Gunsmithing Barrel life of a .223
- Thread starter keith jones
- Start date
Re: Barrel life of a .223
I'm not sure, but are you asking if this barrel might be shot out already (as its used) or are you asking how many rounds you could shoot it before you would shoot it out.
If the former, How does the bolt, stock, and action look? Do they look excessively worn or very rough. I usually look at the bolt and bolt lugs of a rifle to gauge possible barrel wear. Of course, having the bore scoped would answer all your questions. It the bolt doesn't look to have too much wear, I would think the rifle would have a fairly low round count for a .223. A .223 should have thousands of rounds of barrel life.
BLK7
I'm not sure, but are you asking if this barrel might be shot out already (as its used) or are you asking how many rounds you could shoot it before you would shoot it out.
If the former, How does the bolt, stock, and action look? Do they look excessively worn or very rough. I usually look at the bolt and bolt lugs of a rifle to gauge possible barrel wear. Of course, having the bore scoped would answer all your questions. It the bolt doesn't look to have too much wear, I would think the rifle would have a fairly low round count for a .223. A .223 should have thousands of rounds of barrel life.
BLK7
Re: Barrel life of a .223
Some highpower shooters consider a 223 barrel "shot out" at 1200 rounds.
That's not to say that it's not accurate anymore, it's just not at the top of it's game anymore.
Some highpower shooters consider a 223 barrel "shot out" at 1200 rounds.
That's not to say that it's not accurate anymore, it's just not at the top of it's game anymore.
Re: Barrel life of a .223
Bought a new VSSF 223 when they first came out. Never shot it more than 15rds at a string and normally 10-12rds shooting pdogs. Cleaned it religously every 100rds. At 4700rds +/- 50rds I pulled it off as I didn't have the consistency I had. Later cut it off 1.25" and recut/rechamber to a Fireball. Shot at least another 2100rds down it and started getting occassional fliers so finally retired it. For sale if anyone wants it
In another instance I bought a lightly used Varmint Special in 222 that what I guessed from finish wear to have no more than 500rds down it. Now exwife put a tad over 6k rounds down it shooting dogs with same treatment as above. When she left I sold the rifle out of principle on Gunbroker to a young gent in ND for $400(2005). It still shot submoa. Last year(2010) seen it listed on GB from a seller in MN. Email confirmed it to be same rifle(I gave him SN along with history). Still looked good in pics. Don't know how much it was shot after leaving my posession but it sold for over $700. It weren't no virgin by then and was a whore for ammo. LOL course I found same true for exwife also but it weren't 'ammo' that turned her crank!!!!
Am sure there is considerable differences in actual useable lifespan depending on use, reloading components used, particular lot of barrel steel etc etc.
YMMV
Bought a new VSSF 223 when they first came out. Never shot it more than 15rds at a string and normally 10-12rds shooting pdogs. Cleaned it religously every 100rds. At 4700rds +/- 50rds I pulled it off as I didn't have the consistency I had. Later cut it off 1.25" and recut/rechamber to a Fireball. Shot at least another 2100rds down it and started getting occassional fliers so finally retired it. For sale if anyone wants it
In another instance I bought a lightly used Varmint Special in 222 that what I guessed from finish wear to have no more than 500rds down it. Now exwife put a tad over 6k rounds down it shooting dogs with same treatment as above. When she left I sold the rifle out of principle on Gunbroker to a young gent in ND for $400(2005). It still shot submoa. Last year(2010) seen it listed on GB from a seller in MN. Email confirmed it to be same rifle(I gave him SN along with history). Still looked good in pics. Don't know how much it was shot after leaving my posession but it sold for over $700. It weren't no virgin by then and was a whore for ammo. LOL course I found same true for exwife also but it weren't 'ammo' that turned her crank!!!!
Am sure there is considerable differences in actual useable lifespan depending on use, reloading components used, particular lot of barrel steel etc etc.
