Gun Break in

chefmossy · Post by **chefmossy** » Sun Oct 17, 2010 10:57 pm

Bought a new Les Baer wadcutter gun. Book that came with gun said to use good quilty ammo for 400-500 rounds to break in pistol. Having trouble finding ammo. Anyone have ideas

Post by **Bullseye** » Mon Oct 18, 2010 6:38 am

Federal 185gr jacketed wadcutters would be a good choice.

R,
Bullseye

greener · Post by **greener** » Mon Oct 18, 2010 7:04 pm

You sound like a candidate for a reloading press. Makes ammo a little easier to find.

Baldy · Post by **Baldy** » Mon Oct 18, 2010 8:17 pm

Baer must make their pistols alful tight. I have only shot one and it was a couple of years old, but it run very smooth.

I am with Greener, you need to roll your own.

chefmossy · Post by **chefmossy** » Mon Oct 18, 2010 10:28 pm

I do roll my own and have for 10 years. The maker suggested factory ammo. I think I will load up some full power loads to break in this gun.

woody57 · Post by **woody57** » Mon Oct 18, 2010 10:38 pm

I have a Pll, I did get is used but just barley. All I have ever shot thur it was my own reloads and it runs great. You made a great choice. ENJOY!
Woody

chefmossy · Post by **chefmossy** » Tue Oct 19, 2010 8:16 am

Going to do some loading this weekend. Found some Federal match ammo 45.00 a box of 50 not going to do that.

Hakaman · Post by **Hakaman** » Tue Oct 19, 2010 11:34 am

Is the so called "break in period" that important to shooting accuracy? I'm more of a "buy it and shoot the tar out of it" kind of person. Although, I think I would treat a LB a little nicer.
Haka

Baldy · Post by **Baldy** » Tue Oct 19, 2010 12:37 pm

chefmossy wrote:Going to do some loading this weekend. Found some Federal match ammo 45.00 a box of 50 not going to do that.

I am with you on that for sure. My cost for 200gr LSWC's is $13.00 a 100rds. These are not full power loads, but a little more powder doesn't cost that much. If I get to $45.00 a box I'll only be able to shoot about once a month.

blue68f100 · Post by **blue68f100** » Tue Oct 19, 2010 1:35 pm

If your reloads are not mouse loads I would use them. If you have problem with your std loads, then load up some heavier loads or by commercial. The only ammo I buy is carry ammo and 22's.

I classify my reloads as good quality. I have not have any in many many years.

stork · Post by **stork** » Tue Oct 19, 2010 1:46 pm

chefmossy,
Congrats on the new pony in your stable.

On wad guns I always use the ammo I'm going to be shooting matches with.
3.8-4.2 grains of Bullseye or Clays with a 200 grain SWC bullet that is sized at least .001 over grove diameter. Crimp it to .468-.470 and you should be good to go.

If you get failure to chamber the round because it(your LB) is too tight, increase the # of your recoil spring until you get to a poundage that will eject the fired round but not pick up the next round. That will be too heavy. Then go to the next lighter spring.

If you're using a slide mounted dot, I use a 12# Sprinco for my indoor load (3.5 gr Clays and 196 gr H&G 130). Outdoors I use a 13# Wolf because my 50 yard load is 4.4 gr WST and a 210 gr H&G 68 SWC).

If you're using open sights or a frame mount a 16# spring should function well with target loads. If you are going to use 230 hard ball I'd go with an 18-20# spring.

FWIW

chefmossy · Post by **chefmossy** » Sat Jan 08, 2011 1:21 pm

Got to meet Les Baer at my Gun Club. He told me they use 185 Gr bullets with 4.5 Gr of Bullseye to test there guns. I tried it works great.

Georgezilla · Post by **Georgezilla** » Sat Jan 08, 2011 4:31 pm

Bullseye wrote:Federal 185gr jacketed wadcutters would be a good choice.

R,
Bullseye

When it comes to breaking in match grade pistols, is there a reason to use jacketed bullets instead of hard cast lead?

Post by **Bullseye** » Sat Jan 08, 2011 7:29 pm

Typically a new barrel has a rougher surface from the machining process than one that has been shot and broken-in. The jacketed bullets do not foul as much as the cast lead and this is a plus during the break-in period. Once the lands and grooves are smoothed up then the hard cast lead will not foul as much. You will find many opinions on this one but this is what I recommend for new match barrels.

Typically I consider 1,000 to 1,500 rounds the break-in period for a match grade 1911 pistol. Some break-in sooner and some take a little longer due to fitting and finish.

R,
Bullseye