Expected barrel life

[kelbro]

What's the consensus on barrel life for F-class shooting before you lose competitiveness?

Krieger 29" 6mmBR barrel shooting 108 Bergers at about 2850

Krieger 29" 223 barrel shooting 77 SMKs at about 3000

What are the signs that would make you think that you need to replace the barrel?

Does cutting and re-chambering and re-crowning restore a barrel back to new?

 

[bfiles]

That really depends on a lot of factors. Some of which you can control

Rate of fire, ambient temp, steel composition, powder used, your accuracy expectations, rifle cleaning habits, etc.

Maybe somewhere between 800 and 2500 on the BR. Dunno about .223.

Change in velocity (slower) which is not attributable to some other factor (changing powder lots, for example). Change in absolute accuracy which cannot be corrected with cleaning or maybe a change in seating depth. Take it to a very experienced bore scope user and have them evaluate the throat with professional quality optical tools (more subjective but might give some insight into overall wear which will help set expectations).

 

[M-61]

10-12 seconds

 

[Syncrowave]

I suspect Sharpshooters get a lot longer average barrel life than High Masters.

In the grand scheme, barrels (and re-barrelling) are pretty cheap (especially for us Savage shooters)!

 

[chop house]

10-12 seconds

I was thinking one round. You beat me to it. unless, of course, you meant a few milliseconds at a time.

(Guess we gotta take up the slack while @jds holler is laid up. Apologies to the OP)

 

[SmittyJon]

That really depends on a lot of factors. Some of which you can control

Rate of fire, ambient temp, steel composition, powder used, your accuracy expectations, rifle cleaning habits, etc.

Maybe somewhere between 800 and 2500 on the BR. Dunno about .223.

Change in velocity (slower) which is not attributable to some other factor (changing powder lots, for example). Change in absolute accuracy which cannot be corrected with cleaning or maybe a change in seating depth. Take it to a very experienced bore scope user and have them evaluate the throat with professional quality optical tools (more subjective but might give some insight into overall wear which will help set expectations).

I concur with bfiles, on wear and expected bbl life.

On setting back, I've personally found that if the lands are still in good shape (wear wise) down the bbl a-ways, then putting in a new chamber is worth it. If they're obviously worn and/or rounded, then it's not.

SJ

 

[Kracken McGraw]

I noticed bugholes have increased Bartlein barrels price to $500 now.

 

[FNSafari]

400$ plus shipping seems to be the current pricing point, or thereabouts. 500$ is not thereabouts.
But I was at the supermarket the other day. A pound of sockeye salmon trim that used to be $6 is now $12...like overnight. It can rot on the shelf at that price.

 

[jackieschmidt]

I concur with bfiles, on wear and expected bbl life.

On setting back, I've personally found that if the lands are still in good shape (wear wise) down the bbl a-ways, then putting in a new chamber is worth it. If they're obviously worn and/or rounded, then it's not.

SJ

I set my own barrels back on a regular basis.
The way I set my barrels up, I can put it back in the lathe exactly the way I originally set it up, so it’s an easy process.
Old the old wives talesabout the burned steel, especially SS, being hard on reamers is just that, an old wives tale.
If you do your own barrel work, and you have a great barrel that has got a little long on the tooth, setting it back is worth it. The days of calling Bruno’s on Monday, getting a new blank on Thursday, and be shooting that week end for less than $300 are long gone.
Generally, just cutting the threads off and treating it like a new blank works fine. If the body of the cartridge is longer, setting it back that length.

 

[bobcat93]

Those new barrels sure are getting expensive.
There must be a shortage of barrel steel now right?.
The barrel trees just arent producing like they use too, so we need to raise prices ..
What ever, ive been round long enough ive seen, and heard it all before
Barrels 650$
Primers 150$ a box
Powder 560$ a jug
Its all stupid
Oh and if you shoot a fast cartridge you might as well pick up a part time job.

The industry is trashed again time to sit back and wait it out.
The shelves stay full when everything is dbl the price.
I rather buy farm animals and make food, then sit around making ammo now.
Untill prices drop im pretty much done.
But thats ok ..100 new shooters will take my place right..

