will high velocity ammo wear down a barrel faster?

[mainecoon]

I was looking at the Winchester 45 grain 4000 fps ammo for the 22-250. It looks like good stuff, but will it wear down the barrel faster than slower ammo will?

 

[kaferhaus]

yes. Heat is what destroys barrels. more powder, faster bullets = more heat

 

[hang fire]

In a word, yes. First the throat washes out, then remainder of the bore goes

 

[Lee D]

ive seen many rifles chambered in 22-250 and 220 Swift that had worn barrels, so i say yes.

 

[451 Detonics]

The friction from the gasses in the hyper velocity rounds is damaging to the throat but does not really harm the rest of the bore or rifling. I shoot a 22 CHeetah , most often with s 55 grain bullet at about 4350 fps. The current barrel has been set back twice. Once noticeable wear to the throat start significantly impacting accuracy I would have the barrel turn in and rechambered to form a new throat. Understand I say I have it done...I don't do it myself so don't ask me how...I just know it works and once done original accuracy is restored. I the rifling or bore were wearing significantly the accuracy would show it.

I am sure there is some wear but it is extremely minor...so minor it doesn't affect accuracy.

 

[briansmithwins]

High velocity and small bores wear out fastest. Powder type plays a role too.

And yes, the throat will be shot out long before there is any appreciable wear to the rest of the bore.

BSW

 

[Longrifle2506]

Throat Erosion is the the result. 22-250, 220 Swift, and other high velocity rounds including wildcats; many times will lose their "new" accuracy after 3000-5000 rounds. Sometimes less if you get carried away while prairie dogging and keep on shooting, letting the barrel get very very hot. You can prolong your barrel life if you avoid letting your barrel get so extremely hot, supposedly.

 

[30Cal]

Yep. That caliber already has a reputation as a barrel burner.

 

[chaser_2332]

Barrels are cheap, burn'em up!

 

[30Cal]

Barrels are cheap, burn'em up!

That's a good point too. If you like shooting it, then shoot. You might regret losing a barrel to neglect, but not because you enjoyed shooting it.

 

[nathan]

I remember bench shooters shoot a lot. They buy several of the PPC barrels and had them installed just before a match. Yeah, lots and lots of practice , that barrel burns up faster too.

 

[joed]

I know people that load their guns way down to minimize wear. Me, I buy a gun to shoot, usually overbore cartridges too. When I see accuracy go I just rebarrel. I see no sense in worrying about how long a barrel will last.

 

[TwoEyedJack]

I had a Winchester Sporter Varmint in .22-250 that was extremely accurate with a 55 gr. softpoint at 3850 fps. When the accuracy started falling off I had it checked and sure enough the throat was eroded. At first, I just started loading longer to get to the lands, but after a while I could not seat long enough to get to the lands and accuracy started falling off. I got a quote on a new barrel, but could not afford it at the time, so I sold it to a coyote hunter who was not so worried about sub-moa groups and got a Savage 12FV. The load this one likes best is a 40 gr. ballistic tip at 4000 fps. When the barrel gets shot out on this one, I can order a new barrel threaded, chambered, and ready to go and install it myself in about ten minutes. I love how the savage uses the barrel nut to control headspace.

 

[gamestalker]

If I were worried about burning barrels I would stop reloading and shooting hyper velocity loads. Other wise continue doing what you enjoy doing with your barrels, I do.

 

[NELSONs02]

I don't think a 45 grain bullet is going to do any more/less damage to your barrel than pushing a longer bullet at slightly slower speeds.

Cool site for info on this topic:

http://bulletin.accurateshooter.com/2011/04/overbore-cartridges-a-working-definition/

 

[bigedp51]

At 43,000 cup chamber pressure the peak flame temperature is just starting to reach the melting point of modern barrel steel. Don't load so hot and your cases and barrel will last longer.

Below at approximatly 41,000 cup and out of the HOT zone.

 

[mainecoon]

Do ammo makers take into account the steel melting point when creating these loads? Or do they just leave it up to the gun owner and figure it's not their responsibility whether the owner burns the barrel out?