Does a heavy barrel last longer than a sporter barrel

[sha]

Does the heavy barrel give it a bit more life?

Or is what's burning in the middle all that matters?

[MeccaOz]

There are alot of things to consider when answering this question. Like are you running hot loads, letting the barrel cool, etc etc etc. But very generally the answer is yes, because they dont heat up as quickly. My 2c anyway.

[Jack V]

Basically No . just because the external profile is thicker than another barrel will not change what is going on inside the bore to any great degree , where the wear takes place.

Less heating up might give some extra life but it would be hard to measure.

I have worn out quite a few barrels and the heavy ones did no better than the light ones and visa versa as far as I could tell.

[cavok]

In pistol barrels there are better quality stainless steel barrels that have many time the life of cheap or sometimes even expensive pistols, that use less quality stainless steel. It's the quality of the steel that makes the life of the barrel, that would be pistol or rifle.

[tom604]

not that you would notice

[Tiiger]

There might be some benefit in that the heavier barrel will heat a little slower.

You'd be seriously splitting hairs over it though.

Practically you'd probably have to just say 'no'.

[Korkt]

Buy a heavy barrel for the accuracy if that's what you want, not the barrel life.

If it adds 100-200 shots over the life of the barrel, what does that work out to on rebarreling? Saves you a handful of dollars each time you do it?

[mausermate]

heat will effect accuracy as the steel changes under temperature. The definition of the rifling will be different as the metal softens under heat. That makes effect on your bullet as it is fired. Simple Science.

So, heat creates softer metal and understandably, this creates wear. The bullet remains the same hardness but the heat in the barrel changes the hardness of the metal in the barrel. this increases wear.

Heavy barrels will heat slower and cool slower. Light barrels will heat quicker but cool quicker. Think about mass and area. Hence the reason for fluting as it increases the surface area of the barrel and hence it's cooling ability.

So to answer the question. Yes light barrels wear quicker. it is the heat that will do your damage and that can occur in a single shot.

It may not be something you can measure, in many instances it may be minimal, but science tells you it is happening.

[Ariat]

Heavy barrels will heat slower and cool slower. Light barrels will heat quicker but cool quicker. Think about mass and area.

I haven't broke out the thermometer to test this, but it occurs to me....

Would the larger surface area of the heavier barrel not speed up the cooling?

[Gwion]

The extra mass acts as a heat sink making it cool slower. In fact there is less surface area to mass, which is the main point.

Imagine a 10cmX10cm piece of al-foil heated in a camp fire on a cool night. Take it out of the fire and how long until you could hold it?
It will heat quickly and cool quickly.

Now think of the same size square of 5mm plate steel thrown in the hot part of the fire. Take it out, how long until you can hold it?
It will take longer to heat but cool much slower as well.

Same reason why babies are more susceptible to extremes of temp than adults. Surface area : mass ratio.

[Baronvonrort]

I can't see any reason why a heavy barrel would last longer, they wear out on the inside diameter,the first mm of metal on the inside diameter has to cope with the stress from the pressure of the blast which according to the ADI reloading manual can be up to 60,000 psi along with the heat that is also produced,if you think about it the inside diameter gets larger over time while there is no change to outside diameter.

How hot does the barrel get from shooting, is a black barreled gun that is left in the sun going to heat up more than a stainless barrel and therefore be hotter before a shot is even fired, will a black barreled gun take longer to cool down in direct sun than a stainless barrel.
A temperature colour chart will show black coloured things get a lot hotter compared to any other colour if left in the sun.
I guess if you were worried about cooling when out in the sun then stainless would be the choice.

As for making it last longer i would keep it clean and going by the ADI book it shows pressures are much lower at the starting load which means the inside bore is under less stress when loads are around the minimum.

[Ariat]

Take it out, how long until you can hold it?

Yep, you're obviously right.