There has been alot of discussion lately related to cartridge design and resulting barrel life. This is a really important factor to consider amongst a myriad of choices. Barrel life is controversial, and subjective. There is no clear cut standards for comparison.
But a few years ago, I put together a spreadsheet based on Bart Bobbits rule of thumb. It worked pretty good, only occasionally failing some tests when validated against posted barrel lives.
According to Ken Howell, I had to account for pressure. And Henry Child's Powder temperature testing provided another piece needed. So, I've tweaked it here and there to pass more tests. From 223rem to 300UM. Another element added, but turned off is shot interval. I would need way more tests to lock in on this. But everyone knows, the faster you shoot, the worse the barrel life.
I do personally time my shots with a Sinclair countdown timer. At the 5th 30sec shot, I measure barrel temp with the back of my hand. I adjust my shot interval from there until it feels the same from then on. Pretty weak standard I suppose, but thats what I have always done. I punch 40sec into the timer for my 6br. With that I sleep at night.
Anyway, another factor hard to define is "accurate" barrel life. This cannot be quantified without standards. Barrels are replaced when expectations are no longer met. I feel that a system, without adjustment, passes peak potential in a finite period due to throat erosion. But that don't mean it's toast, if it still shoots well enough. It's just as likely that many of us never see that peak potential anyway. It's a slippery thing.
Poink blank BR competitors will toss a barrel when it leaves the 1s. I could get another 4000rnds from it, and be content with it's performance, I'm sure.
Accuracy, the point of it's loss, I chose based on posted barrel life from competitors. They seem to have a handle on this, more than anyone by virtue of frequency and high expectations. So this spreadsheet may show a lower barrel life than you prefer. But it pretty well brings to light, cartridges to stay away from if you plan much time at the range or in dog town.
Try it. Any feedback would be useful.
But a few years ago, I put together a spreadsheet based on Bart Bobbits rule of thumb. It worked pretty good, only occasionally failing some tests when validated against posted barrel lives.
According to Ken Howell, I had to account for pressure. And Henry Child's Powder temperature testing provided another piece needed. So, I've tweaked it here and there to pass more tests. From 223rem to 300UM. Another element added, but turned off is shot interval. I would need way more tests to lock in on this. But everyone knows, the faster you shoot, the worse the barrel life.
I do personally time my shots with a Sinclair countdown timer. At the 5th 30sec shot, I measure barrel temp with the back of my hand. I adjust my shot interval from there until it feels the same from then on. Pretty weak standard I suppose, but thats what I have always done. I punch 40sec into the timer for my 6br. With that I sleep at night.
Anyway, another factor hard to define is "accurate" barrel life. This cannot be quantified without standards. Barrels are replaced when expectations are no longer met. I feel that a system, without adjustment, passes peak potential in a finite period due to throat erosion. But that don't mean it's toast, if it still shoots well enough. It's just as likely that many of us never see that peak potential anyway. It's a slippery thing.
Poink blank BR competitors will toss a barrel when it leaves the 1s. I could get another 4000rnds from it, and be content with it's performance, I'm sure.
Accuracy, the point of it's loss, I chose based on posted barrel life from competitors. They seem to have a handle on this, more than anyone by virtue of frequency and high expectations. So this spreadsheet may show a lower barrel life than you prefer. But it pretty well brings to light, cartridges to stay away from if you plan much time at the range or in dog town.
Try it. Any feedback would be useful.
