arthurcw
Member
Ok... one more stupid AR-15 barrel question. This one is not my fault. In listing all the pros and cons of various AR uppers to my wife, I mentioned that the 1/7 twist rate wears a barrel down faster. So, of course, she asked, “How much faster,” to which I really didn’t have an answer.
I’ve Googled and Asked and I can indeed find that they DO wear faster, but nothing really says HOW MUCH faster. I realize barrel life depends on a number of issues, but assuming we had 2 barrels, one in 1/9, the other in 1/7, and all other things being equal (no beta “C” mag dumps, good ammo, good maintenance and care, chrome lined); how many more rounds should one expect the 1/9 to last?
Now let’s make it harder. Let’s make a something else not equal. Let’s take 2 barrels. One in 1/7 with 4150 steel and the other a 1/9 done up in 4140 steel. Does the harder steel allow this 1/7 to keep pace or at least narrow the gap in life expectancy?
Now the real world application for this question is on the upper we want for our (read her) AR. One is a CMMG (1/7 light weight) and the other is a RRA (1/9 light weight). I’m good with the 1/7, but the Mrs. Is partial to the RRA and barrel life is the reason she is giving. If the softer steel washes any real world life out of the deal, I’m pushing for the 1/7. However, if barrel life is gonna be substantially greater with the 1/9 even with softer steel then I’ll get that one, wait the 12 extra weeks, and make the Mrs. Happy.
Thank you for your time and I promise; No more AR barrel questions. Really. Honest. …sort of.
Anywhooo… the question must be answered before I can proceed. If anyone is married to a redhead, you’ll understand. I keep forgetting to post this and last nights 1/7 thread reminded me I need to get a satisfactory answer so I can move on and buy the <censored> thing already. :banghead:
I’ve Googled and Asked and I can indeed find that they DO wear faster, but nothing really says HOW MUCH faster. I realize barrel life depends on a number of issues, but assuming we had 2 barrels, one in 1/9, the other in 1/7, and all other things being equal (no beta “C” mag dumps, good ammo, good maintenance and care, chrome lined); how many more rounds should one expect the 1/9 to last?
Now let’s make it harder. Let’s make a something else not equal. Let’s take 2 barrels. One in 1/7 with 4150 steel and the other a 1/9 done up in 4140 steel. Does the harder steel allow this 1/7 to keep pace or at least narrow the gap in life expectancy?
Now the real world application for this question is on the upper we want for our (read her) AR. One is a CMMG (1/7 light weight) and the other is a RRA (1/9 light weight). I’m good with the 1/7, but the Mrs. Is partial to the RRA and barrel life is the reason she is giving. If the softer steel washes any real world life out of the deal, I’m pushing for the 1/7. However, if barrel life is gonna be substantially greater with the 1/9 even with softer steel then I’ll get that one, wait the 12 extra weeks, and make the Mrs. Happy.
Thank you for your time and I promise; No more AR barrel questions. Really. Honest. …sort of.
Anywhooo… the question must be answered before I can proceed. If anyone is married to a redhead, you’ll understand. I keep forgetting to post this and last nights 1/7 thread reminded me I need to get a satisfactory answer so I can move on and buy the <censored> thing already. :banghead:
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