.20 caliber barrel life?

[BoydAllen]

Have any of you been shooting a .20 long enough to wear out a barrel? If so, what caliber,and how many rounds did it take? I have had a couple of reports of factory .204s shooting well for a couple of trips, and then not being able to hit a squirrel.

 

[Fireball]

I have over 1,200 documented rounds through my 20PPC and it still shoots into one hole. Bore scope shows typical slight aligator cracking but the throat and neck/throat juncture still look good. My 20BR with less rounds, around 600, looks a little worse but still shoots good. It also has the slight aligator cracking, but the throat also shows some cracking at the neck/throat juncture. The throat itself still looks good.

The PPC has slightly more case capacity than the 204 Ruger. How many rounds did the fellows shooting the 204s shoot? And just as importantly did they get their barrels too hot?

 

[hairtrigger]

I put the scope through my Sako 75 Varmint .204 after 1200 rounds. Very light heat checking just ahead of the throat. All else looked suprisingly good. I do not hot rod it and try to let the barrel cool. I was reallly hoping it would look worse so I would have a good excuse to get a new barrel and tighter chamber. I'm going to shoot it now for another year.

 

[wildcatter1450]

Have any of you been shooting a .20 long enough to wear out a barrel? If so, what caliber,and how many rounds did it take? I have had a couple of reports of factory .204s shooting well for a couple of trips, and then not being able to hit a squirrel.

I have not heard this, and in fact most I talk to, found they shot better after 500-800 rounds. Mine has 2000 rounds thru it and is still in great shape. Total loss of throat, measures .011 since new, with .008 of that in the first 800 rounds.

I am pushing a 39 grain BlitzKing at 3900 fps, and the rifle sees about 250 rounds fired each trip out for pdogs.

Mike

 

[BoydAllen]

Thanks guys!

 

[DogBuster]

Two summers......12 twist Pac Nor SS SM 204...approx 2500 rds...using 29.5/BLC...gone...barrel is now a 20 VT...have another 204 Pac Nor...same specs as first.