How to: Barrel Break-In

OK, here is a method to break in that new barrel:

1) Clean the bore.
2) Head to the range with your fireform loads.
3) Shoot one round. Clean the barrel as follows:
Push a solvent wet patch through the bore, discard at muzzle
Repeat until no powder is present (usually only two or three patches)
Push a dry patch through the bore, discard at muzzle
Wet the bore with a copper solvent (Sweets is a good choice)
Let it sit for 10 minutes
Push a dry patch through the bore. It should be blue at this time. Repeat the Sweet's treatment. The patch should not be blue (continue until not blue).
4) Shoot another round, repeat. Once this shows very little blue from the copper solvent, go to 3 shot groups. Have fun and realize the work you're doing here will make for an easy cleaning rifle later.
5) Once the 3 shot groups result in very little blue go to 5 shot groups. You're almost done! Once the 5 shot groups result in very little copper you are done. Now just de-copper about every 100 rounds (of course clean your rifle of powder every shoot).

You will note I didn't say to repeat the 1-shot & clean for X times, or 3-shot and clean for XX times. This is because it is based on your rifle barrel, and you need to pay attention to what the barrel is telling you. It will tell you when it is time to increase the rounds.

You are trying to put a final polish on the barrel steel. That is why you are removing the copper. You'll see the amount of copper quickly decline in the first 10 shots. Most of my match barrels were done in approx. 20 rounds.

Hope this helps!