.223 barrel life?

M

mustardtiger56

Guest
Hi guys,

So I'm just getting into some longer range shooting and was told this would be the place to get a good answer for this question. As I've been getting all kinds of mixed answers elsewhere.

I have a heavy barrelled X-Bolt Varmint Special in .223 and am curious as to how long I should expect this barrel to remain accurate out to a maximum of 500 yards(1/12 twist shooting 53gr V-max at long range and cheapo 55gr for varmints). The barrel now has about 250 rounds through it that I have shot within the last 9 or so months. I clean it after every 40 or so rounds and use a one piece rod with bore guide. Typically, I try not to let it get too hot to touch and allow time to cool between shots.

I know this depends on many variables, but from what I've gathered I should expect around 3k-4k rounds of good 500 yard accuracy. Some have suggested less and others have suggested 10k or more. Let me know what you guys think based on your experiences. Appreciate it
 
May apply...

My friend who shoots service rifle competition, usually gets around 5000 plus rounds through his SS Krieger barrels on his AR 15 rifle before accuracy falls off. He is a High Master shooter with a Distinguished Rifleman badge from NRA competition so accuracy means a lot to him.
 
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Virg,
High power shooting only requires 2 moa for all 10's and 1 moa for x's.
Sorta like a hunting gun to me.
 
Dusty Stevens said:
Factory barrels can go long time, some go short time. One never knows!
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I understand, but assuming I give it a break when it gets hot and clean it regularly using a borebrush, one piece rod etc. Can you give a ballpark number? 3k? 5k? Maybe even 8-10k?
 
mustardtiger56 said:
I understand, but assuming I give it a break when it gets hot and clean it regularly using a borebrush, one piece rod etc. Can you give a ballpark number? 3k? 5k? Maybe even 8-10k?
Click to expand...

my factory chromoly savage .223 barrel was done by 1800 rounds. firecracked for the first 3 inches.
 
afrench said:
my factory chromoly savage .223 barrel was done by 1800 rounds. firecracked for the first 3 inches.
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Wow, that's a very low number for a .223 based on what I've gathered elsewhere. I think 2k was the lowest I heard anyone mention. Did you shoot it in long strings so that barrel was burning hot? or was it just normal shooting that led to such short life?
 
What you asked was " How long will my chevy last"?
There are no answers until you are done, only then you will know the answer.
Way too many variables to produce an answer.
 
mustardtiger56 said:
Wow, that's a very low number for a .223 based on what I've gathered elsewhere. I think 2k was the lowest I heard anyone mention. Did you shoot it in long strings so that barrel was burning hot? or was it just normal shooting that led to such short life?
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it's a 9 twist barrel. i shot 75 amax with varget to about 2840.

it was setup as a cheap, long range 'precision' type trainer. mostly banged steel at varying distances, so rate of fire was not much of an issue. it was definitely babied compared to what happens with my Benchrest barrels.

the factory barrel's steel was just not as good as a custom SS barrel. like what Dusty and others have mentioned, there isn't a number we can give you. lots of factors go into it but the quality of that factory barrel's steel is a big one.

the good news is, they do make more. just burn that thing out and screw a new one on when it's gone.
 
afrench said:
it's a 9 twist barrel. i shot 75 amax with varget to about 2840.

it was setup as a cheap, long range 'precision' type trainer. mostly banged steel at varying distances, so rate of fire was not much of an issue. it was definitely babied compared to what happens with my Benchrest barrels.

the factory barrel's steel was just not as good as a custom SS barrel. like what Dusty and others have mentioned, there isn't a number we can give you. lots of factors go into it but the quality of that factory barrel's steel is a big one.

the good news is, they do make more. just burn that thing out and screw a new one on when it's gone.
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Could the fact that you were shooting 75gr loads have led to shorter than average barrel life, compared to if you had been shooting 50-55gr rounds?
 
mustardtiger56 said:
Could the fact that you were shooting 75gr loads have led to shorter than average barrel life, compared to if you had been shooting 50-55gr rounds?
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possibly. that's one idea i've read before.

another is that my barrel life would have been even shorter, using quite a bit more of a faster burning powder with lighter bullets.

i was somewhat surprised when it wouldn't hold 1 moa at distance there toward the end... figured it would be good for at least 2-3000 rounds. it's now wearing a Bartlein SS barrel.
 
Maybe so...but...

CMaier said:
Virg,
High power shooting only requires 2 moa for all 10's and 1 moa for x's.
Sorta like a hunting gun to me.
Click to expand...

Maybe so, but he is an ex bench rest shooter and every 1/4" means a lot to him. Using reloading techniques po..po'd by other Hi Power and service rifle friends, he obtained his success in this sport very quickly. He did not accept the opinion of 1 moa for X's. And with a little effort readily beat that accuracy rate. Comes in handy to off set some off hand wobble sometimes.
 
Can't speak to the .223, but my .222 Rem and .222 Rem Mag both are going strong at 3,950 and 3,100 respectively. Each has been bore-scoped and show the expected wear (but no erosion or fire-cracking). The barrels are Shilen SS's.

-Lee
www.singleactions.com
 
Lee Martin said:
Can't speak to the .223, but my .222 Rem and .222 Rem Mag both are going strong at 3,950 and 3,100 respectively. Each has been bore-scoped and show the expected wear (but no erosion or fire-cracking). The barrels are Shilen SS's.

-Lee
www.singleactions.com
Click to expand...
Interesting,
Do you know if .222's have considerably longer barrel life than .223? Also, would an aftermarket SS barrel like the one you have be engineered to have longer barrel life than a factory matte barrel(in this case Browning) or is the only real difference accuracy and overall quality?
 
I have had a number of 223s and never had near the barrel life I have gotten from the 222 and I'm not sure why. All were well cared for, cleaned proper and barrel heat held to a minimum.. Every barrel is a different factory or custom..
 
LW Moore said:
I have had a number of 223s and never had near the barrel life I have gotten from the 222 and I'm not sure why. All were well cared for, cleaned proper and barrel heat held to a minimum.. Every barrel is a different factory or custom..
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What kind of life did you get from your .223?
 
Lets call the average of a half dozen at 1800 rounds... I'm talking peek accuracy here, Most shot in the .3s for an average 5 shot group at 100 yards during that time , then slowly moved up to half inch and quickly past 1800 moved to 3/4 to an inch....Its all in what one can live with I guess and call accurate.
 
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