Barrel life question??

[1911crazy]

How long does a barrel last?(how many rounds?) I read that a 300 win. mag barrel lasts 1,000 rds? Is this true? I haven't shot out a barrel yet but i'm wondering how long does a barrel last? I also read that when they broach a barrel if the broach is in good condition we get an accurate gun right away if not it takes around 100rds or more to wear the burr left in the bore by the worn broach. More expensive barrels have better quality bores costing up to $400. Is there any tricks to a long barrel life? (ok funny guys don't shoot the gun right?) Is there anyone who has special barrels either a high nickel or chrome moly additive in the steels?? A higher nickel content in the steel will produce a harder surface when exposed to friction(glaze) like the clyinder walls in your motor in your car. A chrome barrel in the sks's is said to last 10,000rds. I'm just looking for your thoughts and input is ita problem or not?? Can it be made better sure it can with todays technology.                       BigBill

I'm just getting back into shooting and plan on shooting more often??

[KN]

I don't believe you will shoot out a barrel after 1000 rounds from a 300 WM, 4-5 thousand maybe. I have been told that an average life of a 22/250 is about 5-7 thousand. A 223 much longer. As far as barrel material is concerned, a harder barrel will not nessessarily give you more wear resistence. Using your automotive cylinder as an example, they are made of cast iron, not steel. They are not very hard at all but very wear resistent. If there were better materials for gun barrels than they are using today you can bet some one would be using it. As far as a barrel shooting better after 100 or so rounds, If a bore is a little rough it probably will, If its too rough it probably wont without lapping or pollishing. Just my $.02  KN

[1911crazy]

I don't believe you will shoot out a barrel after 1000 rounds from a 300 WM, 4-5 thousand maybe. I have been told that an average life of a 22/250 is about 5-7 thousand. A 223 much longer. As far as barrel material is concerned, a harder barrel will not nessessarily give you more wear resistence. Using your automotive cylinder as an example, they are made of cast iron, not steel. They are not very hard at all but very wear resistent. If there were better materials for gun barrels than they are using today you can bet some one would be using it. As far as a barrel shooting better after 100 or so rounds, If a bore is a little rough it probably will, If its too rough it probably wont without lapping or pollishing. Just my $.02  KN

I also read the better more expensive replacement barrels are plugged lapped so we actually get a better quality barrel with no tight spots and burrs in the rifling.  I guess the magnum calibers won't last as long as the lesser powerful riles I guess its a trade off for having more power.  Its an interesting subject and not too much information about barrel life. Whats the best replacement barrel? the highest quality?          BigBill

[Big Tom]

I remember as a kid reading in outdoor magazines that high powered calibers like the .220 Swift and .264 Win mag would burn out a barrel in 5,000 shots or so. Good question. :wink:

[Zachary]

I bet you $100 that I could burn out that barrel with less than 100 shots.  Want to know how?  Just shoot the gun consecutively to the point where the heat generated inside the barrel is so high that it is on the verge of melting. (Of course I'm exaggerating a bit, but you get the point.  :wink: )

Seriously, one point that has not yet been made is that it all depends on the shooting that is done.  If the barrel is allowed to cool down, then it would be thousands of rounds before it would be shot out.  Under normal shooting, I doubt that it would be only 1,000 rounds.

I know many people, including myself, that MIGHT put 5 bullets through their rifle ONCE A YEAR. (One three shot group to make sure the gun is zeroed, and two extra shots - meaning two deer killed - so thus 5 shots. :wink: ) Do you know how many years it would take to shoot just 1,000 rounds? :?

Zachary

[taxmiser]

I personally have worn out a 264 Win Mag barrel in less than 1000 rounds.  Of course I was trying to achieve the hottest usable loads that would deliver good 3 shot groups.  I was younger then and thought that an extra 50 to 100 fps meant the whole world!  I know better now and don't even own a magnum.  A  barrel can be shot out but it would take several lifetimes just hunting! :wink:

[jhm]

I would be willing to bet that 99.9 % of the guns out there recieve more damage to the barrels from neglect and misuse during the anual cleaning process than any of the shooting they recieve.  The average Hunter that buys a quality rifle today and takes good care of it can usually expect it to last several lifetimes.   JIM

[taxmiser]

Interesting how people can learn such different things by reading.  My studies have informed me that stainless isn't more resistant to erosion.  The lone benefit seems to be they require less maintance.  More costly and difficult  to machine, therefore more expensive to the consumer.

[Jose Grande]

Guys I got bad news. In a M-1 30-06 barrel wear starts hurting accuracy at about 8000 rds. By 10 you'll have to replace the barrel.In NRA Highpower comp. you'll shoot 1 match min. a mo., down here you can shoot 3 a mo. plus pratice.In 5 yrs. you'll need a barrel. Hart & Douglas make great barrels. Douglas makes a   XX SUPREME barrel that is straight when finished. Why is that important? Because most are bent & have to be hammered straight. When they get hot they bend back to where they were; causeing shots to string. This is true of all barrels.  A .264 mag will degrade acc. in as little as 800 shots.Big Bill, a .300 mag will wear a barrel early;it can start in 1000 rds. The problem is OVERBORE;the relationship of case cap. to bore size. You have a big case some holding over 100gr. of powder burning real hot out of a tiny hole in the case.It is somewhat like a cutting torch. There is a guy a few miles from here that replaced a 30-378 WBY. BARREL  after 600 rds. He must be a bear for punishment. I have a Columbian 98 mauser in 30-06 I am about to rebarrel because it is shot out. The 30-06 last so long brcause it is a more balanced round. I know .223s are supposedto be good for thousands of rds. but I can't remember avg. barrel life right now. For hunting purposes, you need to practise shooting at least 1-200 rds. before season opens but a rifle in 30-06 will last a lifetime at 100 rds a year.A decent barrel installed can be had for a couple hundred if it is a common rifle. A match barrel like the XX  will cost over200 for the barrel in a box.