How many rounds??

[Flat Land Shooter]

Factory Anschutz 2013 - how many rounds would you expect prior to having to replace the barrel??
It looks good to the eye, not bore scope. Has 13,500 rounds thru it, some times it shoots lots of dots
and other times not so. Three lots of ammo, same results. Thinking its time for a new barrel.
Ideas, thoughts, comments appreciated.

 

[NateHaler]

I would think 100k rounds.

In fact, Eley shoots their test rifles multi-thousand rounds between cleanings (per an article in PS magazine some years back), and they are testing ammo that goes to the Olympics.

You might try posting this inquiry on www.targettalk.com, where competition smallbore shooting is an obsession.

13.5k rounds of .22lr barrel life would not be satisfactory IMO, but maybe they'll tell you different. And Anschutz may be willing to lend an opinion too. Have you tried contacting them directly? They're opening a facility in the USA per an article on this very website. 8)

Good luck.

 

[bholcomb]

Shot an ARA match with a fellow this weekend that is a national champion shooter. He told me he's been shooting the same rifle since the early 90's and has gone through 7 barrels. He claims each one of those barrels was good for around 200k rounds. He's done a lot of shooting

 

[stgw77]

I think that 100k round and more will be/are history, IMO only. Both Eley and Lapua uses glass priming mixture for some years now. Benchrest shooters DO report excessive barrel wear (mechanical, not chemical !) in the bore at 6 o clock - bore looks like moon surface, some of them got only 3-5k accurate rounds from barrel (check rimfire forums). I dissasemled Eley and Lapua round, you can see glass crystals with naked eye. RWS still uses old, more barrel-friendly priming mix. If spoke with Eley technican in World BR Championship last year and he said they know the problem, but they will not go back to old priming, to dangerous for them to manufacture. He recomended cleaning after each shooting. I recommend that you look it through borescope; check your crown also, if they look good, you have other issue/s. Rimfires are very sensitive to vibrations.

 

[Shynloco]

...... some times it shoots lots of dots
and other times not so. Three lots of ammo, same results.

Personally, I'd be more concerned with the above noted issue than the round count. If you are competing, gotta find out if it's the rifle or YOU! Until I'd gotten into the Rimfire craze (several years ago) and competing, I'd not previously seen so much disagreement within the myriad of issues surrounding issues within RIMFIRE accuracy. I mean the wide range of ideas of how often to clean a barrel vs never cleaning the barrel; or not changing barrels vs changing a barrel after 12,000 rd, is simply amazing. SO if you can no longer get CONSISTENT accuracy, even with the same lot of MATCH AMMO, that rifle is telling you the jig is up and if all else is the same (ie. no changes in the set-up of the rifle such as glass or even torquing the stock) I'd change out the barrel and see what she does. I hate mixing apples with oranges, but consider that in CENTERFIRE, competitors take anywhere from 3 - 5 barrels to a competition and just because one isn't shooting well on a particular day, they simply change barrels and shoot for score. Now I know that's overkill in RIMFIRE. But still if she's "lost that lovin feelin," something is up and you might want to change out that barrel if you want to regain the capabilities of that 2013 which is one helluva RIMFIRE rifle.
Just my thoughts.

Alex

 

[Flat Land Shooter]

Thanks to everyone for the feedback.
Nothing has changed, same stock, scope, rear bag, front rest, Eley ammo - 10X or Match.
I use flags and a probe, two years ago everything was great and now - well another story!

Shynloco - I'm in agreement with you, new barrel is on the way.
I have to live with what I have this weekend, two matches. Next week will change out the barrel and start testing.

Again - thanks, I guess I just wanted to hear someone say what I was thinking.

 

[bugman]

If you are already willing to spend the cash on a new barrel, then you have nothing to lose with the old one. Treat the old one with some aggressive cleaning....iosso the chamber, leade and first few inches of the bore. Both a carbon ring or some "frosting" from eley primer compound can do what you are describing, and iosso to this area can be your friend. You shouldn't IMO be fearful of iosso, but why even be concerned about it if you are willing to buy a new barrel? Also, a bore scope would go a long way to answering your question.

Jack