200 straight rounds of Norma Mag

[huntnful]

Sat down to form brass today. I had 200 rounds of 7-300 Norma Mag brass loaded. Going to form it to 7-300 Norma Mag Improved for next season.



This barrel has about 700 rounds on it. 200 of which were fired consecutively during a previous forming day. With a bore scope, the barrel looks absolutely destroyed. As bad as you could imagine.

So for fun, I started with clean barrel. Shot a 10 round group.



Dialed down a few clicks. Then just rapid fired the next 185 rounds. Obviously this isn’t some precision group. Could barely make out the paper most of the time from barrel mirage and just breaking shots as soon as I was on orange.


Then I let the barrel COMPLETELY cool down. Almost to ambient temperature. Then shot the last 5 rounds at a separate target for a final group.


Just thought it was interesting and wanted to share. Inside the barrel with a bore scope, you would think this barrel is absolutely junk. But just looking at paper, you would never know. Last group was well under 1 MOA after just having 195 rounds rapid fired through it in about an hour.



Final product

 

[hereinaz]

Crazy! I would be mentally impaired after that much recoil and muzzle blast, lol.

How hot did the barrel get?
Was it reduced loads?

 

[Slick8]

That's impressive results from a "burned out barrel".

Thanks for sharing the results. That 185 round group followed by a cool 5 round really puts into perspective the idea of round count when buying a used rifle.

 

[huntnful]

Crazy! I would be mentally impaired after that much recoil and muzzle blast, lol.

How hot did the barrel get?
Was it reduced loads?

Decently heavy gun (10.5lbs) and a 26” barrel, with the brake that far away from the shooter, is honestly super mild to shoot behind.

Not really. 180 ELDM’s at 3000fps with 90gr. H50 BMG.

 

[hereinaz]

How fast can you get those up to in fireformed brass?

 

[huntnful]

How fast can you get those up to in fireformed brass?

I shot them at 3350fps before hitting pressure, testing N570. But I hunted with them at 3160fps with H1000. 26” barrel.

 

[hereinaz]

I shot them at 3350fps before hitting pressure, testing N570. But I hunted with them at 3160fps with H1000. 26” barrel.

Nice! I was gonna say, I shoot 180s at 3050 out of my 7 SS so that ain't slow. Dang, 3160 will smoke some stuff out there.

 

[Quicksilver]

“On this episode of Steve’s torture tests”…

You done hunting for the season?

 

[Mojave]

We had a 7.82 Warbird. I don't think the barrel lasts 400 rounds.

 

[waspocrew]

That's wild man, thanks for sharing! That barrel still has pretty damn good accuracy for 900 rounds.

 

[Ucsdryder]

Sat down to form brass today. I had 200 rounds of 7-300 Norma Mag brass loaded. Going to form it to 7-300 Norma Mag Improved for next season.

View attachment 792319

This barrel has about 700 rounds on it. 200 of which were fired consecutively during a previous forming day. With a bore scope, the barrel looks absolutely destroyed. As bad as you could imagine.

So for fun, I started with clean barrel. Shot a 10 round group.
View attachment 792320


Dialed down a few clicks. Then just rapid fired the next 185 rounds. Obviously this isn’t some precision group. Could barely make out the paper most of the time from barrel mirage and just breaking shots as soon as I was on orange.
View attachment 792321

Then I let the barrel COMPLETELY cool down. Almost to ambient temperature. Then shot the last 5 rounds at a separate target for a final group.
View attachment 792322

Just thought it was interesting and wanted to share. Inside the barrel with a bore scope, you would think this barrel is absolutely junk. But just looking at paper, you would never know. Last group was well under 1 MOA after just having 195 rounds rapid fired through it in about an hour.

View attachment 792323

Final product
View attachment 792324

Good shooting.

How many rounds does it have now? 900? That’s impressive barrel life! I’m loving the 245 hybrids out of my norma, but daaaang! What does a bore scope look like?

 

[Formidilosus]

Sat down to form brass today. I had 200 rounds of 7-300 Norma Mag brass loaded. Going to form it to 7-300 Norma Mag Improved for next season.

View attachment 792319

This barrel has about 700 rounds on it. 200 of which were fired consecutively during a previous forming day. With a bore scope, the barrel looks absolutely destroyed. As bad as you could imagine.

