Barrel life

[VA_XTC_Shooter]

I’m currently at 3K on my barrel. Everything is still shooting well. 30 or 29.2 gr Varget behind 70-105 bullet.
Do 6BR barrels just dump one day or should I see signs of it going south? I’m shooting Highpower xtc and mid range with it, not Bench rest.
This barrel has been a hammer for me, so I’m hoping to keep it on as long as I can. I will set it back once I pull it.

 

[garandman]

Following.

 

[std7mag]

With the delays going on, i'd order your barrel now, before it goes south.

 

[Walt Krafft]

I have seen barrels die both a slow painfull death and a quick crash and burn. I have never been happy with a barrel I have set back. Didn't make a difference if I set it back before death or after it was a zombie. YMMV

 

[Doug Beach]

At 3k, you’re likely near the end. If your results begin to suffer, do not question yourself, just change the barrel.

 

[INTJ]

Since I have my own lathe my barrels doesn't seem to last as long. Irrespective of that, my concern with a competition barrel is not it slowly shooting worse, but as it they get near the end of their life they can start throwing random flyers that they didn't earlier in their life.

Even in the shooting disciplines with the least demanding accuracy requirements, random fliers are bad.

I currently have a 6BRA barrel with 1000 rounds through it. These barrels usually maintain LR BR accuracy through 1200-1300 rounds. It started opening up a little and I lost confidence in it so I grabbed another barrel I had chambered and ready to go.

I am pretty sure the issue is the throat has eroded too much for the bullet I am using. Meaning at the seating depth it requires I don't have enough bullet in the case to generate enough neck tension to ensure consistent ignition. I might be able to fix that by jamming the bullet into the lands, or maybe use another bullet.

Or I could rechamber this barrel. Normally that isn't recommended, but since I have my own lathe, there is plenty of shank, and it only has 1000 rounds on it, perhaps a new chamber could get me another 600-700 rounds on it, meaning it would be worth it.

 

[VA_XTC_Shooter]

This is my first 6BR, so I don’t have a good reference. For some reason in my head I was expecting 4K rounds from a 6br barrel, guess not?

I did notice after 1500 rds barely any throat movement, 0.002”, but now at 3K I have about 0.015” erosion. Funny thing is I tested loads a week or so ago and the original preferred seating depth was king. Barrels and load recipes can be an off thing.

 

[INTJ]

This is my first 6BR, so I don’t have a good reference. For some reason in my head I was expecting 4K rounds from a 6br barrel, guess not?

I did notice after 1500 rds barely any throat movement, 0.002”, but now at 3K I have about 0.015” erosion. Funny thing is I tested loads a week or so ago and the original preferred seating depth was king. Barrels and load recipes can be an off thing.

I think that generally, chasing the lands works. However it isn't always the case. .015" erosion after 3000 rounds is excellent. In LR BR we are hard on our barrels and they get shot hot. Other disciplines might have better life.

 

[gme]

it might go 4K (know of a good shooter who's barrel went 5K), but it's probably in it's "golden years", rapids are hard on barrels, I look for a sharp decline in x count or off call shots (at 600) to tell me it's time.

 

[Skeptic123]

I lost .040 in my 6br after 1900 rounds. But you are definitely not pushing the velocity in this barrel. You will probably see the barrel copper foul and carbon up much more frequently as it is getting to the end. Someone has done a study/chart on expected barrel life on here previously. I seem to recall about 2500 rounds was what to expect from a 6br.

 

[Park ranger]

My guess is it’s going to be a little less than a 308 palma rifle. About same performance in the wind, with less recoil and it’s getting that at the expense of barrel life.

Recoil
Barrel life
Wind drift

it’s all a comprise. My guess 3500 and time to switch. Your good enough you deserve a fresh barrel

 

[jelenko]

And, if you rebarrel now, you won't go through those couple hundred shots wondering if it you or the barrel.

 

[Skeptic123]

 

[Skeptic123]

 

[Skeptic123]

Above are the two charts that I remembered I'd seen on AS before. The second one is in the technical articles section.

 

[jelenko]

View attachment 1286865

This chart seems to say lighter bullets in the same cartridge would yield shorter barrel life - is that what actually happens?
E.g.., in 223/556, shooting 55 gr bullets typically uses more powder than, say, a 77 gr bullet.

 

[VA_XTC_Shooter]

it might go 4K (know of a good shooter who's barrel went 5K), but it's probably in it's "golden years", rapids are hard on barrels, I look for a sharp decline in x count or off call shots (at 600) to tell me it's time.

I'll get plenty of testing at 600 this weekend. 1,000 Agg XTC followed by a 3x600 at Bridgeville.

 

[mike a]

Here’s my 6BR at 600 with 29.4 Varget and 105 Hybrids. Shilen stainless select match. Savage prefit 28” Bull. Little over 3800 rounds. I have 200 bullets left. As a poor guy my barrels seem to last longer than other guys.

 

[rwj]

Here’s my 6BR at 600 with 29.4 Varget and 105 Hybrids. Shilen stainless select match. Savage prefit 28” Bull. Little over 3800 rounds. I have 200 bullets left. As a poor guy my barrels seem to last longer than other guys.

I’m at 4200 rounds through a 6BR having a Bartlein barrel. It’s been fed a consistent diet of 105 Berger VLDs propelled by Varget and most recently IMR 4166. Started getting some flyers around 4000 rounds. I plan to finish this year with the barrel, then spin on a new one next season…

 

[A6bn]

I’m at 4200 rounds through a 6BR having a Bartlein barrel. It’s been fed a consistent diet of 105 Berger VLDs propelled by Varget and most recently IMR 4166. Started getting some flyers around 4000 rounds. I plan to finish this year with the barrel, then spin on a new one next season…

I'll get plenty of testing at 600 this weekend. 1,000 Agg XTC followed by a 3x600 at Bridgeville.

Jeff, after this weekend, I’d say your barrel is still good.