Barrel Life

[Moose420]

how long can i expect my 22-250 to shoot accurately with muzzle velocities of 3800 fps and less? I've heard slower burning poweders and bullets with a smaller contact to rifling area greatly extend barrel life. how many rounds can i expect out of my gun if proper cooling and cleaning is used? kinda new to this appreciate your help/advise.

 

[Toby Bradshaw]

The attached barrel life calculator was posted here some time ago. Sorry I can't remember who to attribute it to.

You can hover over the "powder heat potential" cell to find the correct value for the powder you're thinking of using.

Toby Bradshaw
baywingdb@comcast.net

 

[EAtts]

I had over 5000 rounds through a chrome moly Remington 40 X barrel before I had to replace it. I shot 38 grains of H 380 and used it for PA woodchucks. At the time of replacement it was shooting 5/8th inch groups.

This gun was never heated up hot for woodchucks don't offer that much shooting close together. I firmly believe how hot you get a barrel has the biggest effect on accuracy life. A 22-250 used in an active prairie dog town would probably have a shorter life than the same barrel used for eastern woodchucks.

 

[Preacher]

It's the hot plasma gas that ruins the barrel, and some powders burn hotter than others, so barrel life has a lot to do with the powder used and how often it's used... and how fast you use it.....
If a slim barrel is to hot to hold, you have already put a hurt on it, if it's a heavy barrel you let get that hot you've done more than just hurt it a little.....

 

[chino1969]

how long can i expect my 22-250 to shoot accurately with muzzle velocities of 3800 fps and less? I've heard slower burning poweders and bullets with a smaller contact to rifling area greatly extend barrel life. how many rounds can i expect out of my gun if proper cooling and cleaning is used? kinda new to this appreciate your help/advise.

Based on my experience as well as several .22-250 AI custom barrels, 2000+ rds. will put you in the ball park. The trick is to not overheat your barrel. Even after 2000 rds., most barrels are still plenty accurate to shoot one woodchuck minute of angle.

Chino69

 

[AckleymanII]

A MAJOR factor that will determine just how long your barrel will shoot accurately is how long the throat was cut when it was new, how much freebore you had when it was new). A bullet will only jump so far before it gets started crooked. Some calibers are more sensitive to this than others.

Also, what do you consider accurate? Some folks think that 1 1/2" is very accurate, while others want 3/8".

Good luck!