What does it take to prolong barrel life?

[jelenko]

buy a second barrel and quit worrying about things that ruin your fun.

!!

 

[Coyotefurharvester]

I think paper patched bullets are easy on barrels.lol.

 

[Homerange]

I think paper patched bullets are easy on barrels.lol.

That’s right Gunny

 

[6.5 forever]

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

Me too!

 

[boltfluter]

Build a .30BR and run moly bullets and you may not live long enough to need a second one! Lol.
Paul

 

[Gary in MD]

don't shoot it.

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

This!

 

[TonyinKY]

Three of the five group targets from TD5. 30BR shooting 118 gr Danzac coated bullets. This barrel has over 5500 rounds. The conditions at Orangeburg and the distance of 300 meters was tough! Believe what you hear about the 30BR barrels lasting a long time

 

[Mark W]

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.

I’ve definitely been guilty of the same!

 

[Steve Donlon]

I also think you need barrels to burn up and barrels that will take more abuse, Like a 30 BR or a 300 blk with a chrome lined barrel. Keep the hunting rifles off the range except to sight in. You need a lot of rifles. Then the barrels will last longer.

 

[jelenko]

You need a lot of rifles. then the barrels will last longer.

Indeed!

 

[JEFFPPC]

Build a .30BR and run moly bullets and you may not live long enough to need a second one! Lol.
Paul

Even without moly.

 

[CJ6]

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?

Rotation. Our group shoots every Friday (30-50 rounds) . We use a variety of different cartridges RF/CF. To me at least, it keeps me familiar with my different rifles and also keeps the wear down from any individual rifle, although there are a couple that do get used more than others.

 

[Mark611]

Buy MELONITED/ Nitride barrels, it's supposed to increase barrel life! 1 of my smiths does this on builds, I've had him MELONIE several barrels for me over the years, all stainless barrels, just a thought!

 

[Dkk37058]

My competition rifles 2-3 years depending on how many matches I shoot in my hunting rifles probably a lifetime. I shoot a couple rounds each year to check zero and then shoot maybe half a dozen during hunting season and thats between 3 different hunting guns

 

[qldreloader]

I shoot competitions that require rapid fire strings. It's hard on barrels.

Even hunting around here can mean big mobs of ferals that require rapid fire shooting to get them all down and out. I shot 30 rounds of 243 the other day in less than 10 mins while chasing pigs in the buggy - barrel was pretty hot.

 

[bobcat93]

I try to put it out of my head. Its a 24" blow torch .
When im really trying to shoot the best i can, i tell myself
Your there to focus on the shot.
Not barrel life, not that pc of brass that just rolled off the bench. Not my job or family..it all turns to smoke in my mind. Nothing matters but the space between the end of my barrel, and the target.
Go for them tight groups..
I know every time i pull the trigger, im one step closer to a new barrel
Some rifle barrels perform best when you push the speed what if ya happen to have one of those? You cant change a zebras stripes..
Can you really prolong barrel life. I dont think its a real possibility.
I have a little fan called (barrel cool) a forum member made and sold here..its works nicely.
Ive read article of folks who have a garden sprayer with a pc of hosing on it the pump it up and squirt cool water down the barrel push a few patches thru and back at it. That is the fastest method for keeping a barrel cool that ive ever read about..
Pretty crazy extremes. But very interesting to me none the less
Good topic, i enjoyed the others comments also.

 

[LVLAaron]

What is up with so many barrel life topics lately?

It's spring. New barrel season.

 

[Fire Dog]

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?

It would look like.... AAAH.... It would look like...
Oh Yeah....!
A 22BR

On the subject of using a fan blower to help cool the barrel, I use one in the summer to help keep heat gain down but it is about accuracy rather than any extra barrel life.
I find that once the barrel goes over 130*-140* {50*-55*C} accuracy starts to fall off a bit in my rifle.