I recently heard that rifles such as the 7mm ultra mag, and 300 ultra mag will shoot out their barrels within 1000 shots, i had been thinking on a 300 ultra as a new rifle but if this is the case i think i would rather stick with something that doesnt require so much upkeep. Is this true?

Being a bowhunter I am in no way a expert on rifles. But with that said I just purchased a .300 Ultra Mag. From my reserch it is true that anywhere from 1000 to 2000 shots you will burn out a barrel. But even then it will still be accurate enough for almost 90% of the shots taken on game. It just won't shoot sub-moa. If you handload with reduced loads the barrel will last longer of course. Hope this helps, thanks and let us know what you decide.

I don't know how fast they will burn out a barrel because that depends on a lot more than the cartridge alone.

However, all other things being equal...........The more powder a particular cartridge burns and the faster the bullet is pushed the faster the barrel will go to crap.

Not picking on Idaho here but I'd just like to comment on this. If you are going to hand load and hunt with reduced charges what's the point of an ultra mag? You could just buy a regular 300 mag and do the same thing with regular loads or factory ammo.

If I wanted an Ultra Mag, I sure wouldn't let barrerl life hold me up!!!!!

Most hunting rifles never shoot 1,000 rounds in anyone's lifetime. Further a new barrel is not the end of the road and for about $300 one can be installed and blued.

Personally, I'd suspect the number 1,000 rounds is a pessimistic number. Properly cared for I'd expect at least double that amount of shooting on a barrel.

Bigbulls no offense taken. I have read most of your posts since I became a member, and I like and agree with your answers. I agree that there would be no point in buying a Ultra Mag with the intention of always using reduced loads, when a .300 Win with factory ammo is the same thing. I plan on shooting my ultra mag year around, at least once or twice a month in the winter months, and much more during the summer to fall. Durring the summer I plan on working up loads with premium bullets, to max for hunting season. But after the season is over I will shoot reduced loads with cost effective bullets, to stay in practice during the winter months. I do the same so to speak with my bow. Starting late spring early summer, shooting daily, I try to increase my poundage up to 75-80 pounds shooting accuratly with broadheads, to get ready for elk season. But after season, I drop my poundage to 60-65 pounds. Shooting field points of course, to stay in practice over the winter months. Bigbulls just courious do you mostly bowhunt or rifle hunt?

Very true.

Also true,but to be able to utilize the flatter trajectory that the ultramags offer over the regular mags,the shooter must spend a lot of time practising at longer ranges.So if you really want to make the most of your ultramag you either need other guns with similar trajectories to practise with or you will shoot out the barrel in a few years.If you don't intend to do a lot of practising you will not maintain the shooting skills to take full advantage of the ultramags.In short ,they are not a great choice for a one gun hunter unless you plan on regular rebarreling.

Idaho, Your method of shooting the ultra mag certainly does have good merit to keep in good famalarity (sp) with that rifle. Only problem I see is that you don't stay as famaliar with the trajectory of your full throttle hunting loads. I'm sure that you work up your hunting loads early enough to get in some good practice with them though. Most people do not take this kind of approach though (myself included[:'(]). Although I will definetly get back into reloading and shooting all the time after I graduate and get money coming back in.

I try to do as much hunting with both bow and rifle. Never one to turn down hunting just because of of my "hunting tool". I try my best to do it all but you know how that goes.[&:] It looks like I might have to miss elk season this year though due to me graduating August 9th. We may end up having to move to another state to go to work for a firearms company until I can go into business for myself.

I look at it this way: If I shoot out the barrel, I will just have a better one installed. Good luck.

it will take you a long long while to burn up a barrel even though there life is said to be shorter.....which does make sense.....after one shot out of my friend 338rum it was pretty dang hot...which is no good.......any gun where the bullet is moving THAT fast is going to have a shorter barrel life.......try to let it cool down between shots and take care of it......but even if its 1000 shots.......thats ALOT.......might not seem like alot but after paying for ammo and taking the recoil your not going to sit at the bench and shoot 100 rounds every weekend.......... although i was very surprised that the recoil of the 338 wasnt as much as i thought it would......very loud roar to it...neat gun ...good luck

1000 to 2000 rounds is probably about right. The thing is your probably need to rebarrel a 30-06 in that time due to cleaning. Maybe not if your the careful type, every time.

I have a 300RUM, and have shot one out. I had it rebarreled to a great Krieger barrel. But if I had it all to do over, I would have got a WSM. Not because of barrel life, but because of spreads of velocity. All the WSM's I have loaded for, I can get 30fps velocity spreads but get upwards of 80fps spreads with my RUM. And it does make a difference when shooting 600 yards. Which is probably what a person would do with this round. I do it for target.

If you are dead set on having a fast mover, don't let barrel life stop you. But if this is your first fast mover, think about a 7mm RM, 300WSM, or 300WM.

I am still saving up for a WSM to add to the arsenal.