F-TR Barrel Life?

[FTR_Mojo]

Hello everyone,

I was just wondering what sort of life FTR competitors were getting from their barrels? At what sort of count have you experienced it not worthy for competitions any more. I'm sure there will be a whole range of answers, but I'm keen to hear what people have to say.

Specifically, I'm interested in hearing;
- what weight bullet you were shooting
- what make barrel
- barrel length
- velocity you were shooting at
- did you clean with abrasives
- round count

I was previously shooting a 30" no name button barrel with hot 208s and only got 1500 before it was removed. Now I'm shooting 200.20x out of a 28" kreiger at 2620 and was curious what others had experienced.

Thanks very much

 

[Precisionhunter417]

- what weight bullet you were shooting (185 jugg and 200.20x)
- what make barrel (X-Caliber)
- barrel length (28” 1:10 5r MTU)
- velocity you were shooting at (2730 jug, 2700 20x)
- did you clean with abrasives (rarely but yes)
- round count (2300 and still shot a clean this month)

 

[Acyr]

If you expect to shoot Master/High Master scores in F Class you are looking at around 2000 rounds tops. X count drops beyond that. Doesn't matter what brand of cut rifled barrel you use. I am talking 200 to 215 bullet weights between 2550-2720 FPS with a single based powder like VV N150. Using double based powders will result in even less barrel life.

 

[FTR_Mojo]

If you expect to shoot Master/High Master scores in F Class you are looking at around 2000 rounds tops. X count drops beyond that. Doesn't matter what brand of cut rifled barrel you use. I am talking 200 to 215 bullet weights between 2550-2720 FPS with a single based powder like VV N150. Using double based powders will result in even less barrel life.

Thank you for that. I was thinking that 2000 would be about the number I'd budget for with the 200.20x. This is my first cut barrel in ftr so am flying in the dark so to speak.
Once it's around that mark I'll pull it and use for training.

 

[Precisionhunter417]

If you only plan to shoot the 600y midrange matches i would stick with the lighter 185 Juggernaut. It can be pushed faster and is much easier to tune. 43.5 ish grains of Varget or N140 in lapua palma brass jammed or jumped 0.010”.

 

[FTR_Mojo]

I shoot out to 1000 yards. I really love the 200.20x and have found it very easy to tune.
I'm curious about peoples experience with the high end cut rifle barrels as I've used a particular local button barrel make for 10 years so that's all I know. I'm now shooing a Kreiger that is very accurate and I love it, so I'm not going back! But was just wondering roughly how long it would last til it drops off in accuracy.

 

[Tempest]

On 3rd Benchmark. 32” using N150 and Berger 200 Hyb around 2,650 FPS depending on temp. They usually go 2500 rounds before accuracy falls off. Last one went 3000 and still shot HM for the mid range state match. However X count started dropping so pulled it off this winter and testing new one for 2025.

 

[drop_point]

My barrel was used, but I killed one last year at between 2700 and 2800 rounds. I don't know what was shot in it before I got it, but my load is 200.20x @2640 fps, 30" Krieger 4-grove, .170" free bore and if I remember, .334" neck. I started shooting it with 1700 rounds on the barrel. When the barrel started to go, I started getting flyers that I could explain. I scrubbed it with IOSSO, changed my shoulder pressure, etc. trying to get it back. Finally bore-scoped it and sent a picture to my gunsmith and he said it was done.

 

[FTR_Mojo]

Really appreciate all the replies. Looks like I've got another full season with this barrel thankfully.
I use abrasives every clean, so it'll be interesting to see if that impacts anything. I suspect it doesn't. My throat is eroding a little faster than I'd like, whether that's the abrasive is unclear. I seem to lose one thou of throat every 100 rounds so far. ~800 rounds on it currently and it's moved 10 thou from brand new.

 

[jelenko]

lose one thou of throat every 100 rounds so far

I would ecstatic if I only got 1/1000 per 100 rounds.
I run 223 with 69-80 grain bullets loaded to ~ 52K and get 2-3/thousand per 100.

 

[memilanuk]

I seem to lose one thou of throat every 100 rounds so far. ~800 rounds on it currently and it's moved 10 thou from brand new.

Most of my .308 FTR barrels barely move that much over their lifetime. Maybe a few thou at the beginning, but that's about it.

I did have one Krieger that moved an insane amount. I wasn't keeping great records at the time, but I thought I was losing my mind - the seating depth changed 40-60 thou (no, that's not a typo) every time I checked it before a big match. When it got to the point where a 185 Juggernaut basically fell out of the case before it hit the lands, I called it 'done' and pulled it.

 

[Jdne5b]

Most of my .308 FTR barrels barely move that much over their lifetime. Maybe a few thou at the beginning, but that's about it.

Same experience here.

 

[FTR_Mojo]

I suppose I could be over doing the abrasives. Definitely something to think about. It still shoots well and if it moves 30 thou by the time I take it off, it don't think it really matters.
I would prefer it to not move as much though....