Realistic barrel life of .243 Winchester?

[Zak Smith]

Data.. Not sure if I have data recorded in this format. But we have burned out a test barrel for 338LM in less rounds than I've had "accurate barrel life" in a match barrel that I shot at a more reasonable rate. By burned out I mean the rifling was gone to a degree that the bullets no longer stabilized. The firing schedule for that barrel was a max heat cycle for the suppressor on it, then cooled to ambient, over and over and over again.

 

[W.E.G.]

Replacement barrels don't cost very much.

Very easy to install on a bolt gun.

If you think your application really is capable of "wearing out" a lightweight barrel in a bolt gun, buy a second barrel at the time of purchase. The only thing you will regret is buying the second barrel. Because you'll likely never need it.

 

[Varminterror]

If you think your application really is capable of "wearing out" a lightweight barrel in a bolt gun, buy a second barrel at the time of purchase.

This part I agree with. I buy two barrels every year for two of my match rifles, and I always have a spare forward so I’m not out of barrels by the time my next order comes in (burn 2 per year and have 3 barrels on hand, one on the rifle, one planned replacement for the year, and a third spare which is broken in and ready to go if needed.

The only thing you will regret is buying the second barrel. Because you'll likely never need it.

This part I don’t.

 

[stillquietvoice]

View attachment 1083689 View attachment 1083690 So I’m in the load development phase of a .243.

I used 30 factory rounds for barrel break in. Another 40 (10 4 shot groups) to try a couple different powders and learn what velocity the barrel likes.

I have 32 rounds just waiting for a windless day. These are around where it shot best on the initial shooting, with 2 separate OALs.

If the range day is successful, then I’ll shoot 3 more 5 shot groups of what it appears to like best to verify.

Then maybe a 1/2 dozen rounds to get it sighted in at 200.

Then a minimum of 1 5 shot group at 250, 300, 350, 400, 450 and 500.

Best case scenario, I’ll have 150 rounds through the barrel just developing a load. This could easily be 200 or more depending on how the next range session goes.

Given an estimate of a 1,200 round lifespan, I think it’ll last me a long time since it’s primary function is going to be as a Coyote gun.

Based on my initial testing, the gun prefers a load nearly 2 grains below max and I’m using a relatively slow burning powder so maybe barrel life will be more?

But when I do load development, I usually shoot 3 guns, single shot from each gun. This allows the barrel of each to cool for 4-5 minutes between rounds. And then .243 is such a pleasure to shoot, It’ll probably be 1 that tags along often.

I had my barrel, action, rings and mag Cerakoted so if I ever get to the point it starts to lose accuracy, I’ll probably just have the barrel turned down 1 or 2 threads depending on the wear, reamed and threads extended, and start over.

My first 243 win, a savage m111, I bought used. Have no idea of its round count st the time of purchase, but found that it had quite a bit of throat erosion. Had to load to 2.700 in to get decent accuracy. Would have been a good candidate for a new barrel, but sadly my wife sold it thinking it was her 223 rem.

 

[Remington1911]

My first 243 win, a savage m111, I bought used. Have no idea of its round count st the time of purchase, but found that it had quite a bit of throat erosion. Had to load to 2.700 in to get decent accuracy. Would have been a good candidate for a new barrel, but sadly my wife sold it thinking it was her 223 rem.

That would be a HUGE issue with me.

 

[citizenconn]

I recently built a AR-10 in .243 with a 1/8 barrel (X-Caliber) specifically to run heavy bullets (like 95-grain plus) at long range. (Like 1000 yards. I'm getting me and my wife into the long-range thing, figure it's an easy cartridge to start with.) I figure a little less velocity should give me longer barrel life, and when it burns up.....I'll just re-barrel it. Or build a 7mm-08. Or both. I finished it as the ammo panic hit, I put a couple of boxes of 100-gr Core-Lokts through it, I was getting about 1-1/4" off a sandbag with my shaky -over-excited hands.

