243 barrel burner ?
 

I've been reading where this cartridge can burn barrels out in as few as 1500 rounds.
Anyone have any knowledge as to how many rounds before you have to replace the barrel?

Yep...shot #1501 sets the whole dam gun on fire.

Even if that were true (personally I think its crap) That's 75 boxes of 20. Rifle barrels are like tires on your car, take care of them they last a very long time.

A set of tires for my truck cost more than a decent rebarrel on my rifles.

That has to be a rumor. I had a .243 for 20 years and I probably shot at least 4 times that many round through it.

as ridge runner said, you would have to shoot an awful lot of rounds through the barrel and keep it hot to ruin a barrel. these loads would have to be loaded pretty hot for that to happen. normal shooting wont hurt any rifle.

Thanks fellas, i didn't think that 1500 rnds. would burn a barrel out. I always let the barrel cool between shots and i clean it after shooting.

+1... well said.

My .243 was aquired in 1974. It was a re-barrel on a Mauser 98 and I would have to say that I've got at least 1600 rounds through it and maybe even 2000. The barrel sees about 50% factory loads and 50% handloads. The handloads are NOT hot ... around 2700 fps. My barrel is given good care, no abuse, proper cleaning. I'd guess this barrel will outlive me.

If I was cranking up the juice on my loads and did not take prudent care of the rifle I might see some issues right now ... but so far it is still my most accurate rifle capable of more accuracy than me.

I don't think it's so much a cartridge as it is the load and the care to the barrel. My .243 will never burn my barrel but slowly wear it down.

+2

Nuff said; applies to all calibers/barrels.

Here's one of the places i've read that it burns barrels:http://www.accurateshooter.com/cartridge-guides/243win/

Yup RR i always take care of my rifles and i think you're right,that's WORST case senario....Thanks for your input.

Those round counts are also from rifles shooting 105-115gr match bullets. Adding more friction causing higher temps. So factor in a warm summer day, really long bullets and they have to shoot X number of rounds in a timed event, creates the number they've listed.

You also got to keep in mind that number is when they notice a loss in accuracy for benchrest competition, but for the typical shooter they'll never notice that difference.

Exactly! For benchrest guys a burnt out barrel means it went from .2 MOA to .4...most hunters would never even notice that...

Yup... For me, only a hunter shooting modest ranges and recreational target shooter ... My barrel may very well be defined as 'shot out' by a bench rest shooter. But for me, the 1/2 " at 100 yards or 3-4 " at 250 yards is just fine. I can't hardly see that far anymore. Even if I was to buy top line optics I'd be hard pressed to be able to take advantage of the 300 yrd range at my club. Maybe with a whole bunch of practice and instruction I might be able to think about taking game at distances beyond 200 yards .. but for me I'm fine with what is working for me right now.

If I'm lucky I'll still be able to take the field with a gun by myself for another 15-20 years. That would be great.

i have two Remington 700 rifles in .243. The older rifle has fired over 3,000 rounds. The first 6" of rifling is hardly visible. The gun still makes .75 inch three shot groups at 100 yards.

Hell if you got a good floated barrel and a good scope take it to the range few days before you go hunting and make sure its still on at 100 yds.Got my 243 wssm sighted in 3inches high at 100 yds can hold dead on when shooting at a deer out to 300 yds.A couple shots should show if gun is still shooting ok.No need to burn up a box of shells each time.If thats all you shoot it and maybe a shot or two killing a deer it will last forever.If I lived to be a hundred I wouldnt burn up 1500 rounds.

That's the nice thing about shooting the 243, you dont need alot of range time to shoot it accurately.