barrel life

[holstil]

Is there an expected barrel life for 17hmr, accuracy wise? I figured at 2550 out the tube it may rate with the center fires at that speed. My Marlin is a pinned barrel so re barreling is out,I guess). But at the cost of the gun I guess its not that big a deal for a new gun considering its $500 for the works on a new tube for my center fire.

 

[jb77]

Holstil, good question.

I haven't read about any "torture tests" done on a .17 HMR. I have heard that the 17 Rem. Fireball is considered fairly mild on barrels and they are running somewhat faster than 2550 fps.

But that is kind of an apples to oranges comparison.

Anyone have anything to add?

 

[Zermoid]

Not on Barrel life, but any barrel "can" be changed, it's just a matter of how much work is involved. Pinned should be doable, worst thing I ever saw was a SKS with a pressed in barrel in a threaded receiver. It was pinned on top of it. that was definitely a get a new gun time. Also SKS's were around $80 wholesale at the time.
Find a good local gunsmith and ask how much it would cost, might be cheaper to buy a new rifle if you can't do it yourself, but anything that is put together CAN be taken apart with the right tools and knowledge so never rule out replacement.
BTW, I don't have one but isn't 17HMR a rimfire round? I can't believe any rimfire could ruin a barrel in anywhere near short time span, there's only so much pressure a rimfire case can hold, and it usually is on the low side, most of a 17's velocity is due to it weighing next to nothing, not extreme pressures, also there is the cooling time between shots to consider, and you aren't talking machine gun here.
From what I've heard lack of proper cleaning has more to do with 17's accuracy going south than anything else, and trying to clean a barrel smaller than 22 cal has to be fun and a real test of how strong a cleaning rod can be made.
I would guess there's more barrel wear trying to push a thin and springy rod down that barrel than there is firing it. JMO.