What Determines Barrel Life?

[ICEMAN]

Saw some of the more informed members discussing barrel life on another thread. I thought that it could be discussed here so that others can join in on the fun. Keep it civil... 

I have a hand-me-down Remington 721 in .270 that has thousand and thousands of rounds down it.... The throat is looking a bit ugly, but it still shoots pretty darned good.

What actual burns up or ruins a barrel?

[norsepeak]

Powder burning is the biggest killer.  When you shoot magnum loads your burning more powder which causes the throat to get eroded, which leads to a loss in accuracy.  If its still shooting good, press on.

[high country]

throat erosion and crappy cleaning techniques

[Jamieb]

Most barrels that are wore out are from not letting the barrel cool down and improper cleaning.
Letting a barrel cool between groups and a bore guide will extend the life of a barrel by a long ways.
Hot gasses blasting the throat area over time does cause wear, more so in some of the hot rod cartridges but in most cases this will take years and a lot of rounds before it's noticeable.

[ICEMAN]

I have been rough on this gun, the way I cleaned it for years. I have learned my lesson...

[demontang]

cleaning can be a factor in barrel life too. Ive read a few things saying the some rifles groups open because they are cleaned so much that the crown goes away which isnt good.

[FC]

Big powder charges and high velocity do the most damage when actually shooting, bad cleaning habits will do just as much damage though if not more. Throat erosion is all about the powder charge, rifling wear is from velocity.

The heat from firing repeated groups I don't believe is enough to cause damage, the barrel's temp even getting up to 400-500 degrees is nothing compared to the temps achieved by a bullets passage through the bore and the time spent at those temps is exactly what damages barrels!

How many here have rapid fired their pistols? I know I do every time I take mine out for close range shooting (under 25 yards), I get them way too hot to holster yet they are as accurate as ever after thousands of rounds through them.

How many here have rapid fired their AR?    I'm sure we are all too grown up for that! They will take it repeatedly for quite a while without apparent damage and if fired somewhat more responsibly they will last for tens of thousands of rounds without detriment. Compare other cartridges such as the 220 Swift and the 257 Weatherby if you want to see some barrel eaters. Back your speed down (keep it under 3600) on either and you will likely double the lifespan of the barrel.

[Skyvalhunter]

With some barrels it is what they are made of. Some of the earlier Winchesters were made out of stainless steel.

[Cascade_Sherpa]

With some barrels it is what they are made of. Some of the earlier Winchesters were made out of stainless steel.

Almost every firearm manufacturer makes a model with a stainless barrel.  In fact most of the match grade barrels from Kreiger, Lilja, Rock, etc. are stainless barrels.  Maybe I'm not understanding your post but Winchester still makes barrels ouf of SS.  Nothing I've ever read or been told has led me to believe that SS barrels have a short life.

[high country]

stainless overbore rounds have a short life.....but still live a bit longer then cromo

[thinkingman]

Saw some of the more informed members discussing barrel life on another thread. I thought that it could be discussed here so that others can join in on the fun. Keep it civil... 

I have a hand-me-down Remington 721 in .270 that has thousand and thousands of rounds down it.... The throat is looking a bit ugly, but it still shoots pretty darned good.

What actual burns up or ruins a barrel?

The question of what burns up a barrel?...heat and pressure....the faster you accelerate a bullet, the more plasma-like effect you have on the throat.
Abrasion runs a distant second.  unless you have a rusted,  pitted barrel, or used a chemical or metal in the bore that was incompatible, you would have a hard time ruining it.  Chafing the muzzle can be done pretty easily with a brush or rod.

[high country]

or lack of a bore guide at the action and use of stainless rods, stainless brushes....etc

[jdb]

I have found that using a rifle barrel for a jack handle shortens barrel life considerably

[Bob33]

Throat erosion is usually the limiting factor.  Throat erosion is caused primarily by hot gasses. The type of powder, the charge of powder, and bullet seating depth all contribute.  Hot metal is more prone to erosion from hot gasses, so shooting through a hot barrel accelerates erosion.

A barrel doesn't "wear out", it just gets less accurate. At what point that becomes unacceptable is what determines its useful life.  Benchrest shooters might consider a barrel gone when the group size increases 1/8".  Hunters may well accept 3" groups as acceptable, and that could occur after thousands and thousands of rounds.

[high country]

ice, if you wore a crown, a cheap and easy trick is to use a brass round head screw with some valve lapping compund....chuck it up in a drill and lap away.