How To Break In a Rifle Barrel

I am breaking in my Christensen Arms MPR 6.5 PRC. This is how I break in new rifles or new barrels. I am not saying that this is how it should be done. This is what works for me. During this process, I am also taking the opportunity to fire form my new, never fired Lapua brass that I have prepared for this rifle.
Before I start to develop loads for a rifle, I always break in the rifle using this method and I always use fire formed brass for load development. I was able to obtain all of the materials necessary to do both processes at the same time. If you want to see how I prepared the brass before fire forming it, watch my video for new brass prep.
• New Brass Prep for 6.5...
I also have a video for how I chose to load rounds for the purpose of fire forming this brass. • LOADING TO FIRE FORM 6...

[@kevingoza]

Thanks Matt! Nice shooting and demo. Looking forward to getting my 6.5 PRC CA Mesa up to speed.

[@mattsreloadingbench]

Thanks for watching and have fun with you development for your rifle!

[@johnreynolds6499]

Thanks for sharing.

[@mattsreloadingbench]

Thanks for watching!

[@antlerkids]

This is great. Good video. I also have a 6.5 PRC that I need to break in. I'll probably follow your method. I prefer the nylon brushes personally. Do you always use wire brushes? Thanks for sharing.

[@mattsreloadingbench]

Yes. Bronze is always softer than steel. Just make sure that you run the brush all the way in and all the way out. And once I break in the barrel, I don't clean it again until my groups open up again. That might be a few hundred rounds or up to almost a thousand rounds.

[@antlerkids]

@@mattsreloadingbench Very interesting. Do you find find that cleaning after barrel break in but before your group start to open up is just unnecessary or has negative side effects?

[@mattsreloadingbench]

@@antlerkids I either clean after every shoot or not clean until the group opens. For consistency. That has been what works for me. But I typically do the 2nd option.

[@m.k.k.4931]

​@@antlerkidsa nylon brush works depending on what you're trying to do. Remember bullets have a copper jacket that rubs off when shooting. If you're not trying to disturb that use nylon. That's what he's saying about his group opening up. Too much copper in barrel. I do the same. I never clean my barrel unless major carbon builds or there's too much copper exiting barrel when firing ruining POI. Just do your DOPE...

[@DunkyThicc]

Highly recommend you not bring your friends with you while you are doing this. They will never go to the range with you ever again.

[@mattsreloadingbench]

LOL... why do you say that? I have friends that want to go with so that I can help break in their rifles. I actually just did last weekend.

[@timothyfaulkner3193]

How many 5 round shot groups did you do during the break in?

[@mattsreloadingbench]

5

[@maxcoatlhunter4322]

Hopefully you aren't using a wire brush.. and it doesn't need that much cleaning specially when breaking-in a new rifle. To each it's own I respect the way you do it. I wont clean towards the action, always towards the end of the barrell.

[@mattsreloadingbench]

Thanks for watching!

[@matthewkyle6939]

Seems excessive for a hand lapped match grade barrel. I have a ruger american that I shot in, after a box of ammo it was shooting 3/4 moa. I guess you can do this if your bored and have nothing better to do lol

[@mattsreloadingbench]

It may be, but it is what I do to all of my barrels.
Thanks for watching!

[@idecidenotyou]

I thought you were supposed to point the barrel facing downwards so that none of the cleaning solution went back into your trigger, also nobody can tell that you're squinting what the f***

[@mattsreloadingbench]

You are not wrong. But the trigger was untouched by the solvents. I made sure of that.