Question on Barrel Burning Catridges

[LEOHUNTER]

So I'm wondering what makes a barrel burner cartridge? For an example the 6.5 wsm everyone says is a Barrel burner, gets maybe 500rounds, before you lose accuracy...most of the time these guys are pushin fast bullets around 3300-3400.....
So would you gain barrel life by slowing down the bullet to like 3000-3100? or is it something totally different?

Thanks for your help.

 

[JMGlasgow]

I think it is a combination of bullet speed and large case capacity, and small diameter case neck.

 

[Dogtown]

Agreed and throat erosion is another issue common with overbore cartridges. While you can dial back the pressures and velocity to save the throat and bore such a beating, most of the cartridges that do that gain their performance advantage from those high velocities.

 

[bohem]

All of these things have significant impacts on the barrel life: Overbore ratio, powder speed, peak pressure, bullet type, bullet material, shooting cadence, cleaning schedule and technique.

 

[McCrazy]

To put Bohem's statement into layman's terms: the faster you propel a smaller bullet by burning more powder the faster your barrel wears out.

 

[ORD]

+1 on all of the above.

As for barrel life, give up the quest for extending barrel life as it is a losing battle by in large! You are going to either get great barrel life and "fair" ballistics at extended ranges or you'll get crap barrel life (1k rounds give or take a few hundred) and excellent long-range ballistics. Taking a cartridge like the 6.5WSM as your example, you'll lose a considerable amount of ELR performance by dropping your MV's by up to 10% or so just to extend your barrel life maybe (guesstimate) an addt'l 15-20%. If you want optimum performance at extended ranges, push your loads within the reasonable limits they were meant to be pushed and learn to live with barrel replacement as a fact of life. Barrels are fairly easy to replace and fairly cheap in the long-run.

Some things you CAN do to help are like those previously mentioned, including no long strings of fire, no running bullets to insane velocities, and use proper cleaning equipment/solvents/etc. AND proper cleaning techniques as well as intervals. Aside from that...fire away and try to plan ahead a few months before you'll need a rebarrel job done so you don't find yourself in a position of not having the equipment you need when you need it while you are awaiting the work to be completed (trust me...I speak from experience on that one). Good luck!

 

[bm11]

Rather than downloading the 6.5 WSM, just build a .260.

 

[eagleskier]

So how is George G. getting over 300 rounds from a barrel using a 6.5 SAUM? See the thread on the new Extreme Hunter rifle that GAP is developing?

 

[turbo54]

Rather than downloading the 6.5 WSM, just build a .260.

Or have GAP build you a 6.5 SAUM...

According to the thread about the "Extreme long range hunter", George's rifle has over 3300 rounds down the tube, is sub 1/2 moa, and achieves north of 3150fps from a 140.

To sum up:

FAR superior ballistics to the 260, and better barrel life too.

 

[eagleskier]

It looks like my next build. Now, do I redo my Crusader 300 WSM or keep that and go for something new? I'm thinking something new!!

 

[1bamashooter]

My LR deer rifle is a .270STW with a #4 26" Broughton barrel, I'm pushing a 130gr Barnes TTSX around 3650 and have close to 1K rounds through it with no signs of accuracy loss. I do not load to max and don't overheat the barrel.

 

[orrodr]

Get one in the wildcat 6.5mm - 06 which is a 30-06 case necked down from 308 to a 264 with greater speed than the 260 rem.

orrodr

 

[crowdog7]

I'm suprised no one has mentioned shoulder angle.
For instance, 243s are notorious barrel burners with a 20 degree shoulder, but when bumped to 30 degrees as in the case of the 6mmSLR, they're getting better accuracy and longer barrel life.

 

[Catwhacker]

I've often wondered what degree of accuracy we are talking about losing. I have a Sendero in 7mag that has 3-3.5k rounds down the tube & still shoots sub 1/2moa out to 1000yds when I do my part. I wouldn't believe it if I hadn't pulled the trigger on most of those rounds.

 

[gyr2]

What is the explanation of a 6,5 saum lasting over 3000 rds?

 

[jonthomps]

What is the explanation of a 6,5 saum lasting over 3000 rds?

Can't give a complete answer but part of it is the lower chamber pressures achieved with the SAUM (around 54,000). Read the above-mentioned thread about George's 6.5 phenom - he explains how the development started and why it's one bad mama jama.

 

[WallNutt]

I believe if you read the thread on the 6.5 SAUM, you will see they finally posted that the barrel has been set back once already. Makes more sense now that I know that.

 

[Phil1]

All of these things have significant impacts on the barrel life: Overbore ratio, powder speed, peak pressure, bullet type, bullet material, shooting cadence, cleaning schedule and technique.

agree

Together with the frequency of firings. Which leaves the chamber-bore area of the rifle little time to cool.

They make new barrels every day. When your first barrel is worn out get a new one in a better twist, better contour, etc.