barrel life

[B]

Does anybody know the barrel life of a typical shilen select match grade stainless steel barrel?

 

[people]

.

 

[Eddie Harren]

How hot are you going to get it? How often are you going to clean it?

 

[fdshuster]

Way too many variables involved to answer an open-ended question like that: ex: a "little" .223 or a 6.5x284?, 5000 vs. 1000).

 

[FBecigneul]

Don't know why you picked Shilen for this conversation. It matters not whose stainless steel match grade barrel you use. They are all pretty much the same in the barrel life arena. Shilen, Rock Creek, Bartlein, Brux are cut rifled. They are then lapped and so are smooth and slick. What matters and makes a big difference is caliber and load. The smaller caliber, hotter loads tend to cut into barrel life dramatically. Shooting a .22 with hot loads can mean only 1000- 1200 rounds in competition. A 6PPC again with hot loads can have a winning life of about 1500-1800 rounds. Shooting a .30BR can give you a barrel life expectation of in excess of 3000 rounds and you'll still be winning matches, just not as often as when it had 2000 rounds through it.

MODERATOR: Shilen Barrels are button-rifled. Bartlein, Krieger, Brux are cut-rifled. Rock Creek offers both cut-rifled and buttoned barrels.

 

[B]

.270WSM, the loads are not hot and I clean the barrel frequently.

Thanks for the info,
B

 

[GerryM]

powder selection will determine barrel life also.
Slow burning powders have a tendency to burn the barrel out sooner. powders like 4350 and 4831 can do a number on a good barrel a lot sooner. Burn temperature and duration is the key.
choose your powder wisely. I hope this helps

 

[Eddie Harren]

B, I'm glad that your loads are not hot. I was referring to how hot you were going to let the barrel get before you took a break. In my opinion, heat causes more barrel damage than any other factor. It doesn't take long to heat a barrel up, when shooting the magnum cartridges.

Francis, when did Shilen start cutting barrels? I thought they were buttoned.

 

[FBecigneul]

Sorry, Doc, you're right. Shilen are button pulled