Author Topic: shooting out a barrel  (Read 654 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline deerman12

  • Trade Count: (17)
  • Contributor
  • ***
  • Posts: 384
  • Gender: Male
shooting out a barrel
« on: April 05, 2005, 09:58:25 AM »
I have a 300 saum , 243 and 204 rifle.  Who has a good idea of how many shots it takes to burn out barrels on these.  I undertand that the type of loads has alot to do with it, but I was curious.Thanks

Offline Redhawk1

  • Life time NRA Supporter.
  • GBO Supporter
  • Trade Count: (78)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 10748
  • Gender: Male
shooting out a barrel
« Reply #1 on: April 05, 2005, 11:56:57 AM »
With todays technology it is a lot harder to burn out a barrel. The barrels are made of better material than in the past. JMHO.  :D
If  you're going to make a hole, make it a big one.
ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ
Only two defining forces have ever offered to die for you,
Jesus Christ and the American G. I.
One died for your soul, the other for your freedom

Endowment Life Member of the NRA
Life Member NA

Offline beemanbeme

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2587
shooting out a barrel
« Reply #2 on: April 05, 2005, 12:19:18 PM »
That's kinda like asking "how long is a piece of string"?  A great deal depends on the intensity of the loads you're shooting and the pace at which you shoot those loads.  
Heat is your big enemy.  If you shoot a magnum three times in rapid succession, the barrel will be too hot to touch and you can believe that throat erosion has started.  But if you wait a bit between shots, the damage to your bore is much less.  And, its life expectancy is much greater.  
I have never had a barrel just suddenly go south.  But rather, its a creeping loss of accuracy.  I used a 22-250VS for several years.  Years that included P dog trips to Wyoming and factory bench matches so the rifle was being shot a lot and often.  Each spring, I would re-set my COL to match the eroded throat and add enough powder to bring the velocity back to what it had been.  When I finally had it rebarrelled, I was seating the bullets into less than half the neck of the cartridge.  It was still shooting sub-moa but an occassional flyer would pull a group to over an inch.  I always waited at least 1 minute -by a watch- between shots and while Pdog shooting, I would switch off to another rifle after 10 shots.

Offline deerman12

  • Trade Count: (17)
  • Contributor
  • ***
  • Posts: 384
  • Gender: Male
shooting out a barrel
« Reply #3 on: April 06, 2005, 05:37:53 AM »
The reason I ask these are my hunting rifles.  I enjoy going down to my range on the back of my property and shooting 50-100 rounds a couple of times a month(combined between the 3).  Since I worry about stupid things most of the time, I was just curious.  I remember always noticing most guys I know just shoot a couple of times a year with their hunting rifles.

Offline skb2706

  • Trade Count: (5)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1428
shooting out a barrel
« Reply #4 on: April 06, 2005, 09:09:44 AM »
Look at it this way........if you never shoot them they will last forever. So someday when you're gone the friends and family can come by and marvel at your pristine guns that never got used and you never learned to shoot.
I have an old Savage 22-250 that I bought used...thing has to be twenty five, thirty years old. Since I have had it I know for a fact I can account for 5000 rds. most of which shot prairie dogs with an extremely high success rate. The gun has been flamin hot several times and I still take it and it still does exactly what we got it for. Maybe I will rebarrel it someday.........when I can think of a good reason.
I can think of many things to worry about that are much more important.

Offline Redhawk1

  • Life time NRA Supporter.
  • GBO Supporter
  • Trade Count: (78)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 10748
  • Gender: Male
shooting out a barrel
« Reply #5 on: April 06, 2005, 10:11:56 AM »
Quote from: skb2706
Look at it this way........if you never shoot them they will last forever. So someday when you're gone the friends and family can come by and marvel at your pristine guns that never got used and you never learned to shoot.
I have an old Savage 22-250 that I bought used...thing has to be twenty five, thirty years old. Since I have had it I know for a fact I can account for 5000 rds. most of which shot prairie dogs with an extremely high success rate. The gun has been flamin hot several times and I still take it and it still does exactly what we got it for. Maybe I will rebarrel it someday.........when I can think of a good reason.
I can think of many things to worry about that are much more important.


