In the list of "barrel burners", where does the .223 Rem sit?

[amlevin]

Compared to all other "22 cal's." where does the .223 Remington fit as to it's propensity to burn out barrels?

Is it a short barrel life caliber or can it be expected to deliver several thousand accurate rounds?


In other words, is it like a 22-250 or does it behave more like the .308 as far as barrel wear?


Just curious.

BTW, for the purposes of "accuracy", let's assume that the the calibers/rifles compared were all <.25 MOA and loss of accuracy defined as that point where the basic accuracy exceeds .25 MOA.

 

[CatShooter]

The 223 Remington has a very long life - but shorter than the .22 Hornet, and 221 FireBall.

 

[BoydAllen]

More like the .308
For maximum barrel life, pay close attention to rate of fire, and barrel heat. Also some powders have higher flame temperatures. Friends have shot a lot of 748 with 50 grain varmint bullets, and that powder is supposed to have a relatively low flame temperature.
When trying to maximize barrel life, another consideration is the manner, technique, and equipment used to clean. I see a lot of cheap, inadequate equipment, and a fair amount of sloppy technique.

 

[pacificman]

I agree with the above posters and will add my little bit of experience....For the few barrels I have burned up they were near maximum velocity and accuracy. I did get them warm a time or two. :-\ If I remember one lasted about 2200 rounds and the other about 3400 rounds which may seem normal but I think I could have got more out of them if the loads were not so hot. Many of my other rifles are still going strong with middle of the road velocity and good accuracy. I hope to get a few thousand rounds out of my 223 as my velocity is only 3050fps with 50 grain bullets. I would tend to think wear more like .308.... Lot of variables here for sure. ???

 

[boltman223]

There is a chart on this site that puts them in order. You can Google overbore cartridge chart and should be able to find it.

 

[Stormbringer]

Long barrel life

I have burned up two Savage 223 factory SS varmint barrels. Both were cleaned properly but shot hot and often in the prarie dog fields. One went out at 12000 rounds the other at 11000 rounds. When I say went out it was still shooting 1.25 MOA but not the .50 MOA they once did.

Mike.

 

[chkunz]

I have limited experience with the 223 but have shot out one barrel in National Match Course and Mid Range matches (plus some very abusive load development testing). I shot scores at 600 yards in the high 190s out of a possible score of 200 (twenty shots for record) up to about 4000 thousand rounds and then scores slowly dropped off to low 190s when I removed the barrel at 6200 rounds (I keep accurate records of round count on a barrel, some folks do not). I made measurements on maximum overall cartridge length for the bullet touching the lands and found that the throat eroded about 14 thousandths per thousand rounds. This OAL measurement has a lot more uncertainty than folks realize but I used the standard method and recorded the data uncertainty and all. When I had the barrel replaced with a new barrel I had the gunsmith section the first few inches so I could see what the chamber, lead and rifling looked like after 6200 rounds. There was no lead left and only bright lines where the initial rifling had been for about an inch or so. I was amazed that it still shot as well as it did. So much for science; I will replace at around 4000 thousand rounds in the future. BTW I do not use coated bullets although they would probably extend barrel life based on what others report but they are not worth the effort or expense to me since I have not seen any of the claims backed up with data.

 

[amlevin]

BTW I do not use coated bullets although they would probably extend barrel life based on what others report but they are not worth the effort or expense to me since I have not seen any of the claims backed up with data.

This brings up another question. A friend gave me an almost full box of Berger 90 gr VLD's that are moly coated. Any thoughts on using these during the initial barrel break in period? I don't mind cleaning up after using them up but any benefit to using the moly during this initial burnishing period?

Benefit?

More harm than help?

No problem??

Any experiences out there on this?

 

[cocopuff]

moly can be a tough thing to get out of the barrel..I been there and done that.I use all naked bullets now..As far as the 90 grain. What twist is your barrel? I think you need a 1 to 7 for those bullets..If it were me,I would not use them..But to each his own..Good luck..

