What say you OB rifle gurus? Tx4guns built me a sweet 223 Wylde upper. Suppressor just arrived this week. Going to break her in in the next few weeks. Advice on breaking in the barrel, and should I do initial break in and cleanings without the suppressor?

Also, for sighting in, how much will a suppressor generally affect POI, say at 50 and 100 yards w .223/5.56? If I break in and sight in without the suppressor, how much fine-tuning will be needed on the sights when I add the suppressor? Interweb just shows guys slipping their cans on and off with an immediate return to shooting. I can't imagine a suppressor won't affect POI somewhat but I'm a newb to .223 suppressors. I have a .22 LR sparrow and it affects POI at 40-50 yards.

Thanks fellas!

I honestly can't recommend a break in procedure since I don't do one with new barrels.

However, you should always fire several rounds of each ammo type before you put the suppressor on. You need to make sure your ammo isn't key holing. If it is key holing then it could possibly damage your suppressor's internals or end cap.

Enjoy your new firearms.

Break in really doesnt matter, because all you are really doing with break in in a barrel is smoothing out the machine marksnin the bore and filling in valleys with copper. Whether you have a suppressor on or notbis largely irrelevant.

Sighting in is a different story. How much POI change will depend in the barrel profile and weight, the suppressor weight and what type of ammo you are using. POI change can range from surprisingly small to several inches on both axis.

My experience with my YHM 30 cal can is less than one MOA out to 150 yards on my Rainier 10.5" .223 Wylde barrel.

But beyond that, at a 3gun match, I noticed I hit darned little. I. Done know how much could be a POI issue, shifting POI due to extreme heat, or low muzzle velocity due to short barrel length.

Barrel wear and proper treatment of a new barrel is pretty subjective. Most AR barrels are not built to the level of accuracy were it really makes a lot of difference.

But, you can help it by firing a few rounds (4-5) and cleaning, then firing another string and cleaning again. I do this four to five times using patches only. Not sure if it makes any difference, but it can't hurt.

Other than a chamber brush, you don't need to use a brush in the bore, patches only will get it done.

Now cleaning the inside of the upper receiver and the BCG is a different story. There are lots of high friction surfaces in there and lots of grit and dirt is created during the first few hundred rounds as the surface finishes wear off and blend together. Keep the internals very wet with oil and clean the BCG and inside of the upper very well for the first few trips to the range.

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Also, for sighting in, how much will a suppressor generally affect POI, say at 50 and 100 yards w .223/5.56? If I break in and sight in without the suppressor, how much fine-tuning will be needed on the sights when I add the suppressor?

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My experience is this is completely dependent on your suppressor. I have two YHM 30 cal cans. One creates very little change in POI and the other takes the bullet about an inch left at 100. Have seen the same effect with friends' suppressors. Sometimes there is little to no change and sometimes the change can be very significant. I have no idea why this is. If you intend to do the majority of your shooting with the can on, I would suggest sighting in with the can on and then note what, if any, change there is with the can off.

The change in PO is because the can puts a camber in the barrel, even if ever so slight, and - more importantly - it changes the harmonics of the barrel significantly versus unsuppressed.

Sight in both ways, keep notes in a card in your bag or on the gun and make your adjustments depending on how you are shooting.