AR15 Barrel Life?

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What's everyone's take on the avg. life of an AR barrel these days? Does manufacturer make much of a difference or is it solely materials (like chrome-moly or stainless)? I've seen some manufacturers touting different treatments (cryo treat, air gauging, mag particle inspect etc) do these really make a huge difference in longevity and accuracy?

How many rounds (on avg) before POA/POI becomes effected due to throat erosion and how much does ammo really play role? (ie. hot loads)

Whats the best way to examine and determine if a barrel is in need of replacement?
 
In a target rifle, there are some useful indicators of throat erosion.
The leade moves foreward.
Groups develop vertical dispersion at longer ranges. This is the result of increasing variations in velocity.

A lot depends on what the rifle is being used for. And what is an acceptable standard of accuracy for that use.
For something like CQB, shooting is close in and fast, often from standing position. The standard of accuracy required isn't all that high. If the bullets aren't keyholing, its probably good enough.
A serious competitor in Service rifle needs an accurate rifle. If the rifle starts out at one minute, by the time its shooting 2 1/2, the barrel is likely going to be changed.
I would expect that four or five thousand rounds would not be unreasonable.
A service grade plated barrel would probably give service grade accuracy for many more rounds than that.
 
I've read that it depend on a lot of things, like: rate of fire, barrel heat and how you treath your barrel.

The average barrel is good for at least 8000 rounds before significative précision lost. Chrome lined are good for double that and even 20000.

With the semi only and 5-10 rounds mags, I doubt someone will burn his barrel under 8000 rounds.
 
hbean said:
Unless you are privilege enough to own a full auto rifle, the barrel should outlast your interest in the rifle.
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Intended to agree.
With chrome lined barrels and all the new coatings they have out there, for civilian use, you will grow old and die before you can afford enough ammo to smoke out your barrel. Oh, unless your rich. If that's the case, I'm taking donations. ;)
 
Minimum 10k or a lot more with a hammer forged barrel. My Colt Canada barrel 14.5" has almost 20k with no noticeable loss of accuracy. It often sees 500 rounds rapidly fired. I've learned NOT to pull copper and to not pull brushes through the barrel very often. More barrels are worn out from excessive cleaning than are worn out from use. Just my observations.
 
We had one of our suppressed rifles at the CANSEC Live Fire Night Shoot this week. Guys were popping 200m head shots with NVG's on a rifle with 10k-15k rnds through it.

The crew from Colt Canada was stopped from trying to open her up to find where we put the voodoo.

Some barrels have a short life, some a very long life. Ours.. we haven't found the end of life point as of yet. We have a pile of guns sporting +15k rnds through them with no loss of accuracy. Our ARC+ processing is proving to be a resilient case of awesome. .. and is making a few people nervous. Others yet, trying to figure out what we're doing.
 
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North Eastern Arms said:
We had one of our suppressed rifles at the CANSEC Live Fire Night Shoot this week. Guys were popping 200m head shots with NVG's on a rifle with 10k-15k rnds through it.

The crew from Colt Canada was stopped from trying to open her up to find where we put the voodoo.

Some barrels have a short life, some a very long life. Ours.. we haven't found the end of life point as of yet. We have a pile of guns sporting +15k rnds through them with no loss of accuracy. Our ARC+ processing is proving to be a resilient case of awesome. .. and is making a few people nervous. Others yet, trying to figure out what we're doing.
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Didt stay for the night shoot portion. I was very impressed with that supppressed NEA rifle.
 
North Eastern Arms said:
We had one of our suppressed rifles at the CANSEC Live Fire Night Shoot this week. Guys were popping 200m head shots with NVG's on a rifle with 10k-15k rnds through it.

The crew from Colt Canada was stopped from trying to open her up to find where we put the voodoo.

Some barrels have a short life, some a very long life. Ours.. we haven't found the end of life point as of yet. We have a pile of guns sporting +15k rnds through them with no loss of accuracy. Our ARC+ processing is proving to be a resilient case of awesome. .. and is making a few people nervous. Others yet, trying to figure out what we're doing.
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NEA, how have the other components of the rifles held up after that many rounds?? Im seriously looking at a 14.5'er for my first AR!
 
For accuracy on my NEA barrel in comparison to my Spikes Tactical and my DPMS, is of noticable difference in comparison. Way better.
Question.
Is it not true that the Polygonal barrels will have a longer life then the standard rifling? I noticed, Noveske has changed to Poly rifling with this latest run on their higher end barrels. NEA beat them to the mark on that one, I'd say. GO CANADA!
 
DARKSTANG said:
For accuracy on my NEA barrel in comparison to my Spikes Tactical and my DPMS, is of noticable difference in comparison. Way better.
Question.
Is it not true that the Polygonal barrels will have a longer life then the standard rifling? I noticed, Noveske has changed to Poly rifling with this latest run on their higher end barrels. NEA beat them to the mark on that one, I'd say. GO CANADA!
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I have had a Noveske afghan for a few years that had poly rifling....
 
North Eastern Arms said:
We had one of our suppressed rifles at the CANSEC Live Fire Night Shoot this week. Guys were popping 200m head shots with NVG's on a rifle with 10k-15k rnds through it.

The crew from Colt Canada was stopped from trying to open her up to find where we put the voodoo.

Some barrels have a short life, some a very long life. Ours.. we haven't found the end of life point as of yet. We have a pile of guns sporting +15k rnds through them with no loss of accuracy. Our ARC+ processing is proving to be a resilient case of awesome. .. and is making a few people nervous. Others yet, trying to figure out what we're doing.
Click to expand...

correct me if I am wrong, but NEA offers a lifetime warranty on their guns too, so if the barrel got shot out at say 20k+ rounds, it would be replaced?
 
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