Howa 1500 .223

[snowblind66]

So I will be getting this when the order comes in within a few weeks. I was wondering when zeroing should I clean the barrel between shots? On my rimmies I didn't bother but have read in a few places people tend to do this. Also is it worth bedding the barrel in by simply shooting 50 or so rounds through it? if so can anyone recommend some cheap ammo to do this. Thanks in advance

Edited August 5, 2014 by snowblind66

[Albert 888]

I got a stainless 308 howa. And zeroed it in 7shots at 100yrds on a range with nill wind whilst developing home loads. Cleaned it throughly every shot upto I had done 20 shots then then every 2 shots untill 30 shot. Now clean it after every outing. 55g ppu sp are cheap for running in and group reasonably well, hornandy v max 55g bt grouped better in my 223 though but cost more. You better asking the dealer they dhould hopefully know. Good luck and happy shooting.

[J_Edwards]

For my running-in process, I cleaned my .223 after every shot for the first 5 shots, then after every 3 shots until 20 shots in total. Not with a bronze brush, just half a dozen patches every time to get all of the copper residue out. After that I zeroed it.

When I asked the range officer about just going through a load of ammo to run the barrel in, he said no way. To get the best out of your barrel you need to run it in like above.

I wasn't sure whether the running in was best to be done using the ammo that I would be using in the field. I ended up using Federal Power-Shoks at nigh-on £1.10 per round, but at least after I'd ran the barrel in, I could move straight onto zeroing with the same ammo. I had a load of Prvi Partizans on me aswell, but they were no way near as accurate as the Federals. I use GECO Express now, and they're even better.

I shouldn't see any problem in running-in your barrel with cheap ammo, from what the range officer told me, rifle barrels straight off the shelf are actually quite rough on the inside, and for the first few shots, this roughness strips bits off copper off the bullet, leaving grains of copper in the barrel, obviously effecting accuracy. When you run a patch through the barrel, you'll see the little grains of copper on the patch. The 20-shot running-in procedure just gets rid of this roughness, and smooths it out, so I shouldn't see any problem with using Prvi Partizans for this purpose.

Edited August 6, 2014 by J_Edwards

[snowblind66]

thanks for your replies, when you say running a patch through, is that some gauze pushed through with a rod?

[Dekers]

thanks for your replies, when you say running a patch through, is that some gauze pushed through with a rod?

 

There is lots of info about running in a barrel here and all over the web.

 

There are also many views about it's worth, personally I take care of all mine, it can be a bit of a pain to break in a barrel but I do it regardless and mine all work!

 

Have you never cleaned a rifle before, your OP would suggest not?

[snowblind66]

I haven't bothered cleaning the barrels of any of my rimfires, they shoot spot on, if that were to change I would give it a clean.