How many shots from a barrel?

Question

How many shots do I get from a standard barrel on both a .223 Caliber and a .30-06 Springfield before the accuracy becomes a bit dodgy (I'm looking at hitting 4 inch diameter targets from maximum of 300 yards)

Answer 1

With modern firearms and ammunition-assuming you aren't hand loading REALLY hot rounds-the barrel should not lose measurable accuracy for several thousand rounds.

Answer 2

I have guns that are over 50 years old and have probably been fired thousands of times and they are still accurate, just stay away from really hot rounds.

Answer 3

The 223 and 30-06 are not known as "barrel burners"

Cartridges like a 220 Swift and 22-250 are much higher on the list. &mm Rem mag and 243 are worse than 223 and 30-06.

Expect many, many years of use from your rifle barrels.

Answer 4

If you have a chrome lined barrel (common on well make military rifles), I don't think you afford to wear out one in your own lifetime of normal shooting. As long as you take proper care and cleaning of the rifle. Chrome lined barrels are made to increase the life of a rifle that shoots military grade ammo. Armor piercing, metal jacketed, etc.. Chrome is very hard, and resists wear.

If you don't have a chrome lined barrel, you still have a lifetime of accurate shooting (or more) given that you take proper care of the firearm. Considering "normal-ish" use. Many rifles made a hundered years ago are still as accurate as the day they were made.

The hardened steel of the barrel (and rifling) is much harder than the copper of a jacketed bullet or more so in the case of a lead bullet.

Are asking about the difference in where the round goes from a cold barrel to one that has been warmed up by the time you make your third shot? *shrugs* I don't know much about that level of shooting. I do know some marksmen have the barrel cryogenically treated to minimize the barrels warpage as it warms up.

Answer 5

It depends on how hot the load and caliber is- the hotter calibers, 25-06, 257 weatherby magnum, etc when loaded with the smaller weight bullets has a velocity of 3500 and 3800 feet per second. this creates extreme heat and pressure in the barrel, and will cause a deterioration in accuracy after about 2000 rounds.- The average shooter will never have to worry about this.