Anyone ever "shot out" a barrel?

[KAYR1]

I have been enamored with my Savage heavy barrel in 22-250. It is shooting incredible groups with my handloads. (It shot two groups yesterday that measured .37") Naturally, I like to shoot a rifle this accurate, a LOT. I am cafeful not to shoot more than 3-5 shot strings at a time, then let the barrel cool. My handloads clock at around 3,600 fps with a 55-gr. bullet.

I was wondering if anyone has ever shot out a barrel?  If so, how much was a replacement, and did you send it to Savage, or do it yourself?  There will come a day when I may have to make this decision, and replace the barrel. You always hurt the one you love!

Thanks for any input

[UAD7116]

It real easy with a few inexpensive tools, check out savageshooters.com them guys know their savages

[LaOtto222]

I know what you mean by wanting to shoot a good rifle that lays in every shot where you want it. You just want to shoot and shoot and shoot, you just can't seem to over the fun. Can a barrel be shot out - you bet you can. High velocity means short barrel life. Taking your time not to over heat the barrel helps, but will not prevent it from eventually shooting it out. How long does it take to shoot one out? That varies with what you have your gun chambered in. A 22 Hornet will last lots longer than a 22-250. A 22-250 will last longer than a 220 Swift by a little. What kind of care you take in cleaning will also determine how long a barrel will last. If you do not use a guide when running the cleaning rod in and out of your bore, you will certainly wear it out much quicker. To a lesser degree powder type can shorten barrel life. It is the friction of the unburnt power going through that little opening at very high velocity that wears out a throat. Heat is a by product of this friction. When you get a barrel hot, the barrel metal will soften just a little and the friction from the powder will work on it even more. So a small diameter powder (like ball) will work on your barrel more than a softer stick powder. I am not talking lots of difference, just some. When the barrel starts to wear out, your accuracy will start to drop off. How much you will tolerate determines when it is time to rebarrel your rifle. There are benchrest folks that would not think of shooting past 500 rounds with out setting back the barrel or getting a new one. As far as rebarreling, the Savage/Stevens are easy to do. There are several barrel makers that will prechamber and thread their barrels for you. I just recently had a Shilen barrel custom done. It is a matter of how much you want to pay and getting a little lucky. Even the best barrel makers can have a stinker once in a while. Midway sells barrels for some common chambers. For $130 you can get a blued 22-250 barrel. I bought a SS fluted A&B barrel in 223 and it will shoot as well as your 22-250 does - fun to shoot isn't it? I have a 17 HMR that will also shoot that well on a calm day. Good Luck and Good Shooting

[KAYR1]

That is great information!  Thank you. I throttle back my loads a little below max, and do use a bore guide religiously. I am by no means a bench rest competitor, but I am an avid rifle enthusiast and reloader. Savage sure came up with a great concept with the barrel nut and headspacing, and I am sure that I could rebarrel myself when the time comes.

You gotta love the Savage. Mine will shoot with and better than a lot of custom rigs on the line at my range, and for 1/4 price or better. That leaves a lot of money freed up for shooting and reloading.  The price of a new barrel seems reasonable to me. I think that I may go with the fluted also, when the time comes.

Thanks again

KAYR1

[HillBillyFarmer]

I've seen some VERY accurate savage 22-250 rifles and I've seen some that have been shot out and I've seem some that guy's thought they were shot out. I bought a model 12 22-250 a couple years back that the guy told me the gun was totally shot out, his groups opened up to 2-3 inches, he sold it to me for $150. I asked my father-in-law what we could with the rifle, he said he had a set of chamber brushes and he cleaned it up for me. I can now shoot a 3 shot group at 100 yards that can be covered up with a dime!

[slim rem 7]

  what i like about my 06 is that it will still put the bullet where the cold barrel did ,,if its hot.. many high end guns can t say that.. slim

[McLernon]

I have a Remmy 700 action with a 26 inch Shilen stainless match grade barrel, jewel trigger and an H&S precision stock. It used to shoot 5 shot .375MOA groups with stout loads. Now I am 'chasing the rifling' and load the boolits 'loose' and jam them home into the rifling. Still after 2500 rounds it is showing its age.................................but I can still tag any Ground hog at 350 yards. I will retire it soon and maybe get a 6.5-284 Savage with a 30 inch barrel. Savage makes WONDERFUL rifles. If I were you I would not shoot 5 shot groups.....limit yourself to three shot groups and save your barrels throat that way. Also I would suggest a 50 gr boolit(3800 fps) and load it pretty hot and enjoy for what the 22-250 is............a very fast flat shooting varmint round. Your SS barrel will last a good while.

Have fun.

Mc

[Wyo. Coyote Hunter]

Kayar1, The .22-250 is one of my very favorite rounds. Have 2 and a 22-250AI. As for barrel life, I think the rate of fire has something to do with it, and the barrel itself. My AI shows a lot of wear after 2200 rds. BUT I have shot few strings out of it at prairie dogs. When I was shooting alot of prairie dogs, I had basicly two rifles a .222 and my old adl .22-250. That .22-250 is on its 3rd barrel. The last one went after 4400 rounds. Now many of these where shot when the barrel was hot after shooting dogs. What happened with this rifle was the bullets suddenly began to hit side ways or keyhole. The throat was so rough it ripped the jacket that it keyholed after it left the bore. I like to keep track of the rounds though my rifles. My old .222 has about 7000 though it. The bore and throat still looks fine, but there is some erosion in front of the chamber, but not much. It was a dog rifle also. Now that I have far few dogs to shoot, I have a Hornet, 2- .222's 2-223's a couple .22-250's, a 22-250 AI, and a swift. There are still some, but not like the old days.

[McLernon]

It's hard to beat the 222 for barrel life even if the barrel is plain carbon steel (not4140 Cr Mo.). With moderate loads and a SS or 4140 barrel I do wonder just how much longer a barrel in 222 would last.They are also very accurate..................mmmmm why don't I have one.......have a 223, 221 Hornet but no 222........I am going to have to do something about that.

My buddy had a Remmy 788 in 222 and it was very accurate piece even though it was well used.

Mc

[JeffG]

Anyone ever "shot out" a barrel?

No.  I have had third and fourth shooter positions on an M14 that needed replacing, in a match gun.  3000-4000 rounds...

[Double 30]

Yup, I can tell you it kinda hurts too I had a Marlin 336 that I bought used and put 3580 rounds through . At her prime sub inch groups were the norm at 100 yards, but when she started throwing 2 inches and larger and got erratic...I cleaned and scrubbed , but  there is no mistaking an eroded throat...Thats where a barrel gets " worn out" Had a Swiss K-31 with a bore like a rolled mirror.But it too was past saving. The leade of the rifling wasn't nice and sharp and the leading edge of the lands were rounded off.The Swiss shot steel jacketed bullets and that barrel showed erosion and wear.Still, you would be hard pressed to wear out a rifle barrel unless you are a HEAVY shooter.Its one of the reasons I shoot sabots and blackpowder in my muzzleloader.Clean them right and those barrels last a LONG time.BTW, erosion is less of a factor in rounds generating 45,000 psi or less. The hotter the round the quicker the erosion , all else being equal.