I have 5 AR-243s: 2 heavy fluted 22", 2 heavy fluted 24" - these 4 for long range target shooting, 1 medium fluted fairly lightweight 20" I use for hunting. All 1:8 twist barrels. I have well over 2000 rounds in all 4 of the target ARs and I have yet to see any appreciable reduction in accuracy out to 1200 yards at the 1 and 2 MOA targets at our range. The hunting AR has a few hundred rounds through it. No issues with accuracy at minute of deer. I don't varmint hunt.
I also have a 22" medium contour bolt gun in .243, 1:10 twist. It only has a couple hundred rounds through it, so not a lot of data there yet.
But I am not a competitor or shoot in situations where I would likely ever notice an appreciable level of lost accuracy. I will say I rarely see shooters at the range where I go who shoot well enough that they could outshoot the accuracy of any of my target rifles. But that's just my experience. Same goes for my other 6mm rifles, AR and bolt guns alike.
I do see a lot of shooters who blame their shooting on the accuracy, or lack thereof, on the rifle when really it is they who have failed to accurize their own skills. The rifle is zeroed, but is the shooter?

 

[R_P_K]

I'd like to build a nice CRF bolt gun in .243 with a 22" to 26" featherweight barrel for deer hunting. It'll likely be a forever rifle so I'd like to get everything right the first time.

I'm concerned about barrel life with the .243. I'm finding all kinds of different figures, anywhere from 800 rounds to 5,000 rounds. If I'm only getting about a thousand out of it I'll be looking at another chambering.

I'm really only looking for an inch or so accuracy at 100 yards, although I could put up with one and a half.

I'd likely be using 100 grain soft points or, more likely, 80 grain TTSX. I'd probably be loading some middle of the road to fairly warm loads, nothing too hot.

The fastest I'd likely be shooting is 3 shot groups in a minute or so at the range, maybe a few quick shots at a fleeing animal.

I'm split between stainless and chrome moly. I've heard mixed opinions on which lasts longer.

If anyone could chime in with their experience it'd be appreciated.

For deer hunting purposes only, you'll never shoot the barrel out. For varmints, any overbore round will have the same issue. Get that .243 and enjoy it, it's a great underrated round

 

[stillquietvoice]

That would be a HUGE issue with me.

I wasn't too upset about her selling yhe rifle. The 223 she had was a real tack driver. Plus it cost a lot less to reload for.

With the oal, on yhe 243 win, as long as it had to be to shoot well in would have needed a barrel sooner rather than later. It did however account for 5 deer in 3 years, and I also had picked up my rem 700 7mm08 so all was good.

 

[Scout21]

I wasn't too upset about her selling yhe rifle. The 223 she had was a real tack driver. Plus it cost a lot less to reload for.

With the oal, on yhe 243 win, as long as it had to be to shoot well in would have needed a barrel sooner rather than later. It did however account for 5 deer in 3 years, and I also had picked up my rem 700 7mm08 so all was good.

Was the buyer cool with it? I'd be confused if I bought a .223 and got a .243. I'm surprised that they didn't check. I'm meticulous in my inspection when buying guns, new or used.

 

[stillquietvoice]

She sold it to a firearm dealer, she was confused not the buyer.

Was the buyer cool with it? I'd be confused if I bought a .223 and got a .243. I'm surprised that they didn't check. I'm meticulous in my inspection when buying guns, new or used.

 

[matttric]

As a few others have said- round count really starts to matter when they are high volume, consecutive shots. If you’re never heating up the barrel, or you’re only putting 100 rounds or less through a month, your barrel will react VERY differently to 1,000 rounds than somebody who puts that volume through in a few weeks.
Another thing to consider is ease/cost of swapping out the barrel. Some rifles are now made specifically to allow you to do that at home, very easily. If this platform is one you really enjoy, and you can get a second barrel for a decent price, and it’s primarily your hunting rifle,I think you could very comfortably have a “forever gun” with an extra barrel in the safe “just in case.”

 

[Varminterror]

If you’re never heating up the barrel, or you’re only putting 100 rounds or less through a month, your barrel will react VERY differently to 1,000 rounds than somebody who puts that volume through in a few weeks.

How many more rounds are you getting through cooler-fired barrels than those you shoot hot?

 

[matttric]

How many more rounds are you getting through cooler-fired barrels than those you shoot hot?

Specifically to my ARs- thousands. One barre is 7 years old, another has been swapped out in the same time period. Both in .223

 

[Varminterror]

Specifically to my ARs- thousands. One barre is 7 years old, another has been swapped out in the same time period. Both in .223

“Thousands” more rounds of barrel life by slow fire in 5.56, eh.

I’ve heard everything I need to know.