If I were to use say 3031 to push a 60 grain bullet out of my 22-250 to around 3400 fps would this wear the barrel faster than using a slower powder with less pressure such as 4350 pushing the same bullet to the same velocity. Shot slowly enough to never overheat the barrel will one barrel last say 2000 rounds?

Don't know the answer to most of your question, but somebody posted some barrel life graphs (from Browning??) a while back that indicated that typical barrel life of a 22-250 is about 750 rounds with a non-chrome lined barrel.

Denton:

I don't know who came up with the fact that barrel life on a 22/250 was 750 rounds. If so, I have several that are doubly worn out if not triple worn out.

Yet they still maintain the accuracy that they had when new.
So I am lucky, or living right, or that guestimate from someone is hogwash.

I realize you are only passing on info, so this was not a personal slam there guy. I respect a lot of your postings and know you are a knowledgable guy.

Cheers
seafire

I've read in several places that barrel life is largely a function of peak temperature, and peak T is in turn related closely to peak pressure. If it's as simple as that, then your 4350 loads should give better life.

The best index of bbl wear I have seen is to divide the case capacity in grs of water by the square of the bullet diameter. This essentially tracks how much hot gas and burning powder you are forcing through how small a hole. The 22-250 is roughly 42 grs watr/ .224 squared for an index of 837. not too different from the 243 or 300 Win Mag. Once you break a factor of 1000, you have some serious bbl burning potential.

I agree that a long push from a slower powder is better than a short push from a fast powder, since the pressure and temperature of the latter are higher. However, most rifles in the low 800s are good for 2000 rounds if you keep 'em clean and don't get 'em too hot.

From memory, I read somewhere that there were military tests conducted years ago (may have been P.O. Ackley, but the results don't "sound like him") indicating that regular cleaning of the barrel played the largest role in prolonging barrel life.

In effect, they suggested that although all those variables mentioned played a role in "shooting out a barrel" that is was regular cleaning of the barrel (or lack thereof) that largely determined how quickly / slowly a barrel was shot out.

I'll look back on old P.O. and see if I can find refrence to such a tale, but maybe someone else remembered reading such a source.

Hey Rickt300 .. the new design of the winchester ssm is supposeto be the answer to bore wear. The ignition of the powder closer to the base of the bullet allows the powder to burn sort of "backwards" and the bullet is propelled by more gas, than gas and powder. Unburnt powder being pushed down the bore with a more straight walled case design is kind of like sandpaper... P.O. Ackley had a discussion about case design years ago stating this theory, seems that Winchester folks finally read the book.. as to actual bore life .. this would be an interesting experiment.. bring your earplugs. mpb

Technically fast powders take out the throat quicker, but I doubt the difference is enough to concern anyone...

I can shoot the barrel out of any high velocity rifle in 750 rounds, simply by shooting fast and for extended periods and not allowing it to cool between shots...however my 22-250s have lasted with acceptable accuracy into many thousand rounds, I would say at least 3000 rounds is expected with proper care, at least for minute of rockchuck.

I was reading something recently in Precision Shooting or somewhere else, I can't remember now, about a study which concluded that heavy bullets, i.e. longer bullets, caused substantially more barrel wear than lighter ones. Wish I could remember where I read that. If I can remember I'll post it.

If when using slow burning and fast burning powders each at max pressures (which is normal) the slower burning powders dictate a higher PV curve. This means the barrel will see a higher temperature and pressure during the bullets transit of the barrel. That would be more and hotter gas over the same distance traveled. Reduced loads is another ball game and one that does extend barrel life. To the couch roger

If you wish to see what Ken Howell had to say on this issue, here is a link.
http://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=424937&page=0&vc=1&PHPSESSID=#Post424937

I guess I will try to see if the barrel will last thru the 8 pounds of AA 4350 I have then. My last 22-250 absorbed many pounds of IMR 4895 and 3031 before the average group exceded 1.5 inches and throat erosion was obvious. I no longer shoot prairie dogs. Facts are I may not be able to shoot those 2000 hornady 60 grain hollow points at deer, coyotes and paper. It will make a pretty good turtle gun though.

Hello,
I shot a 22-250 Krieger 30" 1/8 twist barrel for the 80 grain Sierra's for sometime, over 3000 rounds, but kept the velocity just over 3000fps and was very accurate w/ Varget powder. Old timers have told me that ball powder does shorten barrel life vs. stick and that cleaning is critical to not only extending barrel life but retaining that edge in accuracy. You hear mixed stories on ball vs stick, but many National Match shooters in service rifles used AA2520 for a number of years and some still do, but most do use a stick powder for a variety of reasons.
If a ball powder would provide "winning scores" but also short barrel life, the match shooter would just figure out a way to pay for more barrel set backs or new barrels. Favor Center!!
dsiteman

I will load for accuracy and not top velocity. You can get more than 3400 fps with either powder, in fact 3600 fps is possible so I won't be at top pressures.