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Predicting? the end of useful barrel life?
HandLoad
Member Posts: 15,998 ✭
I have inherited my Father's most cherished/most custom rifle.
I want to sight it in, try for best handload accuracy, etc.
It is a .35 Whelen - Ackley Improved. It has a barrel made by Chick Donnelley, of Siskyou Gun Works, on a not very common variant of '98 Mauser Action.
My Question is: "Will two hundred shots (or so) excessively wear the barrel, such that a significant portion of its remaining life is used/expired?"
A corollary Question: "How many shots will it make before reaching "Shot-Out" condition?"
It has about 100 shots on the clock already. Assume diligent cleaning and careful storage is followed.
Is there any way to tell? Is there any way to minimize deleterious aging?
I want to sight it in, try for best handload accuracy, etc.
It is a .35 Whelen - Ackley Improved. It has a barrel made by Chick Donnelley, of Siskyou Gun Works, on a not very common variant of '98 Mauser Action.
My Question is: "Will two hundred shots (or so) excessively wear the barrel, such that a significant portion of its remaining life is used/expired?"
A corollary Question: "How many shots will it make before reaching "Shot-Out" condition?"
It has about 100 shots on the clock already. Assume diligent cleaning and careful storage is followed.
Is there any way to tell? Is there any way to minimize deleterious aging?
Comments
Don't use max loads for target shooting and clean with caution- use something to center the rod so it doesn't scrape the muzzle or chamber.
Should last forever so long as you don't shoot it 100 rounds every week.
You are gong to have to shoot that thing A LOT to burn out the barrel. Probably two lifetimes worth of shooting might do it in. The best policy is to avoid rapid firing to the point the barrel is too hot to grab just in front of the chamber.
As far as holding "gilt edge" accuracy levels go, it's a hunting rifle for cripes sake, not a BR gun. Fire a 5 shot group with factory ammo, than set that box asside. When another 5 round group from that same box is 2x the size of your first group, than it's time to start worrying about a new barrel.
I got to shoot it today - it is really sweet - first two shots were touching @ 100yds, then I got excited...I was using handloads that were stuffed in 1980!!
What a fun gun!
Congratulations on your inheritance! And a fine piece to remember your father by.
I'm thinking that two hundred rounds through that caliber will have it just about broke in. It'll give you lot of hunting accuracy for years to come.
As far as 'shot out' I would go with Tailgunner's analogy. 5 8lb kegs is what a comp shooter goes through before they consider the barrel done for competition. You're not going to compete with that rifle I would imagine so you're not going to bring it to the heat levels it might see in competition. Hard but good use would give 5k rounds through it. Add a bunch more because you won't be shooting it near as hard.