308 Barrel Life?

nobody

WKR
Joined
Sep 15, 2020
Messages
2,057
I owned a 308 for about a year and regret every day ever getting rid of it. Granted, it was a Browning A Bolt II, and a base model at that, but I believe every man should have a 308 in the safe, even as a backup rifle. So I’m going to pick up a tikka, and was just curious how many of you have legitimately shot out a 308 barrel. I’m not talking match accuracy, I’m talking legit sub 1.5 MOA accuracy from contact to 700-ish hunting accuracy shot out.

I know the field evaluation rifle used in the scope testing is a 308, which was chosen because of its loooooooong static barrel life, but I’m just curious how long they’ll actually last.

I’ve read anywhere from 10k to as many as 30k rounds of barrel life. What’s myth, and what’s reality? What have people seen and experienced?
 
Joined
Feb 24, 2016
Messages
2,566
Depends on how hot the loads are, how long you let the barrel cool between shots and how often you clean it.

You should get at least 3,000 shots out of a .308 barrel before you even consider it being an issue. Thats right from a gunsmith's mouth who has more experience shooting rifles than 99.9% of the shooters I know.
 

xsn10s

WKR
Joined
May 3, 2022
Messages
460
I owned a 308 for about a year and regret every day ever getting rid of it. Granted, it was a Browning A Bolt II, and a base model at that, but I believe every man should have a 308 in the safe, even as a backup rifle. So I’m going to pick up a tikka, and was just curious how many of you have legitimately shot out a 308 barrel. I’m not talking match accuracy, I’m talking legit sub 1.5 MOA accuracy from contact to 700-ish hunting accuracy shot out.

I know the field evaluation rifle used in the scope testing is a 308, which was chosen because of its loooooooong static barrel life, but I’m just curious how long they’ll actually last.

I’ve read anywhere from 10k to as many as 30k rounds of barrel life. What’s myth, and what’s reality? What have people seen and experienced?
I have a PSS since 1991 that the family got me when I returned from the Army. I have well over 10k on the original barrel and it still shoots sub moa. But I never let the barrel get too hot.
 
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