Barrett 98B

[Dmaynor]

I just picked one up and am pretty excited about reaching out over 1000 yards. I was warned in passing to read the operators manual and follow the break in procedure by another Barrett owner in passing.

I read the manual cover to cover and found no procedure, just a warning to not overheat the barrel. Any idea on what a good break in procedure would be?

Quick edit:
A pic for those interested:

[polarlander]

Just remember to remove copper fouling after shooting, if you have time and there's possibility on range you can do couple 3-5 strings and remove foiling. 338 Lapua is bit hot cartidge so it is proper warning, altho if you use normal (250 grs @ 3000 fps) barrel erosion is modest. Idea of breaking in barrel is artificially age it, so that you get in phase that it is lapped and it is not gathering tons of copper anymore.

[orkan]

Fire 500rnds back to back as fast as you can.

Should be good and broke in after that.

[jonconsiglio]

One of my few rifles I've ever "broken in". I'll see if I can dig up the break in I used and post it for you. Enjoy the rifle.

[Dirk Williams]

Man that's nice.congradulations on your new big stick.

DW

[a0cake]

Just clean it properly before shooting the first time. You know - bore guide, coated rod, breach to muzzle only, no jackhammering or any other form of assclownery - all that good stuff.

Then shoot until accuracy suffers. Whenever that happens, clean again. Rinse and repeat.

The first period between cleaning and accuracy suffering MAY be shorter than subsequent periods because it's a new barrel. If you want to call that break-in, whatever, but it's not doing anything special and there's no need to call it that.

This is good, universal advice. There's nothing special about Barrett guns that requires a unique procedure. I wouldn't put too much stock in what the other owner said.

And while I'm not technically a Barrett "owner," I do know a bit about 'dem 'der Burretts:




ETA:

Here's a page that outlines the use of a bore-guide for your specific model:

http://www.98bravo.com/338-bore-guid...model-98b.html

[jonconsiglio]

Just clean it properly before shooting the first time. You know - bore guide, coated rod, breach to muzzle only, no jackhammering or any other form of assclownery - all that good stuff.

Then shoot until accuracy suffers. Whenever that happens, clean again. Rinse and repeat.

The first period between cleaning and accuracy suffering MAY be shorter than subsequent periods because it's a new barrel. If you want to call that break-in, whatever, but it's not doing anything special and there's no need to call it that.

This is good, universal advice. There's nothing special about Barrett guns that requires a unique procedure. I wouldn't put too much stock in what the other owner said.

And while I'm not technically a Barrett "owner," I do know a bit about 'dem 'der Burretts:


ETA:

Here's a page that outlines the use of a bore-guide for your specific model:

Hey buddy, glad you posted. I'm not a precision shooter. When I got my Barretts (98b and m82), I figured I'd look to see if there was any procedure for the 98 since I was using it for more precision than other rifles and since I've always heard the precision rifles had some weird break in process. So, I did what I did with that barrel just because I thought I should.

Thanks for posting.

[a0cake]

Hey buddy, glad you posted. I'm not a precision shooter. When I got my Barretts (98b and m82), I figured I'd look to see if there was any procedure for the 98 since I was using it for more precision than other rifles and since I've always heard the precision rifles had some weird break in process. So, I did what I did with that barrel just because I thought I should.

Thanks for posting.

I just realized that when I referred to "the other owner" in my reply it might have seemed like I was talking about you. Not sure if you took it that way but it's not what I meant at all. I was referring to the person the OP got the advice from.

Anyway, I do understand that when you drop thousands of dollars on a rifle, there's an urge to "do everything right" including doing whatever the manufacturer suggests, even if that's a break-in procedure of little actual worth.

I guess there's nothing really wrong with doing it (as long as the way you clean isn't harmful), besides the sunk cost of the ammunition and the subtraction of X amount of rounds of barrel life that the procedure took up.

But really and truly, I believe that when people break-in barrels, they're doing themselves a psychological service rather than producing any tangible benefit in the barrel.

[orkan]

But really and truly, I believe that when people break-in barrels, they're doing themselves a psychological service rather than producing any tangible benefit in the barrel.

[Pappabear]

Is this the MRAD? I want one , that's all. A friend bought one and I can't wait to shoot it. BADDASS gun.