6BR barrel life

[tjj]

I'm thinking about a new build in 6BR. Leaning toward a short to midrange fun gun for paper and varmint shooting. What kind of barrel life should I expect from a new Hart barrel.

 

[Preacher]

A lot will depend on how fast you run it, and on how hot you let it get while shooting it. One of mine has close to 1800 rounds through it and still shoots very good. One of the others has a little over a 1000 and it's showing it's age.
Both Pac-Nor 8 twists, one runs over 3000 fps, the other barely 2900 fps....

 

[tjj]

Thanks for the response.

I'm hoping for 3000+ min,if that's possible). I'm planning to shoot paper mostly and then only out to 300yds primarily. If I get the chance for some varmint shooting I may stretch that a bit. Therefore I'm thinking light to moderate loads with regular cleaning to maximize barrel life.
No plans for competition shooting so no need to hurry a string of shots.

 

[eddyverhoeven]

A lot will depend on how fast you run it, and on how hot you let it get while shooting it. One of mine has close to 1800 rounds through it and still shoots very good. One of the others has a little over a 1000 and it's showing it's age.
Both Pac-Nor 8 twists, one runs over 3000 fps, the other barely 2900 fps....

Hi Preacher,

As you know I am a prone match shooter and our matches are typically 60 shots in 1h. 15'. Sighters including we are taking between 65 and 75 shots in that time period. I understand that this taxes the barrels. What barrel life could one reasonably expect in this case?

Ed

 

[HPMike800]

Some very good prone shooters I know are changing out barrels at around 4,000 rds. The barrels are mostly used at 300 to 600yds with 105-108gr bullets at 2800fps +-. They are good enough to see the beginning of a barrels drop in performance.

Hence I believe the 6BR's barrel life is good.

Mike

 

[Preacher]

Hi Eddy,
Hows that Light annealer working out for you ?
I don't shoot near as many at a time as you do, so I have no close idea as to the longevity of your barrels, but we both know that heat will tear em up quicker than most anything else will....

 

[eddyverhoeven]

Hi P.

Thanks again for your help, it works great. In the beginning I overdid a batch by using too much heat. So i ended up with some brass which was too soft in the neck/shoulder area. This produced some sticky extraction which is a real pain when shooting prone. But I guess this is learner's money

How are things over there?

Keep your powder dry and your second amendment safe.

Eddy

 

[GermanS1]

Eddy, I'm a 300 meter shooter also, I have one barrel right now with 3200 rounds with which I shot a 595 and a 594 in its last two prone matches. We shoot on the Black Canyon range in Phoenix where the 1970 World Championships were held; if you remember the scores from that event, you'll know it can be a difficult range. I have two other barrels now with about 600 and about 1900 rounds on them and I can't say there's a real difference to be seen in the three.

I've typically replaced barrels in the 3500 round range, but that's mostly because at that point I've opted for the confidence of a new barrel over trying to get the last drop from the old one. I think 4000 is a reasonable estimate of accurate life in our application. My loads are essentially duplicates of the Lapua factory moly loads, I do not try to increase velocity past that level.
German Salazar

 

[Rustystud]

My customers ar getting 3500-4000 rounds out of a 6mmBR and about 3000 rounds out of as 6BRX and Dasher.
Rustystud