I have a beautifully accurate sub 1/2 MOA Hart Barrel that I maintain religiously and try not to heat up too much.

I already have 700 rounds through the barrel with over 1,000 on my M70 action, so I am wondering how many more rounds I can expect to fire without my groups beginning to open up?

Thanks!!

Depends on how you shoot it.

That would depend on how hot you run your loads. No one can truthful answer your question. I'm sure there are plenty of people that can pull some number out of their "A".

I am shooting Federal Premium 160gr Accubonds.

I am looking for a general idea....1,000 more, less????

quote:

Originally posted by Leopardtrack:
I am shooting Federal Premium 160gr Accubonds.

I am looking for a general idea....1,000 more, less????

That depends on what you consider to be unacceptable accuracy wise.
If anything over 1/2 MOA is out, then it could be next week.
If sub MOA is OK then I'd expect at least 2,000 rounds of full power ammunition before noticing any lessening of accuracy.
Consider this: 20 years ago, a sub MOA hunting rifle was a wonder to behold, whereas some today would tell you ALL mass produced rifles should achieve this.
The rifle's action should last hundreds of thousands of rounds barring mishaps, so if the barrel does wear beyond acceptable results, unscrew it & fit another one.

quote:

Originally posted by Oddbod:
Consider this: 20 years ago, a sub MOA hunting rifle was a wonder to behold, whereas some today would tell you ALL mass produced rifles should achieve this.

We're spoiled. I took one of my daughter's friends to Dick's where he plunked down all of $400 for a Savage 112 w/Bushnell that is far and away the most accurate of the dozen or so '06s I have tested. All shots into an enlarged hole at 100 with my 4350/180gr standard load......no special workup or trials.

Truth is, we don't need < 1/2 MOA. But I'm not about to kick it out of the hay.

Agree with your 2k figure, assuming no rapid strings. But that's all of it. Certainly 1k should be doable.

Funny how people will equate high-velocity with short bbl life. A Swift or .22-250s ought to make it to 4k. I have never owned a .458, but supposedly bbl life is awful. (?)

Sam

quote:

Originally posted by Leopardtrack:
I already have 700 rounds through the barrel with over 1,000 on my M70 action, so I am wondering how many more rounds I can expect to fire without my groups beginning to open up?

"without my groups beginning to open up"? What are you using your 7 mag for? Target shooting? Unless you're shooting 1,000 yard targets or something of that notion, then there is no reason for the typical hunter to put enough rounds through a 7mm Mag hunting rifle in three lifetimes to wear out a barrel.

Other than working up a load, which might take anywhere from 20 to 50 rounds depending on how many different powders and bullets you go through, and firing a group to check zero once each year (another 5 rounds), how many rounds would you put through your rifle in actual hunting?

But let's say you used your 7mm for virtually everything, including informal recreational shooting. That's the way I used my .264 Mag for the first twenty years I owned it since it was my only high-powered centerfire and I hunted everything with it as well as shooting lot of targets and even varmints. The number of rounds down its barrel must be in the thousands -- at least 3,000 or more -- and its throat looks like untanned alligator skin. But it still puts the first shot from a cold barrel exactly where you want it and groups an inch or less every time I take it to the range. Barrels don't have to "look" perfect to perform well, so don't worry about your barrel life and anticipate its demise as it may surprise you and still be shooting well long after you've gone on to your reward.

Good stuff guys and you are all on the money.
I just spoke to Matt at Hill Country Rifles and he told me 1200-1500.
He has done allot of work on my guns and is my guy
I have shot the hell out of this gun...targets, africa, and 2 prairie dog hunts here and i never worried about barrel wear. I shoot the gun like its a 22 so i would become intimate with it.
I might rebarrel anyway since it has a 1:10 twist and i want to shoot heavier bullets with it. Will go down to 1:9 twist.

You may also have the option of rechambering the barrel down the road and setting it back.....some smiths won't do it because it's hard on reamers. But if the countour allows and your smith is willing it might be an option to revive an old friend.....

Cheers,

Dan

I would expect a 7mm Mag or a 300 Mag, with a quality barrel, to give good hunting barrel life, [if you do not get it too hot during load testing at the range, to go 2000 to maybe 2500 rounds...