We get several calls a week regarding the new Bartlein BB steel and what realistic life expectancy may be. this thread serves to summarize our findings with a BB steel barrel and to share info publicly. This is not intended for people to ask what we stock, why dont we stock left hand gain twist barrels, what stuff costs, etc.
Our sample barrel is a 6mm 7.5 twist .237 bore M24, and was chambered as a BugNut barrel nut pre-fit for Defiance Deviant in 6XC. I started the barrel off with approx 500 rounds to validate accuracy and create a baseline. the barrel was then handed off to two different team shooters (who shoot more than me) to run in a PRS competition setting, so lots of 10 shot strings, etc. Both my team shooters who used this barrel said it was as good as anything they'd had, so everyone has been happy with the accuracy and performance. I received this barrel back in early April with 3220 rounds though it, and Im intending to shoot it till its done...
SO, when is the barrel "done"? a few things to cover regarding barrel life and how one determines when a barrel is shot out. First, accuracy expectations vary from shooter to shooter, as do barrel availability and resources to get replacement chambered barrels. For me and my team guys, we usually run a 6XC barrel for approx 2000-2500 rounds. A barrel is rarely pulled because it is no longer competitive, but because its near the end of its life and the season is over- or perhaps a shooter has a 30-40 day break between matches and its a good time to start with a fresh barrel. Some guys will pull barrels when they start shooting 3/4 or even 1MOA, some guys pull barrels at 1000-1200 rounds and only use the best part of the barrels life. With that being said, here's the standards that Ive created for this BB steel barrel so it can be evaluated by a "pass or fail" test to determine when it will be pulled from service. Again, this has nothing to do with scheduling, convenience, etc. This barrel is on a back up rifle and Im gonna run it until it fails the following criteria:
Our sample barrel is a 6mm 7.5 twist .237 bore M24, and was chambered as a BugNut barrel nut pre-fit for Defiance Deviant in 6XC. I started the barrel off with approx 500 rounds to validate accuracy and create a baseline. the barrel was then handed off to two different team shooters (who shoot more than me) to run in a PRS competition setting, so lots of 10 shot strings, etc. Both my team shooters who used this barrel said it was as good as anything they'd had, so everyone has been happy with the accuracy and performance. I received this barrel back in early April with 3220 rounds though it, and Im intending to shoot it till its done...
SO, when is the barrel "done"? a few things to cover regarding barrel life and how one determines when a barrel is shot out. First, accuracy expectations vary from shooter to shooter, as do barrel availability and resources to get replacement chambered barrels. For me and my team guys, we usually run a 6XC barrel for approx 2000-2500 rounds. A barrel is rarely pulled because it is no longer competitive, but because its near the end of its life and the season is over- or perhaps a shooter has a 30-40 day break between matches and its a good time to start with a fresh barrel. Some guys will pull barrels when they start shooting 3/4 or even 1MOA, some guys pull barrels at 1000-1200 rounds and only use the best part of the barrels life. With that being said, here's the standards that Ive created for this BB steel barrel so it can be evaluated by a "pass or fail" test to determine when it will be pulled from service. Again, this has nothing to do with scheduling, convenience, etc. This barrel is on a back up rifle and Im gonna run it until it fails the following criteria:
- barrel must be able to consistently shoot 1/2MOA or smaller at 400 yards. I can shoot 400Y at the house so this is convenient for me. Evaluations will be done in good conditions
- barrel must be able to shoot to the 1/2MOA standard for a 100 round interval without cleaning. If the barrel cannot shoot through a one day match without needing cleaning then it will be pulled from service
- barrel must maintain a safe pressure state over the 100 round interval, meaning it cant get pressure spikes as the barrel starts to get more heavily fouled