Barrel life

[5spd]

Both my 223 varmint rigs have over 15,000 rounds through them with 55g bullets, can't see one going south in 1500 round myself.

 

[Gater]

Both my 223 varmint rigs have over 15,000 rounds through them with 55g bullets, can't see one going south in 1500 round myself.

Thanks for the replies guys makes me feel a little better. I need to check a few things but glad it's not the barrel

 

[USMCDOC]

Thanks for the replies guys makes me feel a little better. I need to check a few things but glad it's not the barrel

you mean.. "glad it's not the barrel i hope".. since you have not verified that yet right?

 

[Gater]

Thanks for your input

 

[Gater]

you mean.. "glad it's not the barrel i hope".. since you have not verified that yet right?

No haven't been back to the range it's shut down for a few days for shotgun deer hunters so I have time to check a few other things I was just surprised with the groups write it off to a bad day at the range check the ogive make sure it has no carbon build up I have some ammo left might pull a few make sure charge is consistent. But again thanks

 

[Toejoe12]

Same load but it is a different lot so yes I need to check the ogive

I believe this will be where you find the culprit. Berger bullets, as good as they are, have significant enough differences to cause load tune discrepancies from lot to lot. Also the powders you listed have known difference between lots (varget) and RL-15 can be temp sensitive on top of lot variations. I’d start with these variables first and work back from there.

 

[Gater]

I believe this will be where you find the culprit. Berger bullets, as good as they are, have significant enough differences to cause load tune discrepancies from lot to lot. Also the powders you listed have known difference between lots (varget) and RL-15 can be temp sensitive on top of lot variations. I’d start with these variables first and work back from there.

Thank you

 

[K22]

Like others, I would be extremely surprised if the barrel of a 223 Rem went bad at 1,500 rounds. My Rem 700 223 has over 3,000 rounds through it and still holds 1/2 moa. I don't shoot out of a hot barrel unless necessary i.e. a follow up shot on a ghog which is the exception rather than the rule. I also clean after every 30 to 40 rounds with quality materials. Bottom line - unless you abused the barrel I find it hard to understand how it could have worn out after so few rounds with a cartridge as benign as the 223 Rem.

Also, my experience with barrels going bad, namely 243 Win and 22 250 was that it was a gradually decline, not sudden, i.e. not great one day and terrible the next. A competent rifle smith should be able to examine the barrel and access the condition.

 

[Gater]

Just needed a little reassurance I am not the best shooter on the block by any means so when I finally decided something was off it started to bug me a bit so I thought hey shoot (no pun intended) out a question and ask fellow shooters their thoughts and am satisfied its not the barrel but was given other places to look first these are the norm so thanks again guys

 

[Gater]

Just needed a little reassurance I am not the best shooter on the block by any means so when I finally decided something was off it started to bug me a bit so I thought hey shoot (no pun intended) out a question and ask fellow shooters their thoughts and am satisfied its not the barrel but was given other places to look first these are the norm so thanks again guys

At 200 sorry didn't add it on the last post

 

[Fuj]

I don't believe 1500 rounds would cause this, unless you have shot it and got that barrel very hot. I would check the crown for some how getting damaged first, before any replacing of the barrel.

My last Wilson barrel in my RRA Varmint started going south
on me at about 1200 rounds. Took 1/2" off the end of the barrel,
and put a 11 degree crown on it. Shoots better then new.

 

[msinc]

Try again on another day before making any decisions. See if you get the same results.

And if it still don't shoot you might consider shouldering back the barrel and a rechamber. I have a couple throat eaters I have done this and both of mine went right back to shooting again. I have done this successfully with several other barrels too. One little throat eating 204 has been set back three times. 5R rifling should outlast a throat, especially in a 223. There don't seem to be a lot of new barrels out there to be had right now...I need two myself {not for the guns mentioned above...}

 

[Dgd6mm]

Check out post #29.

 

[SPQR70AD]

My last Wilson barrel in my RRA Varmint started going south
on me at about 1200 rounds. Took 1/2" off the end of the barrel,
and put a 11 degree crown on it. Shoots better then new.

do not understand how that would make it shoot better unless the rifling was gouged and the crown beaten with a hammer. I dont think you did that.
I would think if a guy thinks his barrel is shot out is to have a smith set it back some by cutting a new chamber and getting rid of the burnt throat.

 

[PBMAX]

Went to the range yesterday had the worst day in a long time. Usually the gun I was using shoots holes in holes not yesterday I have a .223 savage with a Bartlein heavy target 1-7.7 twist shooting 80.5 Bergers at 200 can shoot holes in dimes but the barrel has about 1500 rounds through it was going to order another. Anyone have an estimate on how many rounds should expect to get
Thanks for the help guys

I'll take that worn out one!

 

[SPQR70AD]

And if it still don't shoot you might consider shouldering back the barrel and a rechamber. I have a couple throat eaters I have done this and both of mine went right back to shooting again. I have done this successfully with several other barrels too. One little throat eating 204 has been set back three times. 5R rifling should outlast a throat, especially in a 223. There don't seem to be a lot of new barrels out there to be had right now...I need two myself {not for the guns mentioned above...}

sorry I did not see your post when I made mine

 

[msinc]

do not understand how that would make it shoot better unless the rifling was gouged and the crown beaten with a hammer. I dont think you did that.
I would think if a guy thinks his barrel is shot out is to have a smith set it back some by cutting a new chamber and getting rid of the burnt throat.

Yes sir, I totally agree....there sure has been a lot of bad information on some of these threads lately.

 

[MGYSGT]

If you have enough barrel cut off the chamber and rechamber

 

[Gater]

Ok I want to think all of the people that replied your suggestions help a lot. I am going to check a few things that I should have done before I asked. One more question I am going to order a another barrel just because I have the funds available and can wait to get what I want. So here goes with suggestions I normally shoot Berger 80.5 gr through a 1-7.7 want to get a 1-6 or 1-6.5 how much better do y'all think it will be for stability don't shoot less than .69? Let me know opinions as I have time to wait for what will work best for what I shoot target off the bench between 2-600

 

[msinc]

Ok I want to think all of the people that replied your suggestions help a lot. I am going to check a few things that I should have done before I asked. One more question I am going to order a another barrel just because I have the funds available and can wait to get what I want. So here goes with suggestions I normally shoot Berger 80.5 gr through a 1-7.7 want to get a 1-6 or 1-6.5 how much better do y'all think it will be for stability don't shoot less than .69? Let me know opinions as I have time to wait for what will work best for what I shoot target off the bench between 2-600

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