I'm finally in a place where I have NO questions about my equipment. I'm just getting started in the long range/precision game and I just re-barreled my Savage 10 FP with a Rock Creek M24 contour barrel. I put 20 rounds through it today and OH MY GOSH, I have NEVER seen accuracy like this from this rifle. My question is this...how important is it to keep a round count on the barrel for a precision rifle? I started keeping one on the factory barrel I replaced, but got bored with it thinking it's not really that important. Was I mistaken to stop and should I keep a count on the new barrel? Please, take it easy on a newbie.
For a Precision Rifle, how important is it to...
- Thread starter LocoGringo
- Start date
I would say that depends on what you are doing with the rifle. Since you're a newer shooter I would say yes keep track so you have something to reference when you re-barrel it again (whenever that may be). If you are just plinking and having fun with it not intending to use it for anything 'important' down the road then I would say screw it and just go shoot.
Thanks for the responses. I'm working towards 600 yard and 1000 yard "F" class competitions. Now that my equipment is where I want it, it's time to start working on skills. From now on, there are no excuses. If I miss, it's a lack of skill on the operator's part...without question. I don't ever expect to be a winner, but I want to become worthy of the equipment I've (had) built. Plus, it's damn fun.
Do you load? If so put a talley mark down somewhere for every 100 ct, case, whatever of bullets you go through. I stopped keeping an exact round count a while ago. As long as you have a rough count it doesn't matter. Even on a barrel burner if you know where you are within 100 rounds you can guesstimate when you need to order a barrel. There are so many things that factor into barrel life that knowing your exact count isn't going to do you a lot of good.
It's much more useful to log your data from shooting.
It's much more useful to log your data from shooting.
Yep, I'm handloading. Surprised that the accuracy load for the original factory barrel produced a .25 MOA 3-shot group in the new barrel. I know...3 shots vs. 5 shots, but I was still tickled to find it so accurate with a load for a completely different barrel. I also understand you're supposed to work up a new load for a new barrel, but the accuracy load was .5 grain below book max and it's a better quality barrel, so I thought I'd roll the dice. The gamble worked.
I personally am a "take all I can get" person as far as shooting data goes. I'm keeping a specific round count (may miss a couple here and there, but it's not just guess-timation) for my precision rig.
There you go then. Just make sure you chrono it and make sure you're not getting a big velocity spread. I typically don't pay too much attention to groups at 100 yards as far as load development goes regardless of how many rounds went in it. That shows shooter skill more than how the load shoots. I always get loads during development that will one hole at 100 yards but fall on their dick further out because there is a huge velocity spread.
The only reason i keep round count is so when people ask i can give them an answer
Hardcore guys keep their burnt out barrels up their butts to show people.
Chrono is the next order of business. I just couldn't wait to get it to the range and since I had the opportunity, I jumped on it. With a better quality barrel, I expect my results on spread to be excellent as the results on the factory barrel were good enough for me to decide on the powder and buy a 8lb jug of it. Also, I will DEFINITELY try it at 200 yards next. Load recipe is 175 grain SMK, 44.5 grains Varget, Federal 210M primer and WCC military brass loaded to about 2.810". Will see what the chrono says soon.
personally it only matters if I have an expensive rifle, low barrel life caliber, well I have around 200 on my 260 and it + or- 40rnds
If you're planning to sell the barrel or the rifle in the future, then it's important. Good marketing gimmick.
It's important to me.
Not just for barrel replacement, but for tracking time/rounds between cleanings as well.
Not just for barrel replacement, but for tracking time/rounds between cleanings as well.
