It should function reliably right out of the box. Nonfunctional new cars don't correct themselves after 2000 miles. High quality new guns are typically tight. Keep it wet.
New Pistol Break In
I have been reading/hearing lately that some custom 1911/2011 gunsmiths recommend up to 2,000 rounds be fired in their new guns until they become reliable. I feel a new custom gun should function reliably right out of the box, however, I am far from being an expert.
I am curious in what the Pro’s on this forum think/recommend.
Thanks
I am curious in what the Pro’s on this forum think/recommend.
Thanks
1 - 20 of 61 Posts
A number of pistols require break in. My Hoag master grade took 4 to 400 rounds . I've never heard of 2,000 rounds
Some of it depends on the philosophy of the builder. Baers are built super tight and require some rounds to wear the parts in for the final perfect fit. At the other end of the spectrum are smiths who expect their pistols to run 100% for their customers from the very first shot.
My opinion is that if the pistol is built super tight, then the builder should have a fixture in place to cycle the pistol until the parts are worn in and ready for the customer. I don’t think the customer should have to spend a ton of money on ammo just to get the pistol functioning 100%.
My opinion is that if the pistol is built super tight, then the builder should have a fixture in place to cycle the pistol until the parts are worn in and ready for the customer. I don’t think the customer should have to spend a ton of money on ammo just to get the pistol functioning 100%.
For what they cost, they'd better work out of the box, clean and lube. JMO
Run it hard, and get it hot....(mag dumps) for at least 2,000rnds without cleaning. Keep it wet with CLP. The carbon grit will act as a lapping compound, and polish all the parts to perfect fitting perfection.
I would not have believed this had I not experienced it. Not sure about 2K rounds but 500 is the recomended number for my new Wilson CQB. I had some issues at about 100 rounds running it hard in a match. I ran it up to 500 hard, fast, and hot, but with plenty of oil. Somewhere around 400 I swear it became noticeably smoother. At 500 she seems good to go. It broke my heart to run it hard when it was that dirty but I think the tough-love worked. At this level, the guns are very tightly fitted, but owners expect that, indeed paid for that. At the production, mass-market level, the manufacturer could not afford all the returns for "defective" pistols, so they make 'em a bit looser. I happily own both.Run it hard, and get it hot....(mag dumps) for at least 2,000rnds without cleaning. Keep it wet with CLP. The carbon grit will act as a lapping compound, and polish all the parts to perfect fitting perfection.
I was mostly kidding.. but i could see that..I would not have believed this had I not experienced it. Not sure about 2K rounds but 500 is the recomended number for my new Wilson CQB. I had some issues at about 100 rounds running it hard in a match. I ran it up to 500 hard, fast, and hot, but with plenty of oil. Somewhere around 400 I swear it became noticeably smoother. At 500 she seems good to go. It broke my heart to run it hard when it was that dirty but I think the tough-love worked. At this level, the guns are very tightly fitted, but owners expect that, indeed paid for that. At the production, mass-market level, the manufacturer could not afford all the returns for "defective" pistols, so they make 'em a bit looser. I happily own both.
No, you were right on the money for the process, just what it said in the Wilson instructions I apparently didn't read. Except the 2K part! One other deviation I made is doing a field strip when it was new as the date of manufacture was seven months ago. I wanted to oil it, it was pretty dry.I was mostly kidding.. but i could see that..
500 rounds for an Colt Custom IPSC pistol including a Mastergrade. Also "tight" guns like a Baer do require break ins, but 2,000 rounds is bizarreA number of pistols require break in. My Hoag master grade took 4 to 400 rounds . I've never heard of 2,000 rounds
Mine have all worked right out of the box. I cleaned my staccato P maybe twice in 15k rounds, just add oil and pull through the barrel the rest of the time.
I've never had a WC that didn't operate perfectly from the very first round. I call BS on the instructions ... 9 times out of 10, I will immediately field strip a new pistol, clean it and oil it properly. As far as any "necessary lapping," etc., sit in front of the tv and rack the slide several hundred times, rather than spending several hundred dollars just blasting away to "break in" the gun. A really tight fit gun, like an ACW or LB 1" guarantee gun, might legitimately need a little range time to loosen it up a bit. Not the case for the average WC, EB, NHC or GI. I've never had a 1911 with problems out of the box magically fix itself by firing it more; those guns have always had to go back after wasting a ton of ammo and time satisfying the manufacturers' bs requirements to fire x number of rounds through it, first.No, you were right on the money for the process, just what it said in the Wilson instructions I apparently didn't read. Except the 2K part! One other deviation I made is doing a field strip when it was new as the date of manufacture was seven months ago. I wanted to oil it, it was pretty dry.
