EDM ARMS
Proper Barrel Break-In Procedure
Prepared by Tom S. Miller, EDM Arms Field Rep
Below is my recommendation for proper break-in of your "Windrunner" rifle barrel. Use it as a guideline. It is based on my experience and has worked well for me on several new "Windrunner" rifle barrels. This information is approved by Mr. Bill Ritchie, owner of EDM Arms.
With any premium rifle barrel such as your "Windrunner" barrel the direction of the finish is in the direction of the travel of the bullet, therefore machine marks that collect copper are minimal in the bore (lands and grooves) and will smooth out with shooting and proper cleaning. But, in a new barrel the reamer marks left by necessity in the throat are across the lands, so when you break-in the barrel the goal is mostly to polish the throat without allowing copper to build up in the bore. This is the reasoning used by most barrel manufacturers that endorse the "fire-one-shot-and-clean" procedure which is the procedure I have always used to break in a new "Windrunner" barrel. Keep in mind that if copper is allowed to stay in the bore while polishing the throat (copper adheres well to itself) and build up it will become much more difficult to remove. Every "Windrunner" barrel can vary slightly as is the case with all new barrels no matter the manufacturer, but the "Windrunner" barrels are all high quality and will break-in within 50 rounds as I will describe below.
Break in:
First please read my instructions on proper cleaning procedures found on www.extremefirearms.com or www.edmarms.com, or by contacting me or Bill.
Always use a full length bore-guide (when the barrel is attached to the receiver) to protect the receiver and keep cleaning solvents from leaking into the trigger. Using a bore-guide and its' rod bushing also ensures that the brush remains in the center of the bore as it is pushed down the barrel. Use a chamber-guide to protect the chamber when the barrel is detached from the receiver.
1. Always run two-three patches through the barrel before firing your first round of the day. This ensures the bore is dry and free of debris.
2. Fire one round and clean.
3. Fire one round and clean.
4. Fire one round and clean.
5. Fire two rounds and clean.
6. Fire two rounds and clean.
6. Fire two rounds and clean.
7. Fire three rounds and clean.
8. Fire three rounds and clean.
9. Fire three rounds and clean.
At this point of the break-in cycle the barrel should be cleaning easier with less blue on the patches from the Montana Extreme (ammonia based) copper solvent. I also use J-B non-embedding bore cleaning compound after the copper solvent patches to ensure that all the copper is removed from the bore. If everything is going well and the barrel is cleaning reasonably well, you may proceed to firing five rounds between cleanings.
10. Fire five rounds and clean.
11. Fire five rounds and clean.
12. Fire five rounds and clean
13. Fire five rounds and clean.
13. Fire five rounds and clean.
14. Fire five rounds and clean.
At this point the barrel should be pretty well broken in and you may start shooting ten rounds between cleanings. For the first one hundred rounds I never shoot more than ten rounds between cleanings, and then no more than twenty rounds between cleanings for the life of the barrel to avoid the possibility of excessive copper to accumulate between cleanings. If I am planning on firing a lot of rounds in any given day and do not want to have to clean multiple times throughout the day, (example a two day FCSA 1000 yard match) I molly-coat the bullets. By doing this, I am able to shoot up to one hundred rounds or more between cleanings. With the use of molly the barrel is no more fouled after one hundred rounds than it was after the first ten rounds.
Again, the above information is a guide-line as to proper barrel break-in in my experience. It's true that any given barrel can vary slightly in how many rounds they take to break-in. You do not have to go to the gym on break-in days as you will get enough of a work out cleaning the barrel.
Do not forget to clean the chamber each time you clean the bore. For the .50 BMG I use a Dewey brass chamber rod with a .12 gauge nylon shotgun brush (Montana Extreme) wrapped with a .50 caliber cotton patch (3 inches) and Hoppes # 9. With the .338 and .408 calibers I use the same chamber rod and a .20 gauge nylon bristle brush with the same size patch. Lastly, do not forget to clean the muzzle brake at the end of your shooting day. I usually soak the brake overnight in Hoppes #9 and then use a small nylon bristle brush (toothbrush) for the ports and inside. Dry with an air compressor and use Tetra grease on the threads when re-installing the brake on the muzzle. I always remove the muzzle brake when I clean the barrel by using an Armstrong U.S.A. 34-354 3/4-2 pin spanner wrench. Do not over-tighten the brake when re-installing it on the muzzle. When shooting multiple rounds check the brake for tightness, often.
Remember, inaccuracy will result from a badly copper fouled barrel. Breaking your "Windrunner" barrel in properly will lead to an accurate, easy cleaning and long lasting barrel. A clean, well maintained and properly broken-in barrel is a "happy barrel". May you enjoy your EDM Arms rifles as much as I do.
If you have any questions you may always contact me at 760-500-1151, but only when Bill isn't available because he is the expert on all subject matter regarding his rifles.
Tom S. Miller