Average barrel life?

[Funkenwerk23]

Hello and thank ya!
It's been a while and something got my attention that I hope you all can help me with.I found an article on M4 barrel erosion and in their test they where comparing the erosion rates of Tula,Wolf and Federal ammo. After 6,000 to 10,000 rounds their barrels where shot out. Now on the M4ergeries barrels can be swapped out fairly easily; clearly this does not apply to us.It had me thinking and a bit worried.So I ask you good folks: On average what is the average round count/barrel life for a chromed chamber Enfield barrel? should I keep the spare barrel or is it too much trouble to do so given the locking shoulders? In general I guess I am asking , without barrel swapping what is the average lifespan of an CAI(mostly Enfield parts) L1A1?

[tywest]

25k + gets my vote, with noted accuracy degredation as well

[def90]

I don't think there is an "official" number of rounds. The Brits required that a barrel be changed if it did not meet a certain requirement of firing a number of rounds within a specified spread.

If you are shooting a ton of rounds non stop in a test situation yes you will wear a barrel out. If you are going to the range on the weekends and shooting 60-100 rounds at a time I doubt that you will ever have a problem.

That said, at the price of ammo today, if you can afford to shoot enough ammo to shoot a barrel out you can afford a new barrel.

[W.E.G.]

It depends on how you use it.

If you are doing lots of mag-dumps, it won't last long.

If you shoot slowly, it will last a lot longer.

There is some evidence too that steel-jacketed bullets are slightly harder on the barrel.

[tsmgguy]

Originally Posted by W.E.G.

There is some evidence too that steel-jacketed bullets are slightly harder on the barrel.

I've been shooting a long time and have never seen a steel jacketed bullet!

[W.E.G.]

Originally Posted by tsmgguy

I've been shooting a long time and have never seen a steel jacketed bullet!

All Wolf steel-case ammo also has a steel-jacketed bullet.
The just electroplate a thin film of copper on top of the steel bullet.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wolf_Ammunition
Steel-jacketed bullets

In addition to using steel casing, certain types of Wolf rifle cartridges use steel jacketed bullets, which are often copper-plated and cosmetically similar to standard copper-jacketed bullets. The copper exterior of the bullet is approximately .005 inch thick, with an underlying steel jacket of about 1/32 inch thick. This type of ammunition is labeled "bimetal". Indoor shooting ranges, which use backstops often constructed of steel, have accordingly widely prohibited steel-jacketed and bimetal ammunition to prevent shooters from damaging their backstops.

There are many other types of milsurp ammo with steel bullets.

A term you will hear is "cupro-nickel."
That means a mix of copper and nickel to cover the thicker mild steel jacket below. Sometimes the color is copperish. Less frequently, its silvery (for instance "DAG" surplus).

[jugrunner]

ask gunplumper ... he says it has no meaning in the "real world" ... wherever the f@ck that is ...

[tywest]

Originally Posted by jugrunner

ask gunplumper ... he says it has no meaning in the "real world" ... wherever the f@ck that is ...

To me it means youll never shoot one out and if needed to shoot that much your not worried about accuracy but suppresive fire at that point

[W.E.G.]

Listen guys, you will not turn every thread into a Gunplumber baiting session.

I'll just start handing out bannings until the word gets around.

[ExCdnSoldierInTx]

Originally Posted by W.E.G.

Listen guys, you will not turn every thread into a Gunplumber baiting session.

I'll just start handing out bannings until the word gets around.

Amen!

[andresere]

If you have ever met him in person, you might think differently than the dog pile BS that seems to happen here. I actually got to meet him yesterday. He may be opinionated and rub people the wrong way, but all of his shit is definitely in one sock, I can assure you. He's damn good at what he does.


As to your question you and I probably can't afford to shoot one out, certainly not at today's prices. As Gary said, there are a lot of variables to consider. I know with tanks, the round count actually doubles (2 for 1) when you shoot at temps above 105 degrees. Does it with a rifle? Dunno. Mag dumps, cleanliness, type of powder...

[EricCartmanR1]

Depends on what you are looking for. To me all rifles are 6 MOA rifles if you are given Military Issued/Surplus ammo and 2 mags. If 6 MOA over 40 rounds is good enough, then I say 25k rounds easily. Ole Dirty is at 16k rounds now, and from what I last heard, the groups are still respectable.

[Funkenwerk23]

Originally Posted by jugrunner

ask gunplumper ... he says it has no meaning in the "real world" ... wherever the f@ck that is ...

With all due respect I don't know who that is...

[jugrunner]

Originally Posted by Funkenwerk23

With all due respect I don't know who that is...

here's a link to one of the many threads on the subject ... !!!

http://www.falfiles.com/forums/showthread.php?t=341656


wow ... gunplumper actually uses a gauge to sell a barrel ... he called me a liar and actually trying to mislead someone if I used a gauge ...

strange ... ... something smells bad around here ...

the song by Tammy comes to mind ... "Stand by your man" ...

[W.E.G.]

Originally Posted by jugrunner

here's a link to one of the many threads on the subject ... !!!

http://www.falfiles.com/forums/showthread.php?t=341656


wow ... gunplumper actually uses a gauge to sell a barrel ... he called me a liar and actually trying to mislead someone if I used a gauge ...

strange ... ... something smells bad around here ...

the song by Tammy comes to mind ... "Stand by your man" ...

Last warning before you are banned.

One more incident of Gunplumber-baiting, and you're gone.

[kev]

Any way you look at it, it's gonna take $5000-$10,000 worth of ammo to wear out your $200 barrel on your $1000 rifle, so I don't see where the worry is. Otoh, I don't see any reason not to have a spare $200 barrel laying around, so I usually have one. They aren't difficult to change on an FAL and the locking shoulder poses no problem.

[Hot-fal]

Originally Posted by kev

Any way you look at it, it's gonna take $5000-$10,000 worth of ammo to wear out your $200 barrel on your $1000 rifle, so I don't see where the worry is. Otoh, I don't see any reason not to have a spare $200 barrel laying around, so I usually have one. They aren't difficult to change on an FAL and the locking shoulder poses no problem.

In a real bender, like not having another shoulder for it or matched to it. you might have to make an adjustment??To the rear of the bolt?? Law of supply and demand mixed with survival skills??

[tywest]

Originally Posted by Hot-fal

In a real bender, like not having another shoulder for it or matched to it. you might have to make an adjustment??To the rear of the bolt?? Law of supply and demand mixed with survival skills??

haha no no no......i mean itd work but noooooooo

[MACV]

Originally Posted by W.E.G.

Last warning before you are banned.

One more incident of Gunplumber-baiting, and you're gone.

There is no limit to the hypocrisy on this board.

[18436572]

On this subject, by looking, what in general makes a bad barrel bad? Corrosion, dark spots like in bends are the easy anwsers. but how does one decide by inspection that a barrel is shot-out?

I have a barrel that appears to have lighter rifling 3-4" out from the chamber, is that what is commonly known as barrel erosion? Should I consider that a bad bet?