As for barrel life.
You can do a google search per cartridge and google will spit you out the answer. You dont need us for that..google is close enough
Then its up to you..
You can make a 223 barrel last a long long time like 3000-4000 rds. Ive done it with a few kreiger var-match barrels
But a .20 practical doing over 4000
fps is gonna take a tole much more quicly. Possibly 1000-1500 rds.

I use to try not to think about it ..push it out of my head. Especially when sholdering my rifle..
I have hard enough time getting my self centered and calmed down
With out thinking of all the money, brass and barrel life.
Heck ive messed up a lot of targets because some times i focus on my brass more then the targets..once you have alot of time and money into tuning up your brass you begin to not want to hear it ping on a concrete bench or roll off into the dirt. So its easy to get distracted.
Then pulling out of position to feel the barrel ..is it warm, time to let it cool then break your string of concentration and focus again
Its one goofy sport we love..thats for sure.
With out much return but personal gratification..

I suppose in a way that used to make it worth it to me.
But my mind is changing quicker each day.
These are just my personal opinions,and feelings at present, yours may differ and thats cool im feeling sour about it all
It always made sense to me if your gonna order a barrel wait untill you have the money for 2
Have them fit and chambered at the same time, you can change out your own barrels with no wait time between orders.
Its not cheap, but i believe its the smartest thing to do.
Safe shooting all and God bless

 

[Downeast]

Those new barrels sure are getting expensive.
There must be a shortage of barrel steel now right?.
The barrel trees just arent producing like they use too, so we need to raise prices ..
What ever, ive been round long enough ive seen, and heard it all before
Barrels 600$
Primers 150$ a box
Powder 560$ a jug
Its all stupid
Oh and if you shoot a fast cartridge you might as well pick up a part time job.

The industry is trashed again time to sit back and wait it out.
The shelves stay full when everything is dbl the price.
I rather buy farm animals and make food, then sit around making ammo now.
Untill prices drop im pretty much done.
But thats ok ..100 new shooters will take my place..

If you wanna play, you gotta pay...

 

[Larry Koch]

less than 1 second total.

 

[bobcat93]

less than 1 second total.

Hahaha...one shot , and dull lands

 

[Paul Hilgedick]

In my opinion setting a barrel back does not make since unless you are doing your own barrel work. I have used several take off barrels for varment rifles and they shoot fine for that, however i don't think I would pay $250.00 to do that.

Paul H

 

[rlporter507]

When my X count starts going down, its now a practice rifle, break out another rifle.
when it finally goes it goes fast. then re-barrel it, set it up with zero's, and its waiting in the wings ready to go. X count usually starts going down around 1800-2200 rds. starts throwing 9's around 3600-4000rds.
223 SR, bergers around 2650fps.

 

[Bottom Fodder]

I just changed a 6 BrX barrel that had little over 3000 rounds on it and it still shot 1/2 moa at 300. Shooting Varget and 107 smk

 

[gmr4]

Barrels slow down.. no longer shoot as small.. it occurs slowly… the 6BR should go well over 1500

 

[Larry Koch]

Redirect Notice

Here is your answer.
Crying won't change a thing.

 

[ShootDots]

I was just commenting on this today. F-Class >> 25+ rounds per match, times 3 matches in a day. That is A LOT of stress on a barrel. Think about this. I have as a "deer stand" rifle, one of the first 6.5 x 47s that came into the country. It wears a 1-8 twist Dan Lilja barrel. I only used it "from time to time", and never fired more than 30 rounds at a time. At about 15 rounds during a session, I would let the barrel cool right down before firing the last 15 rounds. Then I got into F-Class, and I believe I used this particular rifle 2-3 times for matches. It was not then and it is not now, built for anything but hunting. I put it up for YEARS and never shot it. Then this year I decided to get it out and see what it is capable of. So, I had some N540 on hand and got some Lapua 123 Scenars. It still shot very well >>> right at 1/2" at 100 yards. Hunting rifle, hunting stock and hunting scope >>> I could not ask for better accuracy. When I cleaned it, I "scrubbed it to the bone" and looked at it with my borescope! WHAT!!! I do not know how many rounds are down the barrel, but it has to be at or near 2000! But ONLY the very slightest amount of firecracking. An "untrained" eye, might just pass over it not capable of noticing it! That is how little there is!

