300 WM Barrel Life...

Re: 300 WM Barrel Life...

That depends on a lot of things. Such as : what powder and bullet you use. How fast you shoot the rifle and how often.

For example I had a hart barrelled 300 that went 3k rounds using 190 gr smk and RL 22 powder at around 2950 fps. Hope this helps
 
Re: 300 WM Barrel Life...

One thing to consider is how hot you let the barrel get, you know, a full mag dump or just shoot five or ten slowly then let it cool off. Also keeping the throat area clean would help a barrel last longer too. My 300 is at the smith getting rebarreled, not sure of the round count, but it was a lot and was still a shooter.

-Matt
 
Re: 300 WM Barrel Life...

When the 300 WM was popular in Long Range Highpower shooting some years ago before the WSM's, 6.5-284 and other smaller calibers now used, bbl life in "slow fire" was between 800-1300 rounds.That said, the bbl was NG for shooting 1/2 moa out to 100 yards. You still may be able to hold 1 moa or less than that at shorter ranges, but you couldn't keep up with the Top shots in competition. I've seen some 300 WM bbls that had chunks of lands missing by the throat area at less than 1k rounds. I wouldn't count on much more than 1000-1200 rounds if I used close to max loads.
 
Re: 300 WM Barrel Life...

I get about 1100 rounds through the barrel before it's "shot out." Still somewhat good for hunting but not for target. Mostly what goes south with mine is the throat. Looks a little like a blow tourch was taken to it. I just rebarrel about every year or so.
 
Re: 300 WM Barrel Life...

I agree with the above, but you could extend the life a little by now abusing it by running it hot. I just finished mine last fall and it has 350 rounds through her now. I'm curiouse too and will eventually be able to answer you a little better.

JamieD

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Jamie Dodson
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Re: 300 WM Barrel Life...

Let's assume for one second that the use is for LR target shooting. A well built WinMag is a 1 mile stick - if you pushing a heavy pill at max velocity.

If you're really interested in the subject - review what is commonly called heat checking - wherein you'e actually frying the crap out of the tube to the point where your creating damage. Over time (based on the rate of damage) micro thin layers of the barrel are eroded.

Effectively if your shooting a max load at a reasonable pace I would anticipate getting @ 1500 - 2k out of a quality barrel.

My WM is a 24" Rock and the load is a 72 grn of RE22 / Berger 210 VLD / 2840 fps. It is a blue moon for me to shoot this at less than 800.


Good luck
 
Re: 300 WM Barrel Life...

I shoot moly coated bullets in my rifles and it seems to help extend barrel life, but it does take some time and equipment to do. If you don't hand load or it's a casual hunting rifle I wouldn't worry about it. If you have a custom barrel ordered with a longer than standard barrel tenon you can set the barrel back a few times, but the stock inlet will look a little funny as the barrel moves back in the channel. Also don't forget to watch the rifling wear at the muzzle as the gasses tend to wear this area and a slight recrown will help insure good accuracy.
 
Re: 300 WM Barrel Life...

Depends on how you run it and who made it. I have an A-bolt I first started this stuff with, fried it in less than 1k rounds. A good friend with a TRG 42, babied it, no long hot strings, got about 2700.

Interestingly, when the end came, it was swift. In more or lesss 20 rounds, accuracy went from OK, to "am I pulling it that much??? WTF". Both rifles did that. I'm trying to be more like him on the present 300WM, a few less long strings.