barrel life?

[gwhaling]

I have read a garand barrel degrades by 1 point every 1000 rounds 10,000 replace. How about the carbine. It shoots a lot slower. Just a newbie question that I have not found a lot of info about.

[nathangdad]

One problem is estimating barrel life comes from the fact that some people fire their semi-auto's
repeatedly in a rapid fire type mode thus accelerating wear through heat buildup. I hope you find a better answer to your question.

[rfc357]

Like most things in shooting, it depends on the use, abuse, and care given the barrel. I have never seen a carbine barrel worn to the point of uselessness. They are usually not stupendously accurate to begin with, so it's hard to judge when they are worn out. The ordnance boys have standards for everything, and they replace barrels based on wear measurements, not number of rounds fired.

I have "worn out" Garand barrels in competitive shooting. I did not keep track of the number of rounds fired, although I suppose I could reconstruct the number from my logbooks. It was many thousand rounds. The barrels were not useless, just no longer accurate enough for me.

[Wingwiper]

Originally Posted by gwhaling

I have read a garand barrel degrades by 1 point every 1000 rounds 10,000 replace. How about the carbine. It shoots a lot slower. Just a newbie question that I have not found a lot of info about.

Keep you barrel clean and run the Bore brush thru in only one direction and do so several times if not at least 15. I use to run from back to front. I would slip the rod down the barrel and attach the brush and then pull out to the front and remove the brush. I would ONLY use a good stiff brush.

If you shoot FMJs alot, these will wear a barrel out faster than a softer case. I found over the years that a barrel, just before it is going to shoot SHOTGUN PATTERNS, shoots some God awful tight groups. So if you have shot many thousands of rds and the weapon is suddenly shooting really awesome, be prepared because the end is very near.

[JSnover]

I doubt there's a magic number for wearing out a barrel. Even if there was, it would differ for each cartridge, plus a boatload of other factors. The 10,000 round limit or 1 pt per 1,000 theory is probably related to some regulation or rule of thumb for armorers. In my opinion, shoot it till it quits. Better yet, keep track of how many rounds you shoot in an average year and do the math. Unless you take up competitive shooting, my guess is you'll leave your guns to your kids before you wear the barrels out.

[Wingwiper]

Originally Posted by JSnover

I doubt there's a magic number for wearing out a barrel. Even if there was, it would differ for each cartridge, plus a boatload of other factors. The 10,000 round limit or 1 pt per 1,000 theory is probably related to some regulation or rule of thumb for armorers. In my opinion, shoot it till it quits. Better yet, keep track of how many rounds you shoot in an average year and do the math. Unless you take up competitive shooting, my guess is you'll leave your guns to your kids before you wear the barrels out.

You are very right

I was on a military team for ten years and between matches and practice, was firing about 30,000 rds per year. I can only remember replacing TWO Barrels in all that time and I had the same weapon for the duration. The second barrel was when we put A2 Uppers on A1 Bottoms. I do remember other Team members replacing their barrels as well, but no more often than the rest of us and I very well remember that just before the barrel was blown out, it shot some God Awful tight groups.

[JSnover]

Originally Posted by Wingwiper

You are very right

I was on a military team for ten years and between matches and practice, was firing about 30,000 rds per year. I can only remember replacing TWO Barrels in all that time and I had the same weapon for the duration. The second barrel was when we put A2 Uppers on A1 Bottoms. I do remember other Team members replacing their barrels as well, but no more often than the rest of us and I very well remember that just before the barrel was blown out, it shot some God Awful tight groups.

Thanks! I always wondered how often the "pros" replaced barrels. I've never seen the inside of a shoulder-fired rifle barrel but I have cut up a handful of 20mm barrels from military aircraft. Don't know how many rounds were fired but the throat erosion was HORRENDOUS.

[samuel]

The only thing I can verify in this thread is armorers go by meisurements and guages,not rounds fired. sam.

[JSnover]

That's true. In fact I've made of few for them. I don't know where the "10,000 round" theory comes from but it keeps popping up.

[Wingwiper]

Originally Posted by JSnover

Thanks! I always wondered how often the "pros" replaced barrels. I've never seen the inside of a shoulder-fired rifle barrel but I have cut up a handful of 20mm barrels from military aircraft. Don't know how many rounds were fired but the throat erosion was HORRENDOUS.

You talking MK 11s and MK 12s? or Vulcan barrels? remember with those critters they are shooting from 1000 to 6000 rds per minute so every time the old Air Jock depresses the trigger he is creating some Super Heat in those barrels. Those aren't exactly soft coated projectiles either. The Gun Pods would only hold 750 rds of 20 Mike Mike but I rarely saw a pod come back with any rds unless there was a jam or other malfunction.

