Frank,So this is a good one... Just recently got an accuracy test barrel back from a ammo maker. 308win is the caliber. When ever they retire one as ours as they typically go a long time barrel life wise. I get it back and we look at it.
So the accuracy test barrel I got back was officially retired when it hit 27,160 rounds fired thru it. That's not a typo! Not 2k rounds but yest 27k rounds fired thru it!
The barrel was testing five different types of ammo/bullets. Barrel is a 1-12 twist 308win.
At 26,550 rounds the barrel was still shooting groups at from .4 to .5moa at 200 yards and it was getting a 150 rounds a day fired thru it. 10 shot groups by the way.
So while we where looking at it the thought went into our heads. How much powder got burned thru this barrel?
It got roughly a 154# of powder fired thru the barrel.
At a cost of lets say current retail of $70 per pound of powder... that equals $10,800!
27+ boxes of 1k count primers at $85 per 1k that equals $2,295!
270 boxes of bullets (100 count boxes) at a rough retail price of $50 per box that equals $13,500 in bullets!
That total dollar wise comes to $26,959 if you had brass to start with and used your reloaded brass every single time.
If you had to buy brass and only shoot the brass one time.... that would be about $16,740 for brass. That would give you a grand total of $43,335!
Just food for thought.
Later, Frank
Bartlein Barrels
200 yards is the norm.FrankG - What was the distance they were testing at? I'm assuming it was 100yards or less?
The reason I'm asking is I've often heard that accuracy can last at short range much longer than long range, say 600 yards.
How would the barrel know how far you shootin Sir.accuracy can last at short range much longer than long range, say 600 yards.
A change in the whitehouse will impact prices.That's about reality right now.
And I don't see powder prices coming down but in fact going up still.
Makes me happy that for many years I bought plinking ammo and stored it. I have many rounds that I've paid 6 cents a piece for, some 15 cents. I rember 22 long rifle at $3.75 a brick.So this is a good one... Just recently got an accuracy test barrel back from a ammo maker. 308win is the caliber. When ever they retire one as ours as they typically go a long time barrel life wise. I get it back and we look at it.
So the accuracy test barrel I got back was officially retired when it hit 27,160 rounds fired thru it. That's not a typo! Not 2k rounds but yest 27k rounds fired thru it!
The barrel was testing five different types of ammo/bullets. Barrel is a 1-12 twist 308win.
At 26,550 rounds the barrel was still shooting groups at from .4 to .5moa at 200 yards and it was getting a 150 rounds a day fired thru it. 10 shot groups by the way.
So while we where looking at it the thought went into our heads. How much powder got burned thru this barrel?
It got roughly a 154# of powder fired thru the barrel.
At a cost of lets say current retail of $70 per pound of powder... that equals $10,800!
27+ boxes of 1k count primers at $85 per 1k that equals $2,295!
270 boxes of bullets (100 count boxes) at a rough retail price of $50 per box that equals $13,500 in bullets!
That total dollar wise comes to $26,959 if you had brass to start with and used your reloaded brass every single time.
If you had to buy brass and only shoot the brass one time.... that would be about $16,740 for brass. That would give you a grand total of $43,335!
Just food for thought.
Later, Frank
Bartlein Barrels
I agree, in my experiance if you're loading 35+ caliber magnums or dangerous game loads for custom bolts or big lever rifles $1.75+ a round is a possibility using recycled brass. I'll have to do a price check!That's about reality right now.
And I don't see powder prices coming down but in fact going up still.
Yeah, but that's what I've heard many competitors mention.How would the barrel know how far you shootin Sir.
Total cost over how many years Frank? You little ray of sunshine......So this is a good one... Just recently got an accuracy test barrel back from a ammo maker. 308win is the caliber. When ever they retire one as ours as they typically go a long time barrel life wise. I get it back and we look at it.
So the accuracy test barrel I got back was officially retired when it hit 27,160 rounds fired thru it. That's not a typo! Not 2k rounds but yest 27k rounds fired thru it!
