barrel wear

Augsburger · 11-04-2006, 10:06 PM

How long can I expect a new 4" barrel to last shooting normal modern loads with regular cleaning...or...how many hundreds or 1000's of rounds before the barrel degrades from excellent to good to fair?

Lugerdoc · 11-05-2006, 12:11 PM

It depends a lot on what type ammo that you are shooting. Least were with lead bullets, then jacketed and don't use the old WW2 "sintered steel" armour piercing ammo. I bought some of this stuff years ago in the original WW2 16rd boxes, and found the it was illegal to sell in Calif. ("cop killer bullets"), so I decided to try to shoot some in my P38. You wouldn't believe the amount of sparks coming out of the barrel, as it wore away the rifling. It also purched thru the metal back stop at the range. Dangerous stuff. TH

Augsburger · 11-06-2006, 12:16 AM

thanks Tom...I thought I was being boycotted.....G

pipeman45 · 11-06-2006, 01:35 AM

I've seem more barrels ruined by improper cleaning than I ever have by shooting. It takes a lot of rounds to shoot out a good quality barrel.

The Virginian · 12-08-2008, 03:33 PM

Many older bores were ruined not by bullet wear, but from overzealous cleaning or lack of cleaning after shooting corrosive ammo. As the others stated, it takes a lot of rounds to ruin a barrel even with regular jacketed rounds it will take 10s of 1000s and with lead it might be 100K. Heat also plays a role at the rear of the barrel, but more so with with rifles than pistols. This assumes that the barrel is also properly cleaned and oiled between shooting sessions and is not neglected.

11-04-2006, 10:06 PM	#1
Augsburger User Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Tejas Posts: 160 Thanks: 17 Thanked 14 Times in 5 Posts	barrel wear How long can I expect a new 4" barrel to last shooting normal modern loads with regular cleaning...or...how many hundreds or 1000's of rounds before the barrel degrades from excellent to good to fair? __________________ Wilder Eber

11-05-2006, 12:11 PM	#2
Lugerdoc Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: POB 398 St.Charles,MO. 63302 Posts: 5,089 Thanks: 6 Thanked 736 Times in 483 Posts	It depends a lot on what type ammo that you are shooting. Least were with lead bullets, then jacketed and don't use the old WW2 "sintered steel" armour piercing ammo. I bought some of this stuff years ago in the original WW2 16rd boxes, and found the it was illegal to sell in Calif. ("cop killer bullets"), so I decided to try to shoot some in my P38. You wouldn't believe the amount of sparks coming out of the barrel, as it wore away the rifling. It also purched thru the metal back stop at the range. Dangerous stuff. TH __________________ Tom Heller POB 398 ST.Charles, MO. 63302 Tel 636-447-3006 lugerdoc@charter.net

11-06-2006, 12:16 AM	#3
Augsburger User Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Tejas Posts: 160 Thanks: 17 Thanked 14 Times in 5 Posts	thanks Tom...I thought I was being boycotted.....G __________________ Wilder Eber

11-06-2006, 01:35 AM	#4
pipeman45 User Join Date: May 2004 Location: Kentucky Posts: 539 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	I've seem more barrels ruined by improper cleaning than I ever have by shooting. It takes a lot of rounds to shoot out a good quality barrel. __________________ Dave

12-08-2008, 03:33 PM	#5
The Virginian User Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Potomac Falls, Virginia USA Posts: 107 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	Many older bores were ruined not by bullet wear, but from overzealous cleaning or lack of cleaning after shooting corrosive ammo. As the others stated, it takes a lot of rounds to ruin a barrel even with regular jacketed rounds it will take 10s of 1000s and with lead it might be 100K. Heat also plays a role at the rear of the barrel, but more so with with rifles than pistols. This assumes that the barrel is also properly cleaned and oiled between shooting sessions and is not neglected. __________________ All my C&R guns are shooters