Now I had several 6.5 x 47s for F-Class! I love the round! But I never got more than 2000 rounds before the accuracy fell off significantly and firecracking was substantial. "Generally" I used either a Berger 130VLD or the Berger 140 Hybrid for competition. Powders were either Varget, RL-15, H4350 or (at the time when I could get it) Viht N540. During those years with a '47, I lived in either Houston or Phoenix! Barrels do not cool down in those locales. The powders I used tend to eat barrels for dinner, especially in competition and in those locations. I never used a .223 for competition, however, I did with a 6BR. You should get 1800-2200 rounds of "competitive" accuracy! To me, "competitive" shooting means having a rifle capable of winning at a BIG competition AND the possibility of setting a national record. If your rifle is NOT capable of that due to "rounds down the bore", it is time for a new barrel! QUESTION: What is the sense of going to a BIG match with a gun incapable of winning? All you are doing is pouring expensive components down the barrel with no chance of a win. Now if you just want to go and shoot and enjoy everyone's company, that is a different story.

 

[bfiles]

I was just commenting on this today. F-Class >> 25+ rounds per match, times 3 matches in a day. That is A LOT of stress on a barrel. Think about this. I have as a "deer stand" rifle, one of the first 6.5 x 47s that came into the country. It wears a 1-8 twist Dan Lilja barrel. I only used it "from time to time", and never fired more than 30 rounds at a time. At about 15 rounds during a session, I would let the barrel cool right down before firing the last 15 rounds. Then I got into F-Class, and I believe I used this particular rifle 2-3 times for matches. It was not then and it is not now, built for anything but hunting. I put it up for YEARS and never shot it. Then this year I decided to get it out and see what it is capable of. So, I had some N540 on hand and got some Lapua 123 Scenars. It still shot very well >>> right at 1/2" at 100 yards. Hunting rifle, hunting stock and hunting scope >>> I could not ask for better accuracy. When I cleaned it, I "scrubbed it to the bone" and looked at it with my borescope! WHAT!!! I do not know how many rounds are down the barrel, but it has to be at or near 2000! But ONLY the very slightest amount of firecracking. An "untrained" eye, might just pass over it not capable of noticing it! That is how little there is!

Now I had several 6.5 x 47s for F-Class! I love the round! But I never got more than 2000 rounds before the accuracy fell off significantly and firecracking was substantial. "Generally" I used either a Berger 130VLD or the Berger 140 Hybrid for competition. Powders were either Varget, RL-15, H4350 or (at the time when I could get it) Viht N540. During those years with a '47, I lived in either Houston or Phoenix! Barrels do not cool down in those locales. The powders I used tend to eat barrels for dinner, especially in competition and in those locations. I never used a .223 for competition, however, I did with a 6BR. You should get 1800-2200 rounds of "competitive" accuracy! To me, "competitive" shooting means having a rifle capable of winning at a BIG competition AND the possibility of setting a national record. If your rifle is NOT capable of that due to "rounds down the bore", it is time for a new barrel! QUESTION: What is the sense of going to a BIG match with a gun incapable of winning? All you are doing is pouring expensive components down the barrel with no chance of a win. Now if you just want to go and shoot and enjoy everyone's company, that is a different story.

I’m with you on this. I took a BRA to the range today that just crossed over the 2000 round mark. Speeds and stats still look good but it’s not one holing/cloverleafing like a BR should. It’s shooting round groups around 1/2”. That’s no longer acceptable for a national match. Thats now a practice barrel and a new one will go on before the next season starts up. That 2022 rounds is entirely Varget and Berger 109s and included a lot of 250 round weekends in 85+ degree weather with lots of 12 round strings in 2 minutes. So much of the expected barrel life depends on your expectations. For a lot of people, 1/2” groups at 100 is great. Setting the barrel back or reworking the seating depth or charge weight might improve the groups again but I won’t have the confidence needed to take that barrel to another competition. I plan to use up 3-4 barrels a year. It’s the cost of doing business and training enough to be effective.