reduced loads and barrel life

[sam700]

So in the offseason, I practice with my one hunting rifle (.300 win mag) using a reduced load of SR4759 which shoots a 147 grain FMJ at roughly 1800fps vs my normal hunting load of 180 grains at 3000.

Part of my thinking is that this would prolong barrel life as I try to practice once or twice a week. At this rate, I would reach the 1500-2000 round barrel life pretty quick.

Would it be correct to say that shooting a 147 grain bullet at 1800 would provide a barrel life that is significantly longer than a 30-30 or .308?

Of course the other benefit is that 147 grain fmj's are much cheaper.

 

[moooose102]

as far as actual barrel wear, i don't know how much different it would be. but in terms of throat erosion, the difference shoud be very noticeable.

 

[loadedround]

If you are shooting reduced loads for practice and to prolong barrel life, why not consider shooting hard cast lead bullets, You can purchase cast bullets with or w/o a gas check for a 1/4 of the cost of jacketed bullets and also use less powder. By following the recommended loads in the various manuals, you will never encounter leading and you definitley prolong your barrel life by many times. I practice with reduced GC lead bullets in my 338 WM and 375 H&H and have never had a leading problem or a sore shoulder, and besides it's fun shooting them both from the bench.

 

[rcmodel]

+1

If 1,800 FPS & unlimited barrel life are your goal, switch to cast bullets.

Jacketed bullets will wear the barrel to some extent, even at low velocity.

Cast bullets won't.

rc

 

[sam700]

Where would I find load data for cast bullets in a .300 win and what velocity would I have to keep it to to have little or no leading?

1800 fps works real nice as I can keep my 200 yard zero for hunting loads and practice with reduced loads at 75 in the offseason

 

[loadedround]

I've been using an old Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook(long out of print) for my cast bullet loads. I do believe tha the current Lyman catalog shows cast bullet loads. If you still can't find data, advise me and I'll email you the data from it.

 

[Chawbaccer]

Lead bullets, low velocities. Check out Lever Gun Performance Studies. They are using the fast pistol powders.

http://www.gmdr.com/lever/lowveldata.htm

 

[rcmodel]

Lyman #49 and/or Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook is your goto source of cast bullet load data for almost any caliber.

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productNumber=217655

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productNumber=796528

rc