barrel life big 6's

[joemax]

I read somewhere, probably this site, that for any given cartridge it is rapidly shooting consecutive shots after the first shot that contributes most to short barrel life. After the first shot the steel will be softer and prone to faster erosion. If the rifle is to be used as a hunting rifle and care is taken not to shoot the barrel when hot by waiting several minutes between shots, who knows what kind of barrel life may be possible in a 6-284. Not as long as a 30 BR treated in the same manner for sure. However, I would wager much more than 800 rounds with at least .75 moa accuracy at 100 yards. To my way of thinking most "overbore" cartridges are only useful for extending your maximum point blank range when hunting predators and big game. There are exceptions suppose. Anyway there you go for what it's worth.

 

[mattri]

One thing I can't figure out is how you get two stories re barrel life.

For example, look at the .243 vs 6mm Rem debate. Some say that the .243 uses less powder, a "cooler" load, shooting the same bullet and therefore is easier on barrels than a 6mm Rem shooting "hotter" loads. Others say that the longer neck of the 6mm Rem allows less hot gas/powder into the barrel thus making the 6mm rem easier on barrels than the .243.

There are other exampes, this is just the first that springs to mind.

I'm sure everyone who posts here is well intended and is giving what they believe to be accurate information, this just seems to be a subject that you get really conflicting information on.

 

[bozo699]

Mattri,
I really couldn't agree with you more, if it is not as you just described then it's one guy claiming he only got 900 round out of his .243, the next guy 2600? Whats up with the large discrepancies? I had a .243 that I would have to look at my records that definitely had over 2000 rounds through it, however the last 500 or so there was a fine line between being to dirty and having enough foul shots through it to settle it down, and I had to seat the bullets out much further. Bottom line the way I see it, this isn't a cheap hobby, I mean even 22 shells are $20.00 and up a brick, my .338-.378 WBY mag is over $130 per box, I think the empty hull's are over $60.00 per 20, so a barrel job is say $500,....BIG DEAL, divide that by the year or two that it takes to shoot it out, it's pennies per day, way less then the components you ran through it, and way way way wayyyy less then the gasoline, motel rooms, entry fees, ect,ect,ect just getting to the range! So I just don't see the big deal of barrel life, I mean if your going through three or four barrels per year and shooting crappy groups well thats one thing, but if your getting a season or two out of a barrel and it's winning for you or at least satisfying your shooting needs then who cares? I guess everybody but me, maybe thats why I show up to the matches in a old chevy pickup and a tent instead of a $150000 motor home like a lot of them do, I am spending to much on barrels anyway thats mt $.02 on barrel life. Slow up on your fouler shots boys, your eroding your barrels away.
Wayne.

 

[frankgreen]

Any time you increase case capacity or reduce bore size (which in turn does the same thing) you will reduce barrel life.

Also shooting certain powders will have a negative effect as well. The double based powders are a prime example. They are harder on barrels. How you clean, how you shoot etc....will have an effect as well.

The biggest variable and it's been hit on is what do you expect accuracy wise out of the barrel. If you've got 2000 rounds on it and is still shooting 3/4moa and your o.k. with that than keep shooting it. If your requirement is 1/3moa than it's time to change the barrel out.

There are a lot of variables that have cause and effects. Not to mention the lot of steel the barrel is made out of, button rifled vs. cut rifled and the list can go on.

What one guy experienced vs. another guy doesn't mean one guys case is the gospel word.

But like I said earlier. Anytime you increase case capacity and or reduce bore size you will shorten barrel life. It's a given. You just have to ask yourself what are your needs/expectations?

Later, Frank
Bartlein Barrels

 

[Minesweeper3433]

barrel's may be a consumable thing to the match shooters out there but I have enjoyed the heck out of this sport through purchasind those "bad" barrels for amazing prices and shooting them till they cant hit a 4 inch paster at 200 yards.

I would like to formaly thank all those bench shooters that have such high standards as to allow me to shoot name brand barrels at factory prices.

 

[CJ6]

Bozo699 mentioned in his post #6 about BR usage (10 shots record ,sighters etc.) is spot on. If you want a big 6 to last you need to control your rate of fire (keep the throat/barrel cool). Compitition or clearing a dog town in 1 afternoon is the quickest way to kill a barrel. Using slow powders (H 870, VV 170, H 1000 etc.)with long barrels will also help. If you have it setup for coyote or longrange deer etc. where your making 1 or 2 shots the round count stays low as does the barrel/throat temps. Keep on top of any Carbon or Copper and enjoy. BTW I LOVE my 6-284s