Barrel Life????

[deadon]

Hey Guys,new here and relatively new to shooting for fun. I have hunted for 47 years but just in the last 5 or 6 yrs have gotten hooked on shooting to just be shooting. I have gone through a bunch of rifles but am back to my 243. This pre 64 mod 70 is a nailer. My load is 40.5 gr of 4350 under a 95 gr nos bal tip with CCIbr primers. My question is how many rounds can I shoot thru this rifle before I shoot it out and How will I know its gone?

 

[fdshuster]

deadon: The answer will depend on what degree of accuracy and cleaning time you find acceptable. I had to replace a Douglas chrome moly at 1400 rounds, and a Shilen stainless at 1470 (both documented). The Shilen maintained consistantly under moa 'til around 800/850 rds. when I started to notice an occassional unexplained flyer. About this time copper fouling became more of a problem. By 1200 rounds accuracy fell to "deer hunting" class and copper removal was taking a lot of time, even when using "Sweets". So, to answer your question, I'd have to say "around 1400 rounds".

 

[jimbo88mm]

I usually take my time between shots to keep the barrel from getting too warm. Would this practice extend the life if the barrel beyond the 1000-1400 round count I usually see listed for .243s?

 

[fdshuster]

deadon: Except for the CMP & NRA Hi Power matches, that require/include rapid fire stages, all my firing is "slow", single shot. One of my standard 243 load combinations was 37 grains of IMR 3031 powder with the ever accurate Sierra 75 gr. #1510 GameKing bullet, a moderate load if there ever was one. Using long, heavyweight bullets with a slower burn powder, and I would expect even less sub moa accuracy life. Incidently, forgot to mention, did not have my Hawkeye borescope when the Douglas barrel was "active", but did have it mid way thru the remaining life of the Shilen barrel, so was able to closely monitor the burn out destruction of the throat area. At 1400 rounds it was really looking ugly, with chunks of steel ripped out of the throat, that would fill up with copper and other fouling. By then there were more flyers than good shots showing up on the target. Always nice though when you re-barrel an existing rifle: it's like getting a whole new rifle, but one you are familiar with, like an old friend.

 

[deadon]

Thank you for all the info This rifle is a stock,win mod 70 with a stock barrel. I too shoot one shot at a time giving the barrel plenty of time to cool. Once in a great while I will shoot a three shot string but I have never gotten this barrel hot. All of you seem to be talking about custom barrels. Can I expect to get the same life out of my stock, blued, pre 64 barrel? Thanks again!!

 

[fdshuster]

Burned out a Remington factory, varmint contour 22-250 chrome moly barrel at a documented 2350 rds., replaced with a Hart stainless, and it also was "toast" at 2400 rds., same reloads, 38 grs. H380, with 50 & 53 gr. bullets, all single shot.

 

[mbianchini]

Will depend on many different variables. Barrel steel, heat not letting barrel cool properly, powder and cleaning methods to name a few. The only true way to tell if barrel is shot out is a borescope. The first part of the barrel to go is the throat area. A re-chamber job will do when throat area is gone. Generally when the throat area of my barrels is shot out I take barrel off and use for varmint hunting or fireforming brass.
I shoot many 243 Ackley Imp’s and had throats of barrels shot out at 500 rounds. I had a Lilja 3 groove last me 1550 rounds shooting the 105gr bullets around 3300fps. With very minor heat cracking in throat area. That is on the very high end in my option. Generally speaking I only expect 1000 rounds out of my 243 AI's Barrels.
Since the 243 Win burns less powder than the 243 AI one would expect longer barrel life. Over the years I learned that powder burn rate has lots to do with barrel life.
That’s my thoughts
Matt