Gunsmithing Shooting past barrel life

[GhengisAhn175]

Gunsmiths,

Just a simple question. Any harm in shooting past barrel life other than drop in accuracy?

Not talking about something ridiculous like 15k rounds out of 6.5, more like up to 8k.

Reasoning behind this is to economically shoot for fun without buying new barrels at the slightest hint of poi shift.

Thanks gents!

-James

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[Red_SC]

You won't damage anything, the barrel will just continue to erode. The action doesn't care if you rebarrel at 1000 or 15000.

 

[RobertB]

No harm, just your best accuracy might not be there but you will loose velocity. You accuracy should still be pretty good. You might can chase the lands up to a certain point.

 

[Bill Larson]

If you`ve got a good shooting barrel.... I would recommend setting the barrel back at around 700 rnds.That way you can usually set back 3 or more times on same barrel..... if the contour will allow.

 

[Unknown]

I took a 30 cal, 1-10 twist Schneider polygon barrel off a 300 win mag when accuracy started to fall off, and had the rifle re-barreled. My buddy asked if he could buy the used barrel (barrel had 1200 rounds through it) for $100, so I said sure. He had a smith whack .25 inch off the muzzle, and .75 off the chamber end. His gunsmith wanted to know why the barrel was removed because all he saw was very minor throat erosion.

The rifle shoots great for him, and he is still using it, and still thinks he got a great deal. The swap over totaled $250 for him, so he was pleased.

 

[GhengisAhn175]

Bill, what does it mean to set the barrel back?

And unknown, for 250 isn't that just air the cost if a new barrel, like 100 off?

Thanks fellas!

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[rpk762]

Accuracy will just suffer. Granted it really depends on what you want from your rifle. There are lots of high power shooters who have uppers that are regulated to 100yd practice that have 10 to 20 thousand rds down range.

I have had barrels replaced that were still shooting good but gave occasional fliers at the longer distances. If I shoot at closer distances they would have been fine for many more rounds. All has to deal with what you can accept.

 

[Red_SC]

Shooting past barrel life

Bill, what does it mean to set the barrel back?

And unknown, for 250 isn't that just air the cost if a new barrel, like 100 off?

Thanks fellas!

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Setting a barrel back means you cut a portion off of the back of the barrel, and recut the action threads and chamber. Most of the wear is in the throat just ahead of the chamber; this area is cut out when the chamber is recut.

Also, $350 is just the cost of a barrel blank before a gunsmith touches it. You end up with significantly more in a completed barrel.

 

[GhengisAhn175]

Setting a barrel back means you cut a portion off of the back of the barrel, and recut the action threads and chamber. Most of the wear is in the throat just ahead of the chamber; this area is cut out when the chamber is recut.

Also, $350 is just the cost of a barrel blank before a gunsmith touches it. You end up with significantly more in a completed barrel.

Red,

Thanks for answering. going along the lines of the other poster, ad long as the rifling isn't too bad re barreling is better?

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