New Barrel + Round count = Speed

[ColinR]

I have been reading about new barrels and speed. Seems lots of folks say a barrel speeds up after 150 - 200 rounds thru it. They also don’t start load development until they get those 150 to 200 rounds thru it.

So what are your thoughts? Have you seen an increase in speed after some rounds thru? Do you wait to start load development after a certain number of rounds thru the barrel?

[trophy8]

Yes. It gets any high spots smoothed out. Not usually a huge increase. I’ve noticed about 25 fps on big magnums. Maybe a touch more in others. Some barely noticeable. Get it smoothed out and a layer of copper and I guess it gets slick lol. I don’t clean some aftermarket barrels until I notice it not shooting as well too. I’ve had rifles shoot tiny groups and keep speed 4-500 rounds before cleaning.

[Mike D]

Are you talking factory or custom barrel?

Factory barrel, yes. Too many variables to say how much.

Custom barrels are lapped and you’ll typically pick up almost nothing.


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[ColinR]

I was talking about custom.

[WTucker]

The only rifle that I really paid attention to it was my 6.5x47. I gained about almost 40 FPS between 0 and 150 rounds.