Whats the ball park life before a rechamber for a .284W?

DenisA · Post by **DenisA** » Wed Jul 30, 2014 10:12 pm

Hi all,

I know this has been discussed a thousand times, but I'm having trouble finding a thread that mentions it.

My .284 has 1900 rounds through it. Although I can still feel the lands when checking for them using a bullet, the borescope shows that they're fairly shallow for the first inch or so. Theres heavy burning and firecracking for the following 3".

The groups been opening and a load test today in the vicinity of the previous good load hasn't shown the great vertical node that this barrel has had in the past.

I've been running 180 VLD's with 53.4g AR2213sc at approx. 2820 fps.

I know every barrels different, but it would be good to get an idea of others experience with this.

Whens it time to re-chamber or swap barrels with a .284?

Thanks.

Brad Y · Post by **Brad Y** » Wed Jul 30, 2014 10:20 pm

I saw one top shooter in the USA saying they did 500 rounds per crown and I think about 1000 out of a chamber.

Honestly it would depend on barrel, cleaning regimes etc...

I would be happy to get 1000 rounds out of a barrel, cut back to 28 inches, get another 1000 then dock it back to 26 inches and use it week to week at club level or for fireforming etc. 2000 rounds is alot if your using the barrel for queens/dra shoots where competition really matters and you dont shoot it each week for the sake of it. Just my opinion.

Cameron Mc · Post by **Cameron Mc** » Wed Jul 30, 2014 10:21 pm

Denis, I can't remember the exact round count when I rechambered my first 284. It was around the 2000 mark. I cut 2" off the chamber end then rechambered. I also cut 1" off the muzzle. That bought it back to 27". The barrel shot like a new one again. As you say, remember all barrels are different. I use cut rifled Kriegers for 7mm.
I have yet to try the Bartlein that looks at me every time I walk into the shed.

Cam

Cameron Mc · Post by **Cameron Mc** » Wed Jul 30, 2014 10:25 pm

Brad Y wrote:I saw one top shooter in the USA saying they did 500 rounds per crown .................

Brad I intend to start doing that again. I used to recrown my 6br's every 500 or so. The muzzle gets "sand blasted" every shot we fire. You need a magnifier to see it.
I was actually talking to Mark F today about this.

Cam

DenisA · Post by **DenisA** » Wed Jul 30, 2014 11:02 pm

Thanks for the reply guys. By the sounds of it, it seems fair to say that the barrels in the ball park age that it could do with a touch up.

williada · Post by **williada** » Wed Jul 30, 2014 11:48 pm

DenisA, Brad's info is correct, but unless you have the means to do it just burn the steel and get a new one. It would frighten you if you used a borescope after a re-chambering after a couple of thousand rounds. The new chamber would most likely highlight the wear at 6 o'clock in the barrel and give it an oval appearance unless you cut a couple of inches off. It is normal for barrels to wear at six o'clock.

ecomeat · Post by **ecomeat** » Thu Jul 31, 2014 7:00 am

DenisA wrote:Hi all,
I've been running 180 VLD's with 53.4g AR2213sc at approx. 2820 fps.
.

Denis,
sorry to go off-topic....
What powder "Lot" are you using to get that speed with just 53.4 gr ?
And what is your barrel ? You must have a very fast one, or else I have got 4 very slow ones. I have to use a lot more 2213sc than you to get 2820 fps !
Tony

DenisA · Post by **DenisA** » Thu Jul 31, 2014 7:50 am

Tony, MEM5195. When I developed this load at around 600 rounds it started at approx. 2750. I down loaded it from the original primer pocket stretching load.
Since then its gradually increased to what it is. My chronograph is only a cheap "Chronie Beta Master" and is most likely not accurate.
I don't know if the increase is barrel age, the light level that the tests were done in, the battery level in the chronie or just the chronie. I wasn't too worried about it.

My next purchase will be a magneto speed.

DaveMc · Post by **DaveMc** » Thu Jul 31, 2014 8:05 am

Denis, You are at or around the ball park figure to expect this. I have had one barrel needed rechambering at 700 rounds but now have a few that got to around the 2000 mark but will depend on your barrel, rate of fire and cleaning regime etc etc.

I personally believe a lot (maybe not all) of last few mm of bore damage comes from shooting in dry and dusty conditions. you get very fine settlement just in the end of the barrel - nasty. - also watch if you use a gun bag dirt/sand likes to migrate to muzzle end.

DenisA · Post by **DenisA** » Thu Jul 31, 2014 11:40 am

Thanks for the info Dave. This will be the first barrel I've worn out and I was little worried that I may have been over reacting. Replacing the barrel is a reasonable decision in my mind now.

Your point of sand and dirt in the muzzle supports Cam's point of cutting 1" off the muzzle rather than just a re-crown.

Thank you all.

Whats the ball park life before a rechamber for a .284W?

Whats the ball park life before a rechamber for a .284W?

Re: Whats the ball park life before a rechamber for a .284W?