How long does a barrel last?

Shrek

Shrek

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A typical 12 gauge with an 18" barrel can be expected to last for how many rounds? Is their a difference in durability when different shells are used (bird shot vs. slugs or buckshot)?

I realize not all barrels are the same, some are chromed etc., etc. I am just looking for a ballpark figure from someone who knows much more about barrels than I do.
 
A shotgun barrel is a glorified piece of pipe. With no rifling to wear out and rust/corrosion your only enemy. I'd say they last forever with proper care. I've never heard of or seen a worn out shotgun barrel. Damaged yes, worn out, never.

TDC
 
Way longer than you will. The only thing that will cause it shotgun barrel to be unusable is rust, physically damaging it or loading the incorrect size of shell.
Cheers,
Grant
 
My oldest shotgun barrel is 105 years old.

I shot 125 rounds through it last Sunday.

It will still be shooting in another 100 years.

Jeff
 
darkshadow said:
My only worry would be an older shotgun and steel shot, I thought they would not hold up.
???
Click to expand...

There were excellent steels available at least as far back as the introduction of shot cartridges. With steel shot, the issue is not so much that chamber/barrel pressures are appreciably higher than other nitro powder shells, but that the pellets are significantly harder than lead. Steel pellets don't deform as easily as lead, and this can cause a "log jam" effect on the way through the choked portion of the barrels. Since the pellets don't deform, the barrel has to, resulting in ringed, bulged, or burst barrel(s).

Don't try it at home, but a gunsmith can tell you if your older shotgun is a viable candidate to have the chokes opened up for steel shot.
 
Steel shot is a problem with barrels, but not because of wear.

As previously mentioned it will bridge at the choke and bulge many barrels made before the mid 1980's.

Jeff
 
One other thing, consider simply using a non-toxic lead replacement shot such as Tungsten Matrix (see Kent Ammunition) or Bismuth, if you load your own.

Either one will cost more than lead, but not that much more than steel to make it worthwhile modifying any shotguns of value. If you think about it, there's no point in spending money on a cheap shotgun so, either way, substitute non-tox shot is probably a good idea. The exception would be if you'll be doing lots of waterfowl hunting.
 
Really as stated corrosion is the problem. If a barrel gets pitted and you have it honed out, the wall thickness gets smaller.

On a "typical" 12 ga. like a Remington 870, the barrel is a pipe, quite thick and could stand to have quite a bit of overbore size before the wall thickness becomes dangerously thin. Not so on many double guns. The barrel walls are close to minimum thickness when new to reduce weight, especially on high grade guns. Hone out a whole lot of pitting and the gun can be dangerous to shoot. Always have the bores measured if its a nice double gun and for gosh sakes, clean and keep those bores protected with a thin film of oil.
 
A question about how long a barrel will last has to assume no abuse.
Corriosion, pitting and honing is not about wear, it results from a abuse and neglect.

I can "wear" out a barrel in a day if I get to abuse it any way I want.

Jeff
 
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