 

[amlevin]

moly can be a tough thing to get out of the barrel..I been there and done that.I use all naked bullets now..As far as the 90 grain. What twist is your barrel? I think you need a 1 to 7 for those bullets..If it were me,I would not use them..But to each his own..Good luck..

The twist is a 1:7 The barrel was pretty much built and chambered for the heavier bullets.

 

[cocopuff]

then your all set to go.... 8)

 

[thekriebles]

My father had a factory Rem. 700 heavy varmint barrel chambered in 223 Rem. that lasted for over 4,500 shots. He re-barreled around that point as it went from a consistent 1/2" group or less to groups between 3/4" and 1" at 100 yds... still plenty good for varminting, but not to his preference. Therefore, his 223 Rem. was not a barrel burning cartridge.

 

[xring]

My experience with a Hart Barrel in 223 is similar to Stormbringers . It has over 10,000 Rounds shot hot & heavy in the Pdog Fields and is still going strong .

 

[Fivebulletsonehole]

moly can be a tough thing to get out of the barrel..

Boretech Eliminator leaves no moly residue that I can see in the borescope after cleaning.

In fact, I just went 250 rounds without cleaning my Rock Creek 1-8 223 Ackley and the only thing that came out of my barrel was carbon. My bullets are coated by me using the wet moly coating process and my bullets are so clean after coating you can eat off of them.

I checked my 6BR Rock Creek after a 100 round match with a borescope. I completely forgot I shoot moly. There was absolutely no evidence of moly in my barrel after cleaning.

You can read about the wet method here. My article.
http://www.urbanrifleman.com/2013/04/11/wet-moly-coating-method/

 

[searcher]

i'd not break in using moly bullets - but would not hesitate to use them after break-in. Several barrel manufacturers recommend against. The W 748 powder was mentioned by O.P. as "lower temperature. That is where the name of the powder came from "748" degree burning temperature - or so says the manufacturer. One thing for sure, when firing carteridges out of an A/R, you can reaslly tell the difference between the powders by how hot the brass is coming out. I can hld the brass fired by the W 748 - but not that fired by H322, LT-32 8208XBR and others. I have one dedicated ground squirrel rifle (.223) that has shot only W748 through its Krieger 1-9 tw. barrel - using the same varmint load with unleaded bullets. It has 8,500 rounds on it and still shoots 1/2 M.O.A.(used to be 1/4 m.o.a.) My other .223 barrels that favor other powders and similar-weight bullets (several Kriegers, a Shilen and a Hart) have eroded considerably more. That sure doesn't constitute a scientific analysis but I try to get my rifles to shoot a "cool" powder first. If it likes it, life will be long for it. I'd give the other barrels a life of no more than 6,000 before replacement is likely the way they are shooting. To me, that is over 1 m.o.a., where they may have started life at 1/4 to 1/2 m.o.a.. If to be used for hunting, you may never wear the barrel out in your lifetime if not gotten hot too many times. Short answer is this is a caliber that is easy on barrels!

 

[CatShooter]

The W 748 powder was mentioned by O.P. as "lower temperature. That is where the name of the powder came from "748" degree burning temperature - or so says the manufacturer.

Who ever told you that was playing a cruel joke on you... nothing burns at 748 degrees, not even paper.

Even "cool" powders burn at well over 3,500 degrees.

 

[Eddie Harren]

searcher, thanks for the laugh! That is one of the funniest things I've seen on this site lately.

 

[fdshuster]

I've had the same expeience with several 223 Rem. barrels as "the kriebles": Anytime after around 4000 rounds fired, the once great accuracy fell off with occassional uncalled flyers, getting progressively worse to the point it would not hold moa.

If using the long, heavyweight 80 grain (for example), expect less barrel life. They will wash out the throat in less time than the lighter weight bullets.