I came across that question recently in a German forum, and due to a complete lack of personal experience I could only offer some "guesstimates". I'm interested in this only from a theoretical point of view, just curious. Personally I do not believe in the need for high velocity Magnums, and I'm sure my rifles (a .222 Rem., a .30-06, and maybe soon .375 H&H) will outlast me.
My present knowledge, or better my opinion would be:
- barrel wear depends on many variables, like quality of barrel steel, jacket material of the bullets used, pressure, temperature of barrel, powder type (max. temperature), cleaning of jacket residues, and maybe more
- I vaguely remember having read about military tests indicating that rifle barrels are good for say 20 000 shots, maybe for .308 or 8x57.
- benchresters or long-range target shooters may exchange or set back the barrel after say 5000 shots
- the military or a benchrester will of course have very different expectations in accuracy, a hunters' definition of practical accuracy will be somewhere in between.
- barrel life with magnum cartridges is less, but how much? I found mentions of short practical barrel life, maybe only for some 100 shots for instance for the .220 Swift or the .264 Win. Mag..

To cut through all this theory and to get a better understanding, here is my simple question: who has ever really shot out a barrel?
Maybe Saeed is working hard on it with his .300 and .330 RUM?

Martin

A friend of mine will go through 2 to 3 barrels per year on his .220 swift. It is from a combination of shooting too fast and too hot a barrel. He shoots prairie dogs and rockchucks/marmots/ground hogs. He expects a barrels life to be around 3000 rounds, but has said that accuracy is starting to degrade after 1000.

I have worn out a couple 25-06's over the years, and have worn out a few 6mm Remingtons
shooting prairie dogs. But that was after setting the barrel back a couple times.

300 mags will last quite a while IF you don't get them hot. Get them HOT and they are gone shortly.

over the years i've found that heat and improper cleaning do more to "wearout" a barrel than the number of rounds fired.
shoot slow, clean carefully but thoroughly and most barrels will live a long life.
3740rds through a 6mmx284 and it still holds sub 1/2moa

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born on a mountain, raised in a cave, hunting and fishing is all i crave!