Barrel wear while practicing (heavy vs. light bullets)??

B

Ben.Y

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I, like most other people, want to get in as much practice with as little wear on my barrel as possible. I shoot long range stuff with the 105 bullets but am limited at my range to 200 yards.

I have a couple of loads (in the 70-80 range) that shoot good at 200 and was wondering if shooting these while practicing gun handling and technique would save me any wear on my barrel. Is there much difference in a pretty hot 105 gr. load compared to a moderate 80 gr. load?

Thanks for any advice, just didn't know if it would be worth loading them differently or if I should just load my match rounds for short range practice.
 
I am a big nobody so please take this for what its worth. I really dont think you are saving any wear and tear on your barrel by shooting a lighter weight bullet. I think it has more to do with the heat and fire from the powder thats going to wear your throat area. Barrels are just like bullets or any other component. Plus if your not shooting the bullets you will compete with your not learning much about your load or rifle for that matter. I suggest you shoot just like you would if the money were on the line. When your barrel is gone. buy another. when your bullets are gone buy some more. when your powder and primers are gone, buy more. Thats just the way it is. Good luck! Lee
 
skeetlee said:
I am a big nobody so please take this for what its worth. I really dont think you are saving any wear and tear on your barrel by shooting a lighter weight bullet. I think it has more to do with the heat and fire from the powder thats going to wear your throat area. Barrels are just like bullets or any other component. Plus if your not shooting the bullets you will compete with your not learning much about your load or rifle for that matter. I suggest you shoot just like you would if the money were on the line. When your barrel is gone. buy another. when your bullets are gone buy some more. when your powder and primers are gone, buy more. Thats just the way it is. Good luck! Lee
Click to expand...

Da way it is.... Lee put it perfectly.


cale
 
That is a bit of surprise, but is why i asked the question. It just seems that a bullet with less contact to the barrel (shorter bullet) at a lower pressure would have less wear on the barrel. I wish i had another gun to practice with, but this on is rblpre and i am trying to get used to loading from the left side quickly as that is one thing that is hurting me right now. I'm not as worried about how my match load is grouping at 200 as i am getting off quality shots quickly.

Thanks for the replies.
 
For practicing technique and gun handling a light load would not be as hard on the barrel as a hot load.

Some claim bullet coatings such as moly, boron nitride, or danzac (tungsten disulfide) may also extend barrel life.
 
I have found barrel life is most often limited by the flame erosion rather than wear down barrel. I have one 28" 257 barrel that I burn crisp with hot 25-06 loads. I cut off 6" of the shank and made it a 25 BR barrel. Still shoots good all considered.

Flame erosion increases with more powder and slower powders. Shooting lighter loads with faster powders does extend barrel life.

This is not proven: Flat base bullets cause less flame erosion than boattail bullets.
 
Ben ...

Shoot exactly what you shoot in matches ... otherwise you're wasting your time. ;)
 
Is it a waste in time even if you are just trying to get in some practice in gun handling and technique?
 
Ben ...

You can practice gun handling and technique at your kitchen table. No need to go to the range and no need to expend precious powder, primers or bullets. :)
 
That is the best advice in this whole thread. AS far as real firing practice, the only thing that is of signifigance is the combination you are shooting. byond that, bench technique is the practice you need and that can be done at teh kitchen table
 
Hi Ben.....shootin a rifle is sorta like drivin a Hot Rod....what fun is it if you cant give it the gas??!!....as someone said here ,,,shoot what you are gona compete with.....and more powder wears the bbl faster....and guess what you use MORE powder with lighter bullets!!!!!...and I shoot lotsa dif. cals.,,but mostly a 6mmBR...with an 8"twist bbl....when shooting 68gr bullets the gun recoils much dif. than when shooting 105-107 stuff,and I will use different different hold,shoulder pressure,grip,etc. accordingly.....and I do shoot the whole spectrum of bullets.....but bbl. wear is NOT a factor....we are shooting for fun and experience and the ability to compete succesfully,this aint the "Mobile Economy Run"...have fun , and shoot the thunder outa your rifle....Roger
 
If you are worried about wearing out a good barrel. get you a worn out barrel and practice with that. You won't learn anything, but you won't wear out your hummer.
 
Thanks guys, i'm not worried about having to replace a barrel...but, this barrel has shown a lot of promise in its first match and i hate to wear out the best barrel i may happen across. i guess i am going to just shoot a different right/right config rifle i have for practice and keep this one in the safe til match day or for just a little load tweaking.

That also makes sense about the higher powder levels with lower weight bullets burning barrels up quicker.

Thanks for the replies.
 
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