22BR barrel life

[jpjulian]

That's is very unfortunate,
Try a Krieger,
All mine seem to last well, longer than expected really, and I shoot overbore cartridges

Don't think I'd risk a Krieger on a chambering that erodes so quickly. I will try a SS barrel though instead of CM. I cleaned down pretty much to bare metal, throat erosion excepted, and tried several more reduced loads today. I could not anywhere near decent SD or ES numbers and bolt lift became very stiff 2+ grains below listed max with the 3 different powders and 2 different bullets tried. This barrel is just plain psychotic. It's pretty well toast after ~250 rounds. Maybe the next barrel should be 6mm and .243WSSM.......... I just happen to have an expander mandrel...... Besides, it's only $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$............

 

[mikecr]

ACCURATE barrel life is always different than COMMON barrel lives.
Given this, general barrel life questions will always draw an abstract..

 

[ELR LVR]

Don't think I'd risk a Krieger on a chambering that erodes so quickly.

instead then, you will be risking accuracy.
Accuracy vs Cost....it's a toss up
The Krieger SS seems to have good wear life.
I gauged my 6x284 recently and after 1200 rounds only have .010" throat erosion
Velocity has dropped off some since new though.
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Bartlein has their Special 400MODBB steel or something, (Lasts longer, not harder to machine)
Lothar Walther has their Special LW-50 which is even tougher Stainless steel
(Likely the toughest we will encounter and still be able to machine it)
If you are very concerned with barrel life, I might then suggest a Lothar Walther
Accuracy with an LW seems to be majority, find it very good
Most have been hunting rifles I have read about but with 3/8"-1MOA" accuracy
I keep considering a Lothar Walther myself just for barrel life but find it hard to risk possible 1 MOA after its all said and done.
I think I'd prefer to have to buy 2 Kriegers over 1 LW.
I think the guys who choose an LW are mostly those with a big weatherby magnum and only want to rebarrel it that one time for the rest of their life.
If you do, Find a smith that understands the LW steel and is willing to machine this type of steel as many who have not dealth with it, and going into it blind
Have said afterward, Will never work on a Lothar Walther again.
So don't just surprise your smith by not telling him its an LW-50 if you get one.
He will likely choose to not be your Smith anymore
Takes different speeds and feeds to cut plus I think maybe a Carbide chamber reamer.
But barrel life from what I have read is doubled,
This is something guys with Big Magnums have chosen to maxmimize barrel life
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As an aside, Kidd .22 RF barrels are Lothar Walther barrel last I read, and are some of the most accurate barrels I have ever shot in a .22,
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3 of my Kriegered 22 BR's are still shooting very well after years and years.
1 of the 4 is worn and I rechambered it recently to a different wildcat.
What I find with Kriegers is, the lands slowly wear away over time more than anything
The 1 I set back and rechambered, has .0015" land height now, but actually still shoots accurately.
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22 BR Kriegers after years and years:
1st pic is a typical standard group
of someone who doesn't even shoot much but knows the basics, shooting a 3 shot group.
2nd pic is a 17 yr old kid shooting this particular 22BR
I use this particular rifle to gauge other peoples shooting ability when training them
3rd Pic is Douglas Barrel Accuracy