How many shots could a rifle fire in its lifetime

[wayward]

Another just for fun question

How many shots do you think a rifle could fire before it had just had it and was well and truly worn out all the way round.

The pressures must eventually take their toll on the action and bolt too?

Say something common like a Ruger .308.

Any educated guesses?

[FuzzyM]

Would vary a bit on maintenance etc, but i would guess about 5000 rounds perhaps.
Not very educated on the subject.

Although I think have read that you can put tens of thousands of rounds through military rifles with chrome lined barrels etc.

[tom604]

im going to say 7 to 8000 for a 308 but i have no real idea hopping that other more knowledgeable posters will enlighten me

[1290]

Provided the old Roooga is keep clean, lubed, chamber dry, it would take more shot than most would have to time to put through it....
The question would be what level of accuracy drop off you would accept before retiring or re-barreling it.

The pressure will cause the lugs to set back and wear it out only if the material is inferior, no adequately treated or if the chamber is lubricated...

[Turtleburp]

I can't talk for the Ruger but the club Omarks from the 60s must have done a fair few... Barrels get replaced but the actions and triggers soldier on!
In truth the club rifle with original barrel still out shoots me

[bigfellascott]

Depends on the cal really, some are only good for 800 or less other's 10, 20k rimfires - huge amounts. Maintenance etc will play a fair part in any rifle longevity.

[mausermate]

The steel used and the manufacturing process of the barrel plays a major role in barrel life. Interestingly, the barrels made for the Mauser 66 which are an extremely high quality firearm, and one of the most expensive production firearms ever produced were, believe it or not, rated to handle 50,000 rounds.

[tom604]

so from 800 to 50,000.....hope that helps with your question

[bunnybuster]

The hotter the load,the shorter the barrel life

Be Safe BB

[Guliver]

I was until recently using an old Hammerli pistol that would have fired many thousands of rounds

[bunnybuster]

I was until recently using an old Hammerli pistol that would have fired many thousands of rounds

In 308 ? sheeet !

Be Safe BB

[GPostal]

On average a 308 barrel only lasts for 5 mins of firing or something like that

[Ken]

On average a 308 barrel only lasts for 5 mins of firing or something like that

Bam!

Your barrel life is 6 seconds

[wayward]

6 seconds, ouch.

Doesn't make shooting sound like good value, ha ha.

[ChicagoTed]

my ar15 should last around 30k probably longer hard to tell
4150 cmv steel
chrome lined as well

modern pistols should last almost forever

[tom604]

10 seconds for a 308 that means i only have about 8 seconds left,,,,,,,,,,,,,better take the 223 this weekend

[mausermate]

my ar15 should last around 30k probably longer hard to tell
4150 cmv steel
chrome lined as well

modern pistols should last almost forever

Stop teasing Ted. AR15 is something most of us Aussies only dream about.

[Norton]

Bastard yanks flaunting their toys

[Baronvonrort]

Does chrome moly last longer than stainless?

The adi reloading guide gives pressures from 45,000- 60,000 psi for popular centrefire rounds, of course using trail boss for making centrefires subsonic drops the pressure to around 25-27,000 psi.

40,000 psi is 275 Mpa which is the tensile yield strength of 416 stainless, the yield strength is where it starts to go through inelastic deformation before it fails which is the ultimate tensile strength which is 515 Mpa for 416 SS.

Chrome moly has a yield strength of 435 Mpa and a UTS of 670 mpa, if your loads are less than 63,000 psi according to the adi book you are below the yield strength of 4130.

I would go chrome moly over stainless on the fact chrome moly would be below its yield strength for the maximum pressure loads in the adi book with stainless being above the yield strength on start loads.
The saving factor here is these pressures are only sustained for a tiny fraction of a second.
Stainless can handle heat a little better than 4130 which like pressure is not sustained for great durations.

A colour heat chart will show black is the hottest colour for things left in the sun, perhaps stainless has an advantage in cooling when walking around in the sun as it will not absorb heat like a black barrel.

Perhaps the accurate lifetime of a gun is much shorter than its lifetime it could fire,i reckon a 22lr would win this one.

[MeccaOz]

Well My .22 is third generation in my family mate, still shoots fine

[tactice]

One of the guys here reckoned he was up to about 20,000 shots with his 22LR without ever cleaning.

The suckers last forever.

[deye243]

i have a REM 700 on it 3rd barrel and second stock , in 17rem thats 3500 and in 6X45 (6mm223) that was 11000 and now it at just over 3000 in 223rem so far thats 17500 and still just as good as the day i bought it.

[wayward]

so far thats 17500 and still just as good as the day i bought it.

Can't argue with that

[Noisydad]

i have a REM 700 on it 3rd barrel and second stock , in 17rem thats 3500 and in 6X45 (6mm223) that was 11000 and now it at just over 3000 in 223rem so far thats 17500 and still just as good as the day i bought it.

Sounds like my grandfathers axe...it's had twelve new handles and thee new heads!

[Jack V]

my ar15 should last around 30k probably longer hard to tell
4150 cmv steel
chrome lined as well

modern pistols should last almost forever

Not likely to maintain acceptable accuracy beyond 10 000 to 15000 rounds for an auto centre fire even with a chrome lined barrel . A lot depends on how well the throat stays intake . If the chrome starts to peel off at the throat as it erodes then it wears quickly after that . A real high quality chrome barrel might see 20 000 useful rounds but I doubt it because of fire cracking just in front of the chamber . Standard Military weapons can be used for longer as the standard of accuracy required in combat is less in general than most target shoots or hunters would require .

[headspace]

It's a bit like asking how long is a piece of string? there are so many variables even within the one calibre to really quantify. How loads, bad cleaning, all sorts of thing will shorted life of a barrel. Some times the crown or the throat gets buggered before anything else. Then there's the great unknown; the rifle that will still shoot well until it's almost a smoothbore!
JD

[headspace]

It's a bit like asking how long is a piece of string? there are so many variables even within the one calibre to really quantify. How loads, bad cleaning, all sorts of things will shorted life of a barrel. Some times the crown or the throat gets buggered before anything else. Then there's the great unknown; the rifle that will still shoot well until it's almost a smoothbore! The other factor is the expectations of the owner, (and his/her ability).
JD

[deye243]

i have a REM 700 on it 3rd barrel and second stock , in 17rem thats 3500 and in 6X45 (6mm223) that was 11000 and now it at just over 3000 in 223rem so far thats 17500 and still just as good as the day i bought it.

Sounds like my grandfathers axe...it's had twelve new handles and thee new heads!

i got a good laugh out of that .....

the only reason i put a 223r barrel on the rem was it's groups opened up to .75moa min and as it was my work rifle (culling roos) i went 223

[Jack V]

Most actions if looked after well will outlast several new barrels .

[Gregg]

A cared for .22 could outlast you and your kids.