What does it take to prolong barrel life?

[marchx]

Barrel is consumable like brass or bullets. Keeping that in mind I would like to ask you how one can increase barrel life.
you cannot modify the match rules, so we are not talking about a match (not a benchrest match, but an F-class match). We are are talking about normal range practice.

Possible strategies include:

-coolling down period between shots, air cooling device
- loading for a lower node (no hot/compressed loads)
- HBN bullet coating

What else? and finally, what would be the possible gain here?

 

[Walt Krafft]

I was told practice is a sign of weakness. Be strong.
Have a second rifle to practice with.

 

[Webster]

Barrel is consumable like brass or bullets. Keeping that in mind I would like to ask you how one can increase barrel life.
you cannot modify the match rules, so we are not talking about a match (not a benchrest match, but an F-class match). We are are talking about normal range practice.

Possible strategies include:

-coolling down period between shots, air cooling device
- loading for a lower node (no hot/compressed loads)
- HBN bullet coating

What else? and finally, what would be the possible gain here?

Don’t know if cooling down between shots helps. Maybe it does. The damage that’s done is caused by the high temperatures and gas flow that occurs for only a few thousandths of a second. The high heat penetrates a couple thou. It’s not the overall barrel temp. It’s called hot gas erosion. Not simply caused by temp. Chemicals in the hot gas also alter the composition of the steel.

If a 30 cal can be designed with great barrel life why not a 22 with little bore wear.? Everyone seems to make wildcats only for fps. If you just shrank a 30BR case down % wise to 22 cal neck what would it look like?

 

[marchx]

I was told practice is a sign of weakness. Be strong.
Have a second rifle to practice with.

 

[K22]

Avoid firing sustained fire sequences.

However, practice should simulate the intended use of the rifle. The entire idea behind practice is to improve performance.

What is your shooting discipline? If it requires sustained fire sequences, then that is how you should practice.

If you are just a recreational target shooter, the solution is simple. Use a low intensity cartridge (i.e. 223 or 308) and avoid sustained fire sequences.

 

[K22]

I have watched almost all of his videos. This gentleman has a commonsense approach to the shooting sports. He also has some impressive credentials and a long time in the shooting sports which include training as an armorer and training shooters.

 

[RabbitSlayer]

What is up with so many barrel life topics lately?

 

[ISS]

don't shoot it.

My Lilja barrel is coming tomorrow on UPS. Every thing after that is bad for it.

 

[jelenko]

I think the two biggest things that erode the throat of a barrel are the cartridge and sustained fire of less than 30 sec per shot. My understanding is the throat erodes twice as fast in sustained fire vs 30 sec or more between shots. Choice in cartridge can also make a 2X difference - or more.

From my experience, loading at a mild load vs a hot load in 223 makes ~ 10% difference in accurate barrel life.

I have no experience with coated bullets.

 

[K22]

What is up with so many barrel life topics lately?

People trying to convert a consumable into a durable or at least wishing for it.

PS: I once knew a fellow who had some very nice firearms, but he never shot them or hunted with them for fear of wearing them out or them showing field wear. He would bring them out of his safe while we had a few cold ones and let me look at them but not touch them. Never understood that mentality but different strokes for different folks.

 

[ELR LVR]

Barrel is consumable like brass or bullets. Keeping that in mind I would like to ask you how one can increase barrel life.
you cannot modify the match rules, so we are not talking about a match (not a benchrest match, but an F-class match). We are are talking about normal range practice.

Possible strategies include:

-coolling down period between shots, air cooling device
- loading for a lower node (no hot/compressed loads)
- HBN bullet coating

What else? and finally, what would be the possible gain here?

I've noticed the most improvement from HBN coated bullets BY FAR
And not let the barrel get too hot secondly

 

[ELR LVR]

People trying to convert a consumable into a durable or at least wishing for it.

PS: I once knew a fellow who had some very nice firearms, but he never shot them or hunted with them for fear of wearing them out or them showing field wear. He would bring them out of his safe while we had a few cold ones and let me look at them but not touch them. Never understood that mentality but different strokes for different folks.

Lately, except for one rifle that is my main go to LR Rig
Once I get a rifle dialed in and it's shooting bugholes, same thing
I put it away and move on to the next
My only mission is to get the rifle to shoot
Once it does, I have nothing further to prove and feel I have a long lasting back up if needed

 

[ELR LVR]

. If you just shrank a 300BR case down % wise to 22 cal neck what would it look like?

Likely about a 22 Jet, with Ackley Shoulder

 

[jelenko]

People trying to convert a consumable into a durable or at least wishing for it.

PS: I once knew a fellow who had some very nice firearms, but he never shot them or hunted with them for fear of wearing them out or them showing field wear. He would bring them out of his safe while we had a few cold ones and let me look at them but not touch them. Never understood that mentality but different strokes for different folks.

Interesting!. If I have a firearm [or anything] that I don't use, I sell it.

 

[searcher]

Keep the bore clean
Keep strings of fire either short or spaced far apart enough that the barrel never gets hot enough to be uncomfortable to hold in your hand.
Use lower-powered loads instead of max loads
While a bit controversial to some folks, I do believe moly or HBN coated bullets stretch the barrel life
Use a bore guide when cleaning your bore and use special care not to damage the crown.

 

[TTE]

IMO ... double base powders are harder on barrels than single base powders.

Many (if not all) double base powders seem to have a much higher burn temperature.

 

[Doom]

Realistically for any given firing sequence (rounds per unit time) barrel wear is predominately a function of two primary variables, time and temperature. Within any particular caliber the higher the peak pressure ( hence temperature) during firing and the amount of powder burned will be the factors at play along with the amount of overbore. So in general picking a good cartridge is key. Powder selection can help by choosing a slower burning powder that gives the required velocity at a lower pressure. Type of powder can also be a factor since double based powders tend to burn hotter.

As for barrel cooling it may help to a small extent in that in high ambient temperatures it may work to limit peak surface metal temperature in high firing rate environments. Otherwise it's probably not worth much at all.

 

[RabbitSlayer]

Lately, except for one rifle that is my main go to LR Rig
Once I get a rifle dialed in and it's shooting bugholes, same thing
I put it away and move on to the next
My only mission is to get the rifle to shoot
Once it does, I have nothing further to prove and feel I have a long lasting back up if needed

Its an addiction. I like buying everything, putting it all together, and seeing it shoot as much as actually using it for whatever the purpose was. I end up rarely taking it for the intended hunt, cuz Im always busy working on the next one.

 

[K22]

Interesting!. If I have a firearm [or anything] that I don't use, I sell it.

I should have included that this fellow did shoot a lot, was on our pistol team and he had firearms he shot. But he had a several that he did not shoot very much if at all, there were merely "show piece" items. One of those was a rifle had a beautiful exotic wood stock. Still, not "my cup of tea".

While I endeavor to take good and proper care of my firearms, all mine have some degree of field / holster wear.

 

[linebaugh]

Increase barrel bore diameter

Shoot calibers that are most efficient, burn less powder

Keep pressures lower. Pressure and heat hurt metal

Keep barrel heat and round count per string low

Keep barrel clean... and personally I believe in using mild (JBM Iosso) abrasive cleaners occasionally, especially in the throat.

Use lower BTU powders, like VV n100 series.

Dont run top end loads... keep pressure.


Be a man, buy a second barrel and quit worrying about things that ruin your fun. Life is for sure too short. I built two .20 cals that I cut two barrels for before even shooting. I realize now that between getting older and not shooting and being as bad ass as I thought I once was that was probably not necessary. BUT I dont care. I waste more money on eating out a few nights at present prices. Do fun stuff and live more, worry less.