Last I heard they were still making barrels
Yes.Years ago, Kevin Thomas ( Sierra Bullets) observed that fast twist 6mm barrels had a shorter life with heavy (107gr) bullets. One thought was the heavier bullet took longer to accelerate n the throat was exposed to the hot gases just a bit longer
To clarify and answer the OP’s question, I don’t think any of the loads burn up the barrel more so than others.I ran a 22 Creedmoor Across the course last year and will do so again this year. I put a documented 2480 rounds through my first proof research 7twist barrel before getting it changed. It was still hammering the last match I shot, a 781-30x, with a 197-8x at 600 (2 points off the top 600yd score). Well over half the rounds down the barrel were 90 SMK’s at 2900fps.
Half of the rounds fired were rapid fire strings 10 shots in 70 seconds or less.
Yes, I had to rework the loads after 2,000 rounds as the throat was worn (longer OAL with more powder), but it was shooting groups in the .2’s and .3’s still at that point, and I have no doubt I could have gone to 3k rounds. Most serious service rifle shooters I know are changing an AR barrel at 3k rounds, so barrel life seems pretty great in my book.
That was helpfulI ran a 22 Creedmoor Across the course last year and will do so again this year. I put a documented 2480 rounds through my first proof research 7twist barrel before getting it changed. It was still hammering the last match I shot, a 781-30x, with a 197-8x at 600 (2 points off the top 600yd score). Well over half the rounds down the barrel were 90 SMK’s at 2900fps.
Half of the rounds fired were rapid fire strings 10 shots in 70 seconds or less.
Yes, I had to rework the loads after 2,000 rounds as the throat was worn (longer OAL with more powder), but it was shooting groups in the .2’s and .3’s still at that point, and I have no doubt I could have gone to 3k rounds. Most serious service rifle shooters I know are changing an AR barrel at 3k rounds, so barrel life seems pretty great in my book.
I ran a 22 Creedmoor Across the course last year and will do so again this year. I put a documented 2480 rounds through my first proof research 7twist barrel before getting it changed. It was still hammering the last match I shot, a 781-30x, with a 197-8x at 600 (2 points off the top 600yd score). Well over half the rounds down the barrel were 90 SMK’s at 2900fps.
Half of the rounds fired were rapid fire strings 10 shots in 70 seconds or less.
Yes, I had to rework the loads after 2,000 rounds as the throat was worn (longer OAL with more powder), but it was shooting groups in the .2’s and .3’s still at that point, and I have no doubt I could have gone to 3k rounds. Most serious service rifle shooters I know are changing an AR barrel at 3k rounds, so barrel life seems pretty great in my book.
No, not really. Some cartridges do in fact have shorter bbl life but yes, there are other factors as well as anomalies that just happen. I recently swapped a bbl out that had around 7000 freakin rounds down it in a ppc variant for short range BR work. It was very competitive and the last nationals with it, I think won the 200. It finally started pulling copper like crazy but was still shooting mid teens if I kept it clean! That's just crazy in this game! I have no explanation for why a few just keep shooting and others die at a more average number. In this game, that number is roughly 1500 rounds but it can be significantly more or less when it's no longer competitive. In other games, that number may easily be double what I'd expect for top BR accuracy. So, while there are exceptions, there are also rules and the game dictates what's acceptable, which has a lot to do with when you should declare it done. But absolutely, without a doubt in my mind...you should expect way better bbl life from say a 30BR that a 264 Win Mag.Kind of shoots down the whole "we all know it's a barrel burner" internet rumor.
True. I wouldn’t expect to set long range benchrest records with 2480 on the barrel, but it would have outshot most shooters on this or any other forum in a midrange “shoot for group size”. The trigger puller was the only reason the last score was a 781.No, not really. Some cartridges do in fact have shorter bbl life but yes, there are other factors as well as anomalies that just happen. I recently swapped a bbl out that had around 7000 freakin rounds down it in a ppc variant for short range BR work. It was very competitive and the last nationals with it, I think won the 200. It finally started pulling copper like crazy but was still shooting mid teens if I kept it clean! That's just crazy in this game! I have no explanation for why a few just keep shooting and others die at a more average number. In this game, that number is roughly 1500 rounds but it can be significantly more or less when it's no longer competitive. In other games, that number may easily be double what I'd expect for top BR accuracy. So, while there are exceptions, there are also rules and the game dictates what's acceptable, which has a lot to do with when you should declare it done. But absolutely, without a doubt in my mind...you should expect way better bbl life from say a 30BR that a 264 Win Mag.
Yup let the big dog eat....I would not waste my time worrying about barrel life.
Use what ever combo works best in your rifle for accuracy and let that barrel eat.
Barrels are Threaded for a Reason!