Kachok
Member
OK the term barrel burner has been thrown around ALOT lately so I though a little scientific breakdown is needed to see which cartrages are really excessively overbore by measuring their powder to area ratio. All loads reflect an average of the max loads with heaviest bullet in each. Most of these are on the warm side at leased but I threw in the 308 seeing as it has a very long well known barrel life.
22-250 913gr/sq in 36gr
243 948gr/sq in 44gr
25-06 1059gr/sq in 55gr
6.5x55 840gr/sq in 46gr
6.5-284 950gr/sq in 52gr
264 win mag 1042gr/sq in 57gr
270 win 912gr/sq in 55gr
270WSM 1077gr/sq in 65gr
280AI 900gr/sq in 57gr
7mm Rem Mag 1011 gr/sq in 64gr
308 win 605 gr/sq in 46gr
300 win mag 881gr/sq in 67gr
300WSM 855gr/sq in 65gr
300 Ultra mag 1184gr/sq in 90gr
So here is the breakdown
600-700 Don't worry your grandchildren will likely be shooting from that barrel.
700-800 Still pretty mild by any standard.
800-900 Always let your barrel cool between strings if you want many years of service, getting hot.
900-1000 Hard on barrels regardless of cooling, but acceptable barrel life can still be had.
1000-1100 Barrel burner alert, with these expect to start loosing some accuracy quickly, often before you hit 1,000 rds
1100+ Buy stock in Shilen because all of your money is going to them if you shoot alot.
There are other factors involved too like barrel heat, brass design, and peak pressure but they are minor compared to the volume of burning abrasive being forced down your barrel at supersonic speeds.
If anyone else would like me to run the numbers of their pet cartrage/load just let me know.
I hope this clears things up for us a bit.
22-250 913gr/sq in 36gr
243 948gr/sq in 44gr
25-06 1059gr/sq in 55gr
6.5x55 840gr/sq in 46gr
6.5-284 950gr/sq in 52gr
264 win mag 1042gr/sq in 57gr
270 win 912gr/sq in 55gr
270WSM 1077gr/sq in 65gr
280AI 900gr/sq in 57gr
7mm Rem Mag 1011 gr/sq in 64gr
308 win 605 gr/sq in 46gr
300 win mag 881gr/sq in 67gr
300WSM 855gr/sq in 65gr
300 Ultra mag 1184gr/sq in 90gr
So here is the breakdown
600-700 Don't worry your grandchildren will likely be shooting from that barrel.
700-800 Still pretty mild by any standard.
800-900 Always let your barrel cool between strings if you want many years of service, getting hot.
900-1000 Hard on barrels regardless of cooling, but acceptable barrel life can still be had.
1000-1100 Barrel burner alert, with these expect to start loosing some accuracy quickly, often before you hit 1,000 rds
1100+ Buy stock in Shilen because all of your money is going to them if you shoot alot.
There are other factors involved too like barrel heat, brass design, and peak pressure but they are minor compared to the volume of burning abrasive being forced down your barrel at supersonic speeds.
If anyone else would like me to run the numbers of their pet cartrage/load just let me know.
I hope this clears things up for us a bit.