The barrel was testing five different types of ammo/bullets. Barrel is a 1-12 twist 308win.
At 26,550 rounds the barrel was still shooting groups at from .4 to .5moa at 200 yards and it was getting a 150 rounds a day fired thru it. 10 shot groups by the way.
So while we where looking at it the thought went into our heads. How much powder got burned thru this barrel?
It got roughly a 154# of powder fired thru the barrel.
At a cost of lets say current retail of $70 per pound of powder... that equals $10,800!
27+ boxes of 1k count primers at $85 per 1k that equals $2,295!
270 boxes of bullets (100 count boxes) at a rough retail price of $50 per box that equals $13,500 in bullets!
That total dollar wise comes to $26,959 if you had brass to start with and used your reloaded brass every single time.
If you had to buy brass and only shoot the brass one time.... that would be about $16,740 for brass. That would give you a grand total of $43,335!
Just food for thought.
Later, Frank
Bartlein Barrels
That barrel was in service for 16 months. I just got it back about 2 months ago.Total cost over how many years Frank? You little ray of sunshine......![]()
Longest free bore I’ve ever seen!I don't have a pic of the throat area of the barrel but I did measure it using the bore scope. From the case mouth until I see a decent / defined land (rifling) I say 5" of it was gone/eroded away. Not making that up.
Here is a pic of a 308w barrel from the same place doing testing that went 14,560 rounds. I had it wire edm cut in half. About 1.5" of the rifling is gone in front of the chamber.
View attachment 1564854
90 cents per round for me shooting 6br with 105 bergers— that doesnt include brass. A 308 would be more.A dollar a round sounds expensive for handloads
As you can tell I have not bought components in awhile
that is fascinating and some great info and level of info we dont always get around here.So this is a good one... Just recently got an accuracy test barrel back from a ammo maker. 308win is the caliber. When ever they retire one as ours as they typically go a long time barrel life wise. I get it back and we look at it.
So the accuracy test barrel I got back was officially retired when it hit 27,160 rounds fired thru it. That's not a typo! Not 2k rounds but yest 27k rounds fired thru it!
The barrel was testing five different types of ammo/bullets. Barrel is a 1-12 twist 308win.
At 26,550 rounds the barrel was still shooting groups at from .4 to .5moa at 200 yards and it was getting a 150 rounds a day fired thru it. 10 shot groups by the way.
So while we where looking at it the thought went into our heads. How much powder got burned thru this barrel?
It got roughly a 154# of powder fired thru the barrel.
At a cost of lets say current retail of $70 per pound of powder... that equals $10,800!
27+ boxes of 1k count primers at $85 per 1k that equals $2,295!
270 boxes of bullets (100 count boxes) at a rough retail price of $50 per box that equals $13,500 in bullets!
That total dollar wise comes to $26,959 if you had brass to start with and used your reloaded brass every single time.
If you had to buy brass and only shoot the brass one time.... that would be about $16,740 for brass. That would give you a grand total of $43,335!
Just food for thought.
Later, Frank
Bartlein Barrels
at first i thought that was a Weatherby with all that freebore— lol- just a little jokesterI don't have a pic of the throat area of the barrel but I did measure it using the bore scope. From the case mouth until I see a decent / defined land (rifling) I say 5" of it was gone/eroded away. Not making that up.
Here is a pic of a 308w barrel from the same place doing testing that went 14,560 rounds. I had it wire edm cut in half. About 1.5" of the rifling is gone in front of the chamber.
View attachment 1564854
I bet it doesn’t take long for the bullet to travel that inch and a half.Longest free bore I’ve ever seen!
its like everything else we do at long range. a small amount of wear that does not seem like it effects accuracy at 100 yards is magnified at 1000 yards and could be very obviously effecting accuracy at that range.How would the barrel know how far you shootin Sir.
You thinking Michelle?A change in the whitehouse will impact prices.