother you can make that bore, the easier it is to load, and the less crud can hold onto it between shots.

I learned this lesson years ago with two modern shotguns. One had a standard steel barrel- nicely polished but you can still see tool marks. The second had chrome lined bores. The difference in both cleaning and loading was night and day. The difference in patterns was also visible.

 

[tg]

I would not be to concerned about seasoning unless you have some steaks on he grill.

 

[artkodiak]

Yep!  Ya hit it dead on! The cut patches (complete circles at times) may well have been a sharp crown, in part, but after taking at it with one of Joe Wood's wonderful little coning tools (what a joy to thumb in a ball without a short starter!), it still cut patches for a while until I gave it the fine (0000) steel wool treatment.  Then it shot like a champ (indicators of a burred lands).  Interestingly enough, it was cutting patches and still it shot accurately enough to take ptarmigan handily enough at 50yds off hand.  All in all, shooting and exploring the world of 'front stuffers' is about as much fun as a feller can legally have with his britches on, and I wish Bobznew the greatest fortune.  It's the years of collective wisdom and trial by error on this forum that enhance the whole prospect. I had to figure this nonsense out the hard, and long way and have concluded that the more I learn, the more there is to learn!  (BTW: Did someone mention seasoned steaks? Lookout Bullwinkle, I'm hungry...and I've got a gun!) :thumbsup: