Bore Life

[Leafrivermac]

Some of you guys that shoot a lot at the firing ranges might be able to give me some idea about the life expectancy of a rifle bore. Mostley the rifles I shoot would be in the $500. range. I imagine that age has to do with the amount of rounds fired and the general upkeep of the gun. I expect that rifle manufacturers probably build realizing that the majority of hunters/shooters prolly only fire their guns seldomly. Hope I'm not offending with all these questions but where else can you get so much feedback on exactly whats on your mind. Thanks in advance. . .Mac

[rkbo]

What usualy shortens a barrel life is shooting hot loads. You can shoot the throat out doing that. You see rifle powder is little pellets of abrasive stuff. It also is going down the barrel while burning. This stuff is sharp and hard. Anything around 3600 to 4000 fps will cut you barrel life in half. having said all that I personaly have not shot out a barrel. I have a lot of guns and maybe have shot 5000 rounds through maybe one of them. My.(my .308) But most have not had more than 2000 rounds through them. My ruger redhawk had nearly 500 rounds through it before it started shooting good. I don't know what that was all about.

[westbronco]

My experience with barrel life consists of a Rem hvy barreled .22-250 that lasted 5000 rounds with moderately hot loads (3800fps) and a custom built 6mm/.284 that had a Shilen hvy S.S. barrel that lasted only 1500 rounds with very hot loads (4050 fps). I would rather doubt that any hunting rifle will get shot enough to get shot out, but varmint rifles may well reach the end of their lives, especially if they are allowed to get too hot while in use. I'm much more careful now with the 6/284 when it comes to how fast I shoot, regardless of how many prairie dogs are out there. This second barrel needs to last longer. Hope this helps.

[stubblejumper]

The way to get the most life from your barrel is to not overheat it.Shoot a three shot group then let it cool fully.Continuous firing increases barrel temperatures and dramatically decreases barrel life.

[Briman]

If you shoot a barrel out, you have put ammunition worth several times the price of the rifle through it. At this point, pat yourself on the back and spend a few hundred bucks to put a new and higher quality barrel on the rifle- you deserve it.

[cherokee_outfitters]

Depending on the caliber's velocity most normal hunting rifles with last almost a lifetime. The main thing to worry about is abuse like overheating frequently and using harsh cleaning supplies on your barrel. I know most military weapons take their wear from cleaning not from firing them. Best example of barrel life I know is my father's rifle almost forty years of continous use and after all them rounds I'd say way above 5000 the groups have spread out to 3/4 to an 1" for most people that is a really nice group. That's alot of shooting for a rifle barrel and it still preforms good.

Fast varmit guns and the modern wildcat magnums will be the harshest on the barrel. They suggest on a 30-378 you clean the rifle after 12 shots. Thats tons of pressures and alot of fouling to have to clean a rifle after 12shots so you can continue shooting for long barrel life. But an ole 30-06 should last you a lifetime of hunting type shooting.

Now I have a question. Okay guys I have a 2000 model Ruger #1 300 mag. I've already dumped over 1200 rounds through it. It's a tack driver and also my hunting rifle. I use it for competition and that's where most of the rounds are spent. I don't overheat the barrel while I shoot it at the range. Its fairly fast spitting out a 165gr bullet at 3180fps. Do you guys think it will last as long being a magnum or would I be better of having a bench gun made and save this one for only hunting? The only problem I have is when someone says lets go do a turkey shoot or silouette shooting I grab it everytime. I even use it over my 22-250 on the prarie dogs shoot (potatoes set up like dogs up to 400yds). Just wondering how long you guys think those clover leaf groups will turn into spotty ones using it as I do?

[ktscontender]

Ya, I have a 220 Swift I shot the bbl out in around 5000 rnds. and a 270 I have been shooting regularly for close to 30 years that is still in great shape.

[James B]

I know some avid if not rabbid varmit hunters that replace thier barrels at 2000 rounds of less. These are firing very hot 224 and 243 loads. These barrels would still be good for the average hunter but they want quarter inch groups and won't settle for much over that. Properly cared for the average hunter would most likely never even come close to shooting out a barrel. I shot out a couple of 308 barrels shooting steel silhouettes at about 3000 rounds. Those were 190 gr BTSP bullets as fast as I could get them to go. Always compressed loads. Best advice for reloaders is to tone down those loads when you can. There is little reason other than competitionn to press every load for the last possible fps.