"Fix themselves" I really don't think you understand the concept of break in.I've never had a WC that didn't operate perfectly from the very first round. I call BS on the instructions ... 9 times out of 10, I will immediately field strip a new pistol, clean it and oil it properly. As far as any "necessary lapping," etc., sit in front of the tv and rack the slide several hundred times, rather than spending several hundred dollars just blasting away to "break in" the gun. A really tight fit gun, like an ACW or LB 1" guarantee gun, might legitimately need a little range time to loosen it up a bit. Not the case for the average WC, EB, NHC or GI. I've never had a 1911 with problems out of the box magically fix itself by firing it more; those guns have always had to go back after wasting a ton of ammo and time satisfying the manufacturers' bs requirements to fire x number of rounds through it, first.
2,000 is crazy 🤪
I can see several hundred to break in and smooth out the gun
I can see several hundred to break in and smooth out the gun
"I've never had a WC that didn't operate perfectly from the very first round. I call BS on the instructions ... 9 times out of 10, I will immediately field strip a new pistol, clean it and oil it properly. As far as any "necessary lapping," etc., sit in front of the tv and rack the slide several hundred times, rather than spending several hundred dollars just blasting away to "break in" the gun. A really tight fit gun, like an ACW or LB 1" guarantee gun, might legitimately need a little range time to loosen it up a bit. Not the case for the average WC, EB, NHC or GI. I've never had a 1911 WITH PROBLEMS out of the box magically fix itself by firing it more; those guns have always had to go back after wasting a ton of ammo and time satisfying the manufacturers' bs requirements to fire x number of rounds through it, first.""Fix themselves" I really don't think you understand the concept of break in.
I really don't think you understand the concept of reading comprehension, but you compensate for it with a superb proclivity for snippy condescension.
My Hoag ran when I got it back but Jim Hoag suggested I put 500 rounds through it and keep it wet. It's still as tight as it was when new just smoother
"I've never had a WC that didn't operate perfectly from the very first round. I call BS on the instructions ... 9 times out of 10, I will immediately field strip a new pistol, clean it and oil it properly. As far as any "necessary lapping," etc., sit in front of the tv and rack the slide several hundred times, rather than spending several hundred dollars just blasting away to "break in" the gun. A really tight fit gun, like an ACW or LB 1" guarantee gun, might legitimately need a little range time to loosen it up a bit. Not the case for the average WC, EB, NHC or GI. I've never had a 1911 WITH PROBLEMS out of the box magically fix itself by firing it more; those guns have always had to go back after wasting a ton of ammo and time satisfying the manufacturers' bs requirements to fire x number of rounds through it, first."
I really don't think you understand the concept of reading comprehension, but you compensate for it with a superb proclivity for snippy condescension.
And it was well deserved. anyone that mentions "Fix itself" and break in at the same time has absolutely no iodea of what he's talking about. Tell me when you buy a new car or truck and go through the "Break in" period, is that vehicle fixing itself?
Nope.. neither is any pistol that has a break in instructions.
Just took my new low mileage Hillsdale apart to clean and lube it, that B*tch is still tight!My Hoag ran when I got it back but Jim Hoag suggested I put 500 rounds through it and keep it wet. It's still as tight as it was when new just smoother
It was pretty much SOP for all new IPSC tuned pistols to go out with the 500 round suggestion. Especially the completely hard Chromed pistols.
But then 500 rounds was a day or practice easily!
Just bought my 1st new 1911 Ed Brown. Still haven’t gotten it to the range, but when there’s a break in commitments, that’s the 1st place it’ll go. It’s t.i.g.h.t. I field stripped it, oiled the rails, mag release, lug, bushing & ran some snap caps through a few mags for a function check since I haven’t put the 1st live round through the tube.
From what I hear, they run. I have 3 others that run & all are used, but low round count. I’m of the opinion that for the price they fetch, they should run straight out of the box - but as with any other performance piece of machinery, maintenance is key - so keep it lubed.
From what I hear, they run. I have 3 others that run & all are used, but low round count. I’m of the opinion that for the price they fetch, they should run straight out of the box - but as with any other performance piece of machinery, maintenance is key - so keep it lubed.
If a builder told me they think I should run 2,000 rnds through their gun to "break it in" or to function properly, I wouldn't buy it or I would tell them to go jump. I take all my autos apart right out of the box and polish them up and correct anything I can to make it run flawlessly. Interestingly I have only purchased a few guns in my life that needed nothing (one recently). There has only ever been one 1911 that I couldn't get to run, and it was an early Sig-I dumped it on a trade in quickly--now I still have other Sigs to this day and like them all, but you can get a gun that just won't run.
Break ins? That scares the hell out of me to hear that. Tight guns--nothing wrong with tight if they work, but myself I prefer a loose gun because they run!
To each his own.
Break ins? That scares the hell out of me to hear that. Tight guns--nothing wrong with tight if they work, but myself I prefer a loose gun because they run!
To each his own.
1 - 20 of 61 Posts
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