Aviation Ordnance Tech, USMC F-4 Phathoms

[JSnover]

M61 barrels. Completely different, yes, but as a visual aid it couldn't be beat!I showed one to a friend, just to demonstrate what erosion looks like.

Machinist, F-15 Eagle. Plane Cap'n, A-4 Skyhawk.

[Wingwiper]

Originally Posted by JSnover

M61 barrels. Completely different, yes, but as a visual aid it couldn't be beat!I showed one to a friend, just to demonstrate what erosion looks like.

Machinist, F-15 Eagle. Plane Cap'n, A-4 Skyhawk.

Just as I was getting out of the Corps the F-15 was being introduced, dang... missed it. When I was in New River we were working with the Brits on experimental basis and the old Harrier.

I guess M61 is after my time, I don't remember it. Single barrel or dbl barrel cannon?

[JSnover]

I got out just before all the Skyhawks left for the boneyard, to be replaced with F-18s or AV-8s. The M61 is a six barrel gatling-type. Talk about a barrel burnin' machine............ DAMN!

[Wingwiper]

Originally Posted by JSnover

I got out just before all the Skyhawks left for the boneyard, to be replaced with F-18s or AV-8s. The M61 is a six barrel gatling-type. Talk about a barrel burnin' machine............ DAMN!

I think I goofed, it was the F-14 that was coming out when I got out.

When we were waiting for the A/C to get back, we would sit in the Ordanance hooch and throw 20 mike mike cannon firing pins as knives. I believe form memory that they were about 18 inches long, sharp and had a weight on the back end. They would throw and stick into sandbags or plywood real good.

The Vulcan was a 6 barrel, 6k RPM but the pod was a Hughes Tool & Die and held 750 rds. So the pilot had about a 7.5 second burst and he was OUT.
We loaded the pods and the first 5 rds were Dummy so the Pilot could cycle.
I am sure that the Technology has improved over the years.

[JSnover]

Originally Posted by Wingwiper

I think I goofed, it was the F-14 that was coming out when I got out.

When we were waiting for the A/C to get back, we would sit in the Ordanance hooch and throw 20 mike mike cannon firing pins as knives. I believe form memory that they were about 18 inches long, sharp and had a weight on the back end. They would throw and stick into sandbags or plywood real good.

The Vulcan was a 6 barrel, 6k RPM but the pod was a Hughes Tool & Die and held 750 rds. So the pilot had about a 7.5 second burst and he was OUT.
We loaded the pods and the first 5 rds were Dummy so the Pilot could cycle.
I am sure that the Technology has improved over the years.

Never had a cannon apart but I sure would love to have one of those pins! In the A4 community (at least when I was there) the hot setup was a GAU 2 pod uner the centerline. We flew all kinds of rockets, iron bombs, even a simulated nuke once but the GAU always made me smile.

[Wingwiper]

Originally Posted by JSnover

Never had a cannon apart but I sure would love to have one of those pins! In the A4 community (at least when I was there) the hot setup was a GAU 2 pod uner the centerline. We flew all kinds of rockets, iron bombs, even a simulated nuke once but the GAU always made me smile.

Ah! yes rockets, the 2.75" Mighty Mouse pods, the 5" Zuni s, the MK82 Mod 1 500 lb GP

Do you realize that the F-4 Fighter Attack A/C could carry a 18,000 lb PAYLOAD or 36 5oo pounders? Of course no Wing tanks or belly tank but what an awesome Loud, Smoking s.o.b. of an a/c

The 20 mike mike pod, I thought was a GPU wasn't the GAU a 7.62 Mike Mike Mini Gun??????

[JSnover]

I think you're right. Never got any pictures but I remember the muzzles being HUGE. We had a Huey outfit in the other end of the hangar, they used to fly some pretty impressive weapons. That's probably where I mixed up GAU vs. GPU.
One of the crew chiefs showed up with his face scorched from flying the door all afternoon. He looked awful but didn't need medics. I asked what happened. He smiled real big and said "Dude I had the time of my life, but that rocket blast will fu*k you UP!"

[Wingwiper]

Originally Posted by JSnover

I think you're right. Never got any pictures but I remember the muzzles being HUGE. We had a Huey outfit in the other end of the hangar, they used to fly some pretty impressive weapons. That's probably where I mixed up GAU vs. GPU.
One of the crew chiefs showed up with his face scorched from flying the door all afternoon. He looked awful but didn't need medics. I asked what happened. He smiled real big and said "Dude I had the time of my life, but that rocket blast will fu*k you UP!"

LOL I bet... I was impressed with the Ordanace back then and I am even more impressed with the stuff we have now. Awesome and I am God thankful I am on the American Side and not on the Recieving side.......