New barrel “lead in”, not a myth...

[Centercut]

Bought a “BNIB” .25 Cricket pup on AGN Classifieds this past week. Intention is to power tune and do a run off with the .25 Heavy at approx 940 FPS against my .30 Bobcat at 880 FPS at 100 yards in the wind in preparation for EBR. So, after getting the gun USPS, and doing a quick barrel clean, I installed an Ernest power plenum, left the reg pressure as delivered, and reassembled the gun. Over the Chrony, Mk2 Heavy at 920 to 925 FPS, Kings at 1015 to 1020 FPS. Not yet where I want, but close and will only take a little valve transfer port shaping and tuning, maybe a small step up in reg pressure. 

On to shot progression... Mount scope, sight in gun, shoot some groups. I’ve owned 4 Crickets in the past (all used) and everyone has been a laser beam

The seller told me he’d only shot ten shots and gun was otherwise new. I shot 25 or so shots the day I got it to check speed and then another 20 after I installed the plenum. So to this point 55 shots on the new barrel. Today, I shot about 6 or so sighting then gun in, then shot these groups. First middle, next bottom, then left (6 shots each). I actually got a little disgusted and shot about 3 magazines (36 shots) at some spinners 30 to 85 yards. Then back to the target, where I shot a full magazine (12 shots), the right group on the target. Much better! 

Maybe it does take time and 100 or more shots to “lead in” a new barrel? All groups with Mk2s. This is the first time I’ve experienced such dramatic differences from a new barrel, but then I haven’t bought any “new” guns since my .22 Daystate Renegade three years ago. Anyone else have this experience?

Target at 50 yards. In chronological order: center, bottom, left, and then right. Light wind from over my left shoulder

 

[Guest]

Yep Mike it definitely looks like you had to dirty up the barrel before she would get accurate. Don't ever clean the barrel until your group start to look like the middle one again then just give it a very light cleaning. To me this is like seasoning cast iron skillets and yes it does take time

 

[Motorhead]

Not sure if the kaliber guns use CZ barrels in .25 caliber ? .... but if like most barrels ( hammer forged too ) getting a lead "Burnish" into the barrel imperfections near always increases accuracy. No myth

 

[sigp220]

Interesting, I've got a brand new R5M. I've been playing with. Cleaned it lightly when originally purchased. Fired some (less than a hundred shots). Then read it needed to be cleaned every 100rds for awhile. So I cleaned it again. After two great weekends of shooting decided I've fired over 100rds cleaned it again yesterday.

My thoughts after reading your post, I screwed up. Only bright side I did change out the scope so I'll have to re zero it. This will help a little.

My next observation was: At one point I tried switching from JSB to Polymags. The polymags cut perfect circles but the groups were very large so switched back to JSB's. It immediately started shooting well again. Maybe I should tried firing more polymags to account for leading and different lube. I fired two 9 nine shot groups with the polymags. Maybe I should try have been more patient with these.

Thoughts

 

[Michael]

Something to think about... perhaps the lead is not only filling, but covering up minor imperfections/burrs. I usually do a light scrubbing with JB bore paste to give my barrels the best start possible. 

 

[Guest]

Perhaps it's not only leading in the barrel but also acclimating to the new rifle?

 

[RENVAL]

CC I think is just gunk in the barrel, like you said the owner shot it only 10 times, that’s a new gun to me. Sometimes they ship them like that, when they come overseas to prevent rust. My Edgun had some of it.

I use patchworn for all my airguns and ballistol, great combo for cleaning barrels!

 

[Centercut]

Something to think about... perhaps the lead is not only filling, but covering up minor imperfections/burrs. I usually do a light scrubbing with JB bore paste to give my barrels the best start possible.

Good point. If I wanted to do that, how would I go about it? And how would I know when enough is enough? Thanks, never have done the barrel polishing before. 

 

[Centercut]

Perhaps it's not only leading in the barrel but also acclimating to the new rifle?

Maybe, but this is my fourth Cricket so I had already adjusted the trigger to perfection, and have shot at least 10,000 rounds in my Crickets over the past couple of years, probably more...

 

[Hubertus]

i have always eliminated the leading in process on all my guns with mothers aluminum polish

to apply it im using cotton bore mops and its done by hand. im using 6-8 mops. they get dirty after a few strokes and then its time to use the next one.

actually i own a weihrauch hw110, anschutz 9015 and steyr lp50 (steyr hunting5a and bsa r10 in the past)

the barrels are allready very good but not that shiny mirror like. after polishing they are pretty much resistant to fouling and if you are cleaning them ater two tins with a fresh white cotton mop, it nearly came out still bright white

im sure you can write books about polishing barrels but that are my experiences. they are maybe different from yours and keep in mind, that i did the polishing on allready very good barrels.

but please do the polishing on your own risk. im sure its pretty much safe if done by hand, not all day long and with a soft compound!

 

[fe7565]

Here is an old but comprehensive post on polishing barrels. 

https://www.airgunnation.com/topic/lapping-and-polishing-barrels/



And an external link recommended by others:

https://castbulletassoc.org/forum/thread/8364-my-bore-polish-method-to-shoot-better/

 

[Mrshosted]

Yep Mike it definitely looks like you had to dirty up the barrel before she would get accurate. Don't ever clean the barrel until your group start to look like the middle one again then just give it a very light cleaning. To me this is like seasoning cast iron skillets and yes it does take time

I agree with chuck, there's a fragile balance of clean and and perfect. I've seen where it takes over 300 pellets. To get perfection. I don't reclean the barrel until the group start's opening up.

 

[Long_Shot]

I've got a Cricket .25 that always took at least 200 - 300 rounds to become accurate again, after a serious cleaning. Not a myth. 

I did that about 5 - 6 times when the gun was new before I quit cleaning it at all, because it just didn't seem to need it.

Never polished it either. Was going to, (even have the polish) but it always shot good enough that I didn't bother. 

Plan to polish it some time here soon.

I just polished a different .25 barrel that made a big difference in the amount of lead fouling in that bore. 

 

[Drumsnguns]

CC

Throwing my .02 in and will say as well as I think a couple of tins will smooth out the microscopic imperfections in that new barrel. Probably less. Some say 200 or more shots. 

Saw it in my Cricket which also is a laser. 

I might suggest you try JSB MK I. My Cricket likes them over the MK II. But I just shoot II’s in it so I don’t have to split my money between the two. And it’s good enough for hunting 

I would clean frequently while breaking in to get rid of gunk. 

I lube pellets once past break in but that’s up to you. It helps keep the barrel cleaner though IMO. 

Have fun bringing that Cricket into its own. 

 

[Centercut]

Polished the barrel last night with JB Bore Paste. Will lead in the barrel with some old Benji .25 pellets, then shoot for accuracy tomorrow or Friday... Thanks for the suggestions. I've heard from more than one person that the .25 Cricket likes the Mk1 better than the Mk2.