So for fun, I started with clean barrel. Shot a 10 round group.
View attachment 792320


Dialed down a few clicks. Then just rapid fired the next 185 rounds. Obviously this isn’t some precision group. Could barely make out the paper most of the time from barrel mirage and just breaking shots as soon as I was on orange.
View attachment 792321

Then I let the barrel COMPLETELY cool down. Almost to ambient temperature. Then shot the last 5 rounds at a separate target for a final group.
View attachment 792322

Just thought it was interesting and wanted to share. Inside the barrel with a bore scope, you would think this barrel is absolutely junk. But just looking at paper, you would never know. Last group was well under 1 MOA after just having 195 rounds rapid fired through it in about an hour.

View attachment 792323

Final product
View attachment 792324

Impossible. The internet and “barrel” makers say it’ll blow up if you don’t clean it every 20-30 rounds, let alone group still.

 

[huntnful]

“On this episode of Steve’s torture tests”…

You done hunting for the season?

Yes sir. Just wrapped up a 6 day backpack hunt in the MT backcountry. Looked over probably 50 bucks and didn’t see one worth killing, so I ate my tag and came home and started forming brass haha.

Good shooting.

How many rounds does it have now? 900? That’s impressive barrel life! I’m loving the 245 hybrids out of my norma, but daaaang! What does a bore scope look like?

I’ll clean the throat and post pictures afterwards. It’s pretty wicked in there. And cracked halfway down the barrel haha.

Impossible. The internet and “barrel” makers say it’ll blow up if you don’t clean it every 20-30 rounds, let alone group still.

Hahaha I used to think that too honestly. Until I started shooting for longer and longer shot strings without cleaning just to find out.

I mean I wasn’t trying to achieve some insane level of precision or anything. But clearly it can hold a group together plenty well enough for hunting, a lot longer than people (including myself) think .

 

[Mike D Texas]

Have you started noticing any pressure signs and/or velocity loss?

I lost 200 fps and started seeing random pressure signs at about 650 rounds on my 264WM Improved. It ate a steady diet of N570 its entire life.

Punched it out to 26 Nosler and now runs a comfortable 3350 pushed by H50BMG.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

 

[huntnful]

Have you started noticing any pressure signs and/or velocity loss?

I lost 200 fps and started seeing random pressure signs at about 650 rounds on my 264WM Improved. It ate a steady diet of N570 its entire life.

Punched it out to 26 Nosler and now runs a comfortable 3350 pushed by H50BMG.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

Oh yeah. They lose speeds as the throat erodes further and further away. But that’s normally from less pressure. I’ve never seen a speed loss, accompanied by higher pressures.

I started a load in my 28 nosler at 83gr. N570. When the barrel was shot out at 800 rounds I needed 87gr. N570 to produce the same speed. Same jug of powder.

 

[mxgsfmdpx]

Yes sir. Just wrapped up a 6 day backpack hunt in the MT backcountry. Looked over probably 50 bucks and didn’t see one worth killing, so I ate my tag and came home and started forming brass haha.
View attachment 792351
View attachment 792352


I’ll clean the throat and post pictures afterwards. It’s pretty wicked in there. And cracked halfway down the barrel haha.


Hahaha I used to think that too honestly. Until I started shooting for longer and longer shot strings without cleaning just to find out.

I mean I wasn’t trying to achieve some insane level of precision or anything. But clearly it can hold a group together plenty well enough for hunting, a lot longer than people (including myself) think .

Come hunt AZ in January with me and @willfrye027

 

[huntnful]

Come hunt AZ in January with me and @willfrye027

I’ve actually been down there a half dozen times for the OTC archery (when it was actually OTC) and had a blast. Freaking tough hunting though! I hung up the bow

 

[mxgsfmdpx]

I hung up the bow

A wise choice! Haha.

 

[willfrye027]

I’ve actually been down there a half dozen times for the OTC archery (when it was actually OTC) and had a blast. Freaking tough hunting though! I hung up the bow

I HATE archery. But I like mule deer so it’s happening

 

[huntnful]

I HATE archery. But I like mule deer so it’s happening

Hahaha I hear that man!! Good luck!!! It’s a fun hunt in cool terrain!