Can you wear out a gun barrel?

Question

Can you wear out a gun barrel?

Answer 1

Of course, although it will take a very long time unless you use the gun extremely heavily or frequently scrub it vigorously with a metal brush.  Eventually, the barrel's inside will be worn away at least a little, and the barrel will thus enlargen.  This enlargening will reduce the power and accuracy by an amount roughly proportional to the amount of enlargening.

Answer 2

Yes

Answer 3

Yes. Most rifle barrels are worn out by poor cleaning techniques. It is not the use of a metal brush that wears it out, but rather the metal cleaning rod rubbing on the lands. This is especially true if you clean often with a dirty cleaning rod from the muzzle end of the rifle. To wear out a rifle barrel by shooting usually takes several thousand rounds. The wear in this case is mostly in the throat area of the barrel directly where the chamber ends and the rifling begins.