Typical barrel life 6.5PRC

[T-Dozzer]

My Fierce CT Rival arrived finally. Plan to target shoot it somewhat often. What am I looking at for barrel life? (Roughly). Mostly factory 143gr. Eld-x to start.

[jjhunter]

You won’t shoot it out at your ripe old age.   

[Karl Blanchard]

My Fierce CT Rival arrived finally. Plan to target shoot it somewhat often. What am I looking at for barrel life? (Roughly). Mostly factory 143gr. Eld-x to start.

lot of variables to barrel life such as powder choice, long shot strings etc but you can likely expect 1200ish rounds before it's time for a new tube.

[carpsniperg2]

I agree, I think 1k-1.4k would be a solid guess.

[buckfvr]

Take your time shooting, treat it like a thin sporter barrel.  I know of more than one carbon barrel that was ruined buy running it hot, hard to tell how hot its getting under the carbon, but you can ruin the throat hence accuracy by hotting it up.

[Karl Blanchard]

There's no difference in barrel life between carbon and steel fyi. The throat goes long before the barrel itself does and regardless of carbon vs steel they are still a steel barrel. I've shot out both types in the same caliber using virtually the same load.

[buckfvr]

Ya well I know of a couple (carbons) that had the throats shot out in less than 100 rounds because they werent allowed to cool properly, its what I saw, not what i heard.  I was there. FWIW

[Karl Blanchard]

Ya well I know of a couple (carbons) that had the throats shot out in less than 100 rounds because they werent allowed to cool properly, its what I saw, not what i heard.  I was there. FWIW

what barrel manufacturer were they if you don't mind me asking?

[buckfvr]

Proof, and they were both replaced free without even returning the ones for inspection.

We didnt blame the mfg., as we know it was a combination of hot summer and being impatient during break in and development.

[timberfaller]

As a world class shooter and rifle builder told me after he built a rifle for me said,  "speed kills"!  The faster a bullet travels down a barrel, the shorter life it will have.

[Karl Blanchard]

Proof, and they were both replaced free without even returning the ones for inspection.

We didnt blame the mfg., as we know it was a combination of hot summer and being impatient during break in and development.

That's what I figured. Proof has a high resin content which traps heat bad. Having shot proof side by side with several other carbons the lack of heat dissipation was very noticeable. 

[buckfvr]

Plus its near impossible to get a good feel for whats going on temp wise in the chamber by laying your hand on it or even using the thermal sensor.

I never would have said a word except the op mentioned "target shooting somewhat often".

I'm not anti-carbon barrels, was just sharing an experience.  My son has several carbon barrels, no issues, but he is very conscientious shooting them.  All hunting applications so no need to shoot long strings.  Our focus for hunting purposes is of course dead nuts sight in for first shot and no exception second shot in same hole as first or darn close to it.  Just our way of doing it.

[T-Dozzer]

Thanks, everyone. I plan on letting it cool between shots.
Feirce said they "shot in" the barrel as they did the ammo selection process & CDS turret. Not sure what all that entails
& haven't heard back on break-in process. Looks like they had it at sub .5 MOA. Hopefully that tightens up.

[fowl smacker]

Thanks, everyone. I plan on letting it cool between shots.
Feirce said they "shot in" the barrel as they did the ammo selection process & CDS turret. Not sure what all that entails
& haven't heard back on break-in process. Looks like they had it at sub .5 MOA. Hopefully that tightens up.

Fierce break in process per their website.

[T-Dozzer]

Thanks, everyone. I plan on letting it cool between shots.
Feirce said they "shot in" the barrel as they did the ammo selection process & CDS turret. Not sure what all that entails
& haven't heard back on break-in process. Looks like they had it at sub .5 MOA. Hopefully that tightens up.

Fierce break in process per their website.

I saw that before buying. With their dial up fee, they shoot it a bit. Thats why I circled back for clarity with them.
Just got off phone with them (great customer service) & they told me to just clean every 5rnds for next 15rnds.
I also asked about cool down time & was told shoot 3 rounds w/o much of a weight, then let cool for a minute or 2.