YMMV
Re: Barrel life of a .223
what do you consider shot out... .5 moa, 1MOA?
Unless you're going to compete in BR competition I'd say 5K plus depending on reloading. When that throat gets too eroded, do a bbl setback and you'll be good another few thousand rounds.
what do you consider shot out... .5 moa, 1MOA?
Unless you're going to compete in BR competition I'd say 5K plus depending on reloading. When that throat gets too eroded, do a bbl setback and you'll be good another few thousand rounds.
Re: Barrel life of a .223
David Karcher, a friend of mine, won the nationals in 2002.
His AR 15 had over 7000 rounds through it at the time.
C.
David Karcher, a friend of mine, won the nationals in 2002.
His AR 15 had over 7000 rounds through it at the time.
C.
Re: Barrel life of a .223
My AR has over 4k thru it, varying from mild to bulged cases (only a until i noticed)pressure wise, and slow fired load testing groups, to dumping mags thru until there were no more and you needed gloves to hold it, its been bathed in dust/dirt, and dropped in snow and mud, cleaned when I thought about, and just generally abused and neglected as a truck gun, the bore is starting to show a little wear, but with the right handloads it'll still shot a little under MOA, might not be what it once was but its got allot of usable life left. .223 is pretty easy on bores, owners are apt to be worse for them.
My AR has over 4k thru it, varying from mild to bulged cases (only a until i noticed)pressure wise, and slow fired load testing groups, to dumping mags thru until there were no more and you needed gloves to hold it, its been bathed in dust/dirt, and dropped in snow and mud, cleaned when I thought about, and just generally abused and neglected as a truck gun, the bore is starting to show a little wear, but with the right handloads it'll still shot a little under MOA, might not be what it once was but its got allot of usable life left. .223 is pretty easy on bores, owners are apt to be worse for them.
Re: Barrel life of a .223
Have a heavy Pac-Nor match with over 10000, shoots as good as it ever did. 1/4 inch @ 100yd 5 shot group
Have a heavy Pac-Nor match with over 10000, shoots as good as it ever did. 1/4 inch @ 100yd 5 shot group
Re: Barrel life of a .223
Barrel life is a function of shooting style. If you only shoot from a bench with 5 shot strings, never letting the barrel heat up, the barrel will last a very long time. High power longest string is 10 shots in rapid, so barrel doesn't get super hot. F-class shoots 20 rounds in 10 minutes (20 minute max) so the barrel tends to get really hot.
Barrel run hot = shorter life.
At the end of the day, barrels are cheap and a consumable. Most barrels can be replaced for $500 or so. I wouldn't worry about it unless it was obviously abused.
Barrel life is a function of shooting style. If you only shoot from a bench with 5 shot strings, never letting the barrel heat up, the barrel will last a very long time. High power longest string is 10 shots in rapid, so barrel doesn't get super hot. F-class shoots 20 rounds in 10 minutes (20 minute max) so the barrel tends to get really hot.
Barrel run hot = shorter life.
At the end of the day, barrels are cheap and a consumable. Most barrels can be replaced for $500 or so. I wouldn't worry about it unless it was obviously abused.
Re: Barrel life of a .223
Why do you think that a hot barrel has a shorter life? No trying to argue with you, just want to know why.
Why do you think that a hot barrel has a shorter life? No trying to argue with you, just want to know why.
Re: Barrel life of a .223
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: PD nut</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Why do you think that a hot barrel has a shorter life? No trying to argue with you, just want to know why.</div></div>
If a barrel has been heated up super hot over and over, then the throat area is going to become fire cracked sooner than if you were to keep it cooler and had shorter shot strings.
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: PD nut</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Why do you think that a hot barrel has a shorter life? No trying to argue with you, just want to know why.</div></div>
If a barrel has been heated up super hot over and over, then the throat area is going to become fire cracked sooner than if you were to keep it cooler and had shorter shot strings.
