.338 Lapua barrel life?
- Thread starter foxbat
- Start date
rnbra-shooter
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- New Brunswick
In 2000-2500 rounds, a .338 Lapua would wear an amount comparable to 3500-5000 rounds in a .308 Win.
Although it would probably still shoot just fine, I'd consider a 2500-round .338 Lapua barrel to be "all used up", in the sense that it doesn't owe you anything any more, and can quit shooting at any time without notice without you having any good reason to complain. I'd perhaps be willing to pay up to $100 for such a barrel.
For a barrel with 0-2500 rounds, I'd say that a fair price to pay would be a straight-line depreciation (based on round count) of the cost of a new barrel.
Don't overlook how surprisingly "cheap" a brand-new, match-grade barrel (Krieger, MacLennan etc), installed by a first-rate riflesmith, is compared to the price of brand new factory barrels. Don't overpay, either for a new factory barrel, or for any used barrel.
Although it would probably still shoot just fine, I'd consider a 2500-round .338 Lapua barrel to be "all used up", in the sense that it doesn't owe you anything any more, and can quit shooting at any time without notice without you having any good reason to complain. I'd perhaps be willing to pay up to $100 for such a barrel.
For a barrel with 0-2500 rounds, I'd say that a fair price to pay would be a straight-line depreciation (based on round count) of the cost of a new barrel.
Don't overlook how surprisingly "cheap" a brand-new, match-grade barrel (Krieger, MacLennan etc), installed by a first-rate riflesmith, is compared to the price of brand new factory barrels. Don't overpay, either for a new factory barrel, or for any used barrel.
Define useful?
Every barrel has a continuum of accuracy ranging from the first 10 shots (the most accurate in a barrel's life that pople like to waste with "breaking-in") to the point where the bullets no longer fall within a reasonable footprint of accuracy for your intended purpose. For an F-Class shooter that accuracy will be measured in hundreds, up to maybe 1500 rounds depending on how the barrel is cared for and shot. For most enthusiasts, the life will be much longer. Since ultra long range accuracy depends on so much more than just the gun, the extent to which barrel wear contributes to your success may be only part of the story.
the case capacity to case opening ratio is about on par with a 6.5X284, but slower burning powders mean that it's life will be longer. Don't shoot hot loads and don't overheat the barrel and you will be able to enjoy the gun for a couple of thousand rounds easily.
Every barrel has a continuum of accuracy ranging from the first 10 shots (the most accurate in a barrel's life that pople like to waste with "breaking-in") to the point where the bullets no longer fall within a reasonable footprint of accuracy for your intended purpose. For an F-Class shooter that accuracy will be measured in hundreds, up to maybe 1500 rounds depending on how the barrel is cared for and shot. For most enthusiasts, the life will be much longer. Since ultra long range accuracy depends on so much more than just the gun, the extent to which barrel wear contributes to your success may be only part of the story.
the case capacity to case opening ratio is about on par with a 6.5X284, but slower burning powders mean that it's life will be longer. Don't shoot hot loads and don't overheat the barrel and you will be able to enjoy the gun for a couple of thousand rounds easily.
- Location
- calgary alberta
Barrel life is DIRECTLY related to how hot the barrel is allowed to get, before the rifle is allowed to cool down.
A barrel can be destroyed in as little as 100 rounds if 1 is dumb enough to pump that many rounds through the barrel 1 after another as fast as possible.
Makes a great heat source for roasting dinner over though.
A barrel can be destroyed in as little as 100 rounds if 1 is dumb enough to pump that many rounds through the barrel 1 after another as fast as possible.
Makes a great heat source for roasting dinner over though.
This is from a former test engineer at Lapua and noted writer and expert:
Nitrocellulose powders of the same type have similar burning
temperature, despite of burning rate. Slower powders are used usually
in larger charges so they will generate more heat because there is
more powder in case. Slower powders will burn also outside the case,
so they will cause more heat erosion on barrel throat and first part
of rifling than faster ones. This is valid in large capacity magnums
such as the .300 Win. Mag.
Regards,
Peter
PGW Ross has previously commented on .338LM barrel life.
Nitrocellulose powders of the same type have similar burning
temperature, despite of burning rate. Slower powders are used usually
in larger charges so they will generate more heat because there is
more powder in case. Slower powders will burn also outside the case,
so they will cause more heat erosion on barrel throat and first part
of rifling than faster ones. This is valid in large capacity magnums
such as the .300 Win. Mag.
Regards,
Peter
PGW Ross has previously commented on .338LM barrel life.
