Should I "break in" these rifles?

G

G23

New member
Do I need to break these new rifles in? If so, what is the procedure for each? What type of ammo should I use?

1. Ruger 10/22 standard barrel.
2. CZ bolt action .22
3. Marlin 880SS .22 bolt action
4. Ruger mini 14 stainless

Any info or links to detailed instructions would be greatly appreciated.
 
I would just give them a good cleaning and lubrication. Just be real careful on the ones you have to clean from the muzzle end not to damage the bore at the crown. Then take 'em out and shoot them. You don't have expensive match barrels so I personally don't feel any break-in is necessary.
 
Break In............

G-23, I would shoot only cooper jacketed bullets in the .22's for say the first 2-300 rounds at least......
then you can switch over to lead if you prefer...
This will give you bore a coating , and fills in the pores with copper rather than lead....which is not good......
On the Mini SS, no biggie, as practical accuracy on this rifle is around 3-6"s at 100 yards, maybe better if your lucky.........
 
No break-in necessary for a rimfire, at least not as far as the bore is concerned. Besides, there are NO true FMJ-type ronds available in .22 except for the .22 Magnum.

On the Mini-14, I would go to some effort on break-in. Even though accuracy may never be anything to crow about, ease of cleaning is always a worthwhile goal.
 
I normally shoot HV ammo for several hundred rounds through a new .22LR, just to smooth some of the rough spots. FWIW, on my 10/22's, I've drilled a hole in the receiver to allow cleaning from the breech end, it's pretty easy to do, and it'll save the crown from damage during cleaning.

As far as the Mini-14, I can't imagine any breakin regimen will significantly increase it's accuracy potential.
 
If I remember Gale's comments correctly, I think he said it kept barrel makers in business. Maybe if Rock is lurking he can elaborate or comment.
 
No Break in on rimfires

RR, not to flame you, but John Krieger says differently............
it can take several hundred rounds to break in a .22 rimfire.........
In any rifle, even a .22 RF, you should never use LEAD bullets before the bores pores are burnished in, and smoothed up...........fwiw
 
Don't know much about the rimfires, but on the Mini-14 do NOT let the barrel get hot. Do not use unjacketed bullets. Clean but don't lube after each few boxed on the action and each handful of rounds in the barrel. Use Benchrest or similar fast acting copper solvent.

Do not let the barrel get hot. Take your time and season the barrel. When finished with the session, (it will take a while), give the action a real good cleaning and lube appropriately.
 
.22 RF break-in?

What is the difference between copper washed and plain lead bullets? Both are wax lubricated and the "plating" isn't but a few molecules thick, hardly enough to protect the bore or burnish the burrs.

FWIW, in smallbore, we rarely clean the rifle as shooting the standard velocity stuff just doesn't get it dirty. Sure the bore isn't mirror bright but the proof is in the target. I never had trouble cleaning a high 40's prone nor did the "lack of cleaning" prevent me from scoring a 49, 4X standing. The rifle I was using at that time was 20 years old and pretty well used. It had at least 20k rounds through the barrel.

IMHO, more damage is done in cleaning the by dirt with .22 RF.
 
No need to break in rimfires:

I agree with what other's have said here. I usually do the tetra-gun thing with my rimfires and then forget it save for a good cleaning every brick or so of ammo. I'd shoot about 2-500 rounds through any of the guns you mentioned before I'd trust them to do anything. As far as the Mini-14, don't expect anything spectacular in the accuracy department. I don't understand why you wouldn't want to get the barrel hot. Many people worry WAY too much about break-in, proper cleaning, etc and forget the fact that any firearm is designed to take LOTS more abuse than people dish out.

One nut brought his Marlin .22 rifle out to the shooting hole. He took the gun out of its blanket and pried the bolt up and open. He then took some brake cleaner and sprayed and worked the gun until it was smooth. As I watched, he put three consecutive rounds into the chamber and pulled the trigger only to get clicks. The fourth round went off. By this time, I was hiding behind the truck. Through an entire brick, he had maybe four or five more misfires but that was it. At the end, he stuffed the gun back in its blanet and put the gun up. I'd watched and he was picking off shotgun shell casings at 25 yards and cutting down weeds at longer distances.

Funny, I don't think this guy ever considered 'breaking in' his gun but it worked almost all the time and was just as accurate as my 10/22 was that I kept clean.
 
Clean the barrel, go out and have alot of fun shooting as much ammo as you have, then clean again. Works for me!
In my opinion(just my opinion, mind you), take these babies out and have fun with them. Save the day long process of breaking in barrels for more serious/high dollar hardware.
Z
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top