Can't argue with that.  :D
If  you're going to make a hole, make it a big one.
ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ
Only two defining forces have ever offered to die for you,
Jesus Christ and the American G. I.
One died for your soul, the other for your freedom

Endowment Life Member of the NRA
Life Member NA

Offline MickinColo

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Avid Poster
  • **
  • Posts: 163
shooting out a barrel
« Reply #6 on: April 06, 2005, 03:35:41 PM »
deerman12.

You can abuse a rifle and itÂ’s not going to perform for very many years.
Beemanbeme, Redhawk1, and skb2706 gave good advice.
 :grin:
Keep your powder dry and your flint sharp

Offline Graybeard

  • Administrator
  • Trade Count: (69)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 27100
  • Gender: Male
shooting out a barrel
« Reply #7 on: April 06, 2005, 05:58:58 PM »
Too many variables for a hard and fast answer. If you treat them right, don't over heat them and clean them properly you should be getting acceptable accuracy for at least 5000 to 10,000 rounds. BUT if you try hard you can burn one out in one shooting session. Just keep on keeping on as fast as you can load and fire it. You can burn them up in an hour or so.


Bill aka the Graybeard
President, Graybeard Outdoor Enterprises
256-435-1125

I am not a lawyer and do not give legal advice.

Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life anyone who believes in Him will have everlasting life!

Offline skb2706

  • Trade Count: (5)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1428
shooting out a barrel
« Reply #8 on: April 07, 2005, 03:41:59 AM »
Owning a gun that doesn't get shot is kinda like owning a hammer that doesn't drive nails...............whats the point ?

Offline High Brass

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Contributor
  • ***
  • Posts: 308
shooting out a barrel
« Reply #9 on: April 08, 2005, 01:45:33 AM »
This may sound like I just don't care but......I only have one centerfire rifle that I worry about "wearing out".  It's one that I bought off my Dad and it has sentimental value.  My 243 and 280 it doesn't matter.  Matter of fact someone asked me what I will do when my 243s barrel gets shot out.  I said "Oh, that's easy".  "I'll have Douglas put another barrel on it and keep trucking".

Offline deerman12

  • Trade Count: (17)
  • Contributor
  • ***
  • Posts: 384
  • Gender: Male
shooting out a barrel
« Reply #10 on: April 08, 2005, 04:36:21 AM »
I didn't say I would not use them.  I just wondering to what degree I should feel guilty for blowing money on ammo and rifles.  So far, I feel no guilt, but I sure love to burn some powder every chance I get.   My neighbors across the river probably hate me, but at least they know when I am home on Sundays. :grin:

Offline skb2706

  • Trade Count: (5)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1428
shooting out a barrel
« Reply #11 on: April 08, 2005, 04:53:45 AM »
My best guess is that with your .300 you will not have to worry in this lifetime. The .204 and .243 are a whole different story.......if you use them hardcore prairie dog rigs you "could" shoot them out in a few thousand rounds....but who cares. Think of the fun you will have getting there.

Offline lilabner

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • A Real Regular
  • ****
  • Posts: 577
shooting out a barrel
« Reply #12 on: April 11, 2005, 05:20:30 PM »
I agree with skb - the barrel burners are mostly the smaller calibers with the larger case capacity. A .243 will shoot out a barrel a lot quicker than a .308. Of course, a .30 caliber with an oversize case (like the .300 RUM) will also have short barrel life.  Again using the .308 case as an example, barrel life is shortest for the .243, somewhat better for the 7mm-08, better yet for the .308 and best for the .358 Winchester.

Offline wild willy

  • GBO Supporter
  • Trade Count: (2)
  • Avid Poster
  • *****
  • Posts: 228
shooting out a barrel
« Reply #13 on: April 12, 2005, 02:54:27 PM »
A barrel lasts  5 to 10 seconds think about it some don't last that long