Can sustained rapid-fire firing without a cool-down period wear a barrel out more quickly? Forum member LCazador conducted an interesting test comparing two.243 Winchester Barrels. He started with two identical match-grade stainless HV taper barrels. LCazador started testing with two identical barrels, both made of stainless steel HV taper. After a gentle 20-round break in, 300 rounds of ammunition were fired through each barrel – in a very different way. Borescopes were used to monitor barrel condition and wear. Barrel One – Slow Fire, Cooldown Periods, Cleaning every 50 roundsBarrel One was still looking brand new at the end of the test. Barrel Two had some severe cracking of the barrel. This barrel was fired no more than 10 shots without a cooling down, and firing was done much slower. Cleaning was done for this barrel every 50 shots. Barrel two — Fast Firing No Waiting, Cleaning every 100 Rounds
The second barrel, after hard use and minimal cleaning was severely damaged, with severe fire cracking on the leade and throat. The barrel was re-chambered as a result. This barrel was shot up 20 times without cooling down and 100 rounds at a time without cleaning. LESSON LEARNED – Heat kills barrel life
Keep your barrel clean and don’t let it get too hot. One afternoon can ruin your barrel! Borescope for Barrel Wear Monitoring
Some people worry too much about the borescopes they use. Many barrels don’t need to be “squeaky-clean” to perform well. Some barrels actually run better after 10 or more fouling shots. A borescope is very useful when your barrel suddenly starts to lose accuracy. FdShuster, a forum member, writes: “Aborscope is a good way to confirm your suspicions if the rifle begins to make wild shots (which will soon become more frequent). The scope is a great way to determine if the barrel wear is the problem and not just a need to do a thorough cleaning to remove the copper and, more importantly, the carbon fouling. I’ve had barrels that looked like they were shot. But when I’scoped out the barrels, it was only a matter of cleaning. Then they returned to their normal performance. The scope allows you to see the crown ‘up-close and personal’. The borescope is also a great way to check the condition of your crown. “My borescope is the best investment I’ve made.”
