You can burn out a throat,set back the barrel and start again with virtually the same accuracy.This can be done several times before barrel wear would ever become a factor.Barrels for cartridges known to be barrel burners were often made from stainless,not because it is more resistant to wear,but because it is more resistant to throat erosion.Barrel wear due to friction will never be a factor as throat erosion will occur at a much faster rate.