Barrel Life

[ebruder]

Hi everyone...

I have a couple questions...

1) what is the expected barrel life of a Savage .223 factory barrel? I bought the rifle used... I have probably put 3500 rounds through it...

2) how do you tell if your barrel is shot out or nearing its end? I assume performance starts to go... do you find you need to clean the barrel more frequently to maintain accuracy? How easy is it to find someone wiht a bore scope?

Thanks

EB

 

[sunray]

1) There is no formula or specific number of rounds for any barrel. Depends on the ammo it has seen, but you're a long way from needing a new barrel. Especially as it's not a target barrel. Regular barrels will go on for eons.
2) The groups start to open up. A once fabulous load won't be anymore. Frequent cleaning can reduce barrel life. Mostly on the crown. You don't need a bore scope. Use either a bore light and look at the rifling or put a piece of white paper in the open action and look down from the muzzle. You're looking for sharp rifling and anything odd.

 

[JasonYuke]

Not sure about the 223 but the US sniper core suggests that the barrel life of a 308 will last over 5000. However they have done testing on the M24 barrels that suggest only 50% of the barrels lost .1 to .2 moa with over 20,000 rounds at 100 yards, and the other 50% was unchanged and some improved.
Now the only reason I know this is because I just bought a 700 with the M-24 rifle cut in it.
As for the 223, who knows I am guessing over 5000 as well with not a whole lot, but barrel to barrel varries.

 

[PEI ROB]

A new custom barrel will look terrible through a bore scope, looking through yours will scare you for no good reason. You likely have thousands more to go with a .223 but if cleaning can't bring your accuracy back, buy a new barrel. I think Lilja [ riflebarrels.com ] has 2 videos of bore scoped barrels but they do not reflect on the barrel's ability to group, you need to shoot a barrel to find out.

Cheers

 

[triton]

Well not that I know much about anything. But I would say if the .308 is around 5000 then the .223 with using much less powder. It should lat quite a bit longer. Unless a lower grade steel is used. That's just my take on it. But I know none of the specifics. I would say keep on shooting it till you see a significant change in it. Just my 2 cents.

Dave.

 

[Ganderite]

A stainless barrel lasts about twice as long as a blue one.

Ball powder is harder on barrels than single base extruded powder.

If the barrel has a straight shank section, an inch or two can be cut off the barrel and re-chambered. This can make it a near new barrel since the wear is in the first few inches.

 

[bigbull]

Hi everyone...

I have a couple questions...

1) what is the expected barrel life of a Savage .223 factory barrel? I bought the rifle used... I have probably put 3500 rounds through it...
A couple of ways barrel life expectancy can be judged isby the decrease in accuracy, of coarse this assumes that the barrel is a good consistent performer to begin with. Another way is by the decrease in velocity, of coarse carefull chronographing on a regular basis is required. Rechambering a barrel is one way to get the performance back but the barrel requires a good long shank to begin with. Ultimately your accuracy requirements will dictate what is acceptable.

2) how do you tell if your barrel is shot out or nearing its end? I assume performance starts to go... do you find you need to clean the barrel more frequently to maintain accuracy? How easy is it to find someone wiht a bore scope?
I think a bore scope is going to be hard to track down.

Thanks

EB

See my post above.
bigbull