Barrel life span estimate

Prestwich said:
So let me see here. 10000 rounds of life in a barrel. So 200 rounds of fire in a session does not seem unreasonable or a lot. So lets say someone only goes shooting twice a month, so that is 400 rounds per month. Lets say that the gun is properly cleaned, not overly or not under just to take that out.

So that is 4800 rounds per year, so the barrel is only going to last 2 years with very little shooting? If the 20000 round count is correct, that means only a bit over 4 years?

What about those fortunate enough to be able to go shooting every week (but if they are that fortunate I guess they can afford parts) and throw a match in there, 800 rounds per month could be normal for them?

That says a barrel could only last a year or two? What do I have wrong here? For poor folks like me, this suggests we should just sight our AR's in and keep them around for when the SHTF or the Zombies come. :)
Click to expand...
Well, with reasonably proper care & maintenance it will last you at least 20k rounds... Even at that point it should still fire your bullets but accuracy will suffer.

I mean, I have a couple of uppers from the 1970's and they both still have working barrels... Sure, I should replace them... But considering they are uppers I dont care much about I really dont care if they shoot 6 MOA after tens of thousands of rounds and about 40 years.

Yeah, they are worn out and easily past 30k each. It doesn't mean that they dont still work, they just aren't 1 MOA anymore like they were 40 years ago.



Just remember... Its not like you'll shoot 20,000 and it will just explode and stop shooting bullets... :)
 
I shot more than 10,000 rounds tru my AR that's for sure and it kept getting more and more accurate. 6,000 rounds sounds ridiculous.
 
10000 that is the limit for most barrel steels but that is only accuracy guarrantee. There is no safety issues if you go beyond that number.
 
Artiz said:
A chrome-lined barrel doesn't really needs to be cleaned. You can clean the chamber every thousand rounds, or when your AR starts being unreliable.
Click to expand...

I normally run one patch through... Or a bore snake through once... Beyond that, a really good/through barrel cleaning is probably only needed every 500-1000 rounds (or if as you said its unreliable, or another person said if your groups open up).

That being said... I would give your star chamber a through cleaning after every range session. It's as important as cleaning the bolt IMHO.
 
This whole discussion is ridiculous - if you can afford to shoot out a barrel in a year or 2 (or 5) you can afford a new barrel. A couple hundred bucks and you're back in business, certainly less than a case of 5.56. :cool:

I've had barrels go 30K easily and my current service rifle is well over that and shoots better than I do - and a goodly amount of that was on FA...:eek:
 
NorCalDustin said:
yup... And there are probably a dozen other parts that are likely to wear/need replacement before your barrel.
Click to expand...

So bolt and barrel get replaced at +/- 20k what should be breaking/ wearing on my rifle before that?

I have been beating on my issued rifle for 14 years now, it is still shooting well despite all the lead down range. The only parts breakage has been gas rings that were removed from the bolt by an idiot with a wire brush who was "helping me out" by cleaning my rifle.
 
Gunnerlove said:
So bolt and barrel get replaced at +/- 20k what should be breaking/ wearing on my rifle before that?

I have been beating on my issued rifle for 14 years now, it is still shooting well despite all the lead down range. The only parts breakage has been gas rings that were removed from the bolt by an idiot with a wire brush who was "helping me out" by cleaning my rifle.
Click to expand...

In my experience these are the kind of parts that tend to break/wear out before the Bolt & Barrel:
  • Hammer
  • Disconnector
  • Extractor spring -- They wear out, keep some extras
  • Gas Rings -- Normally you will probably replace your gas rings 1-3 times before your bolt breaks/needs replacing.
  • Extractor retainer pins
  • Bolt cam pin -- These simply wear out over time
  • Firing pin -- I've seen firing pins chip, crack, etc... Though, probably due to people using the firing pin to clean their guns.
  • Buffer spring
  • Safety spring
  • Firing pin retaining pin -- Easy to break
  • Hammer Spring

Of course that's not accounting for people losing things like bolt cam pins or firing pin retaining pins... OR Doing something like using the firing pin to clean their gun...
 
Diemaco/Colt Canada barrels are the high range of the milspec allowed steels in 5.56mm barrels.
They are Chrome Moly Vandium steel, add in the chrome lining, and those barrels last much longer than other barrels.

Since chrome actually bonds with the underlying steel a better steel underneath will result in a longer lasting chrome barrel.

Depending on firing schedule, a good barrel in 5.56mm will last to 20k

An excellent barrel (outside the Milspec for the M16FOW) can last to 30k

A regular Milspec steel barrel is good for maybe 10k...

That is conversative firing schedules.


Colt Canada also uses the 'excellent steel' in the C9 and C6 barrels, and some companies use them in some products.
 
KevinB said:
Diemaco/Colt Canada barrels are the high range of the milspec allowed steels in 5.56mm barrels.
They are Chrome Moly Vandium steel, add in the chrome lining, and those barrels last much longer than other barrels.

Since chrome actually bonds with the underlying steel a better steel underneath will result in a longer lasting chrome barrel.

Depending on firing schedule, a good barrel in 5.56mm will last to 20k

An excellent barrel (outside the Milspec for the M16FOW) can last to 30k

A regular Milspec steel barrel is good for maybe 10k...

That is conversative firing schedules.


Colt Canada also uses the 'excellent steel' in the C9 and C6 barrels, and some companies use them in some products.
Click to expand...

Where do you place LMT barrels? I already know what you're likely to say since I take my AR knowledge from professional forums you are a member of, but what the heck, other people would benefit from knowing how good their products are... (I have a 14.5" LMT upper) ;)
 
LMT is MilSpec barrel - so its a good barrel, but not the best possible barrel, but one of the best available.

I think we (KAC/KMC) are the only company offering Colt Canada barrels to the public, but I may be wrong.

I do know Colt will be doing these barrels in all their production in the future from what I am told, both Military (US) and commercial sales.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom