Originally Posted By: ackleymanI have shot 5-7 rounds per minute on p. dog towns with sustained fire Until I could not see out of the scope.
I have had access to a bore scope since Mid 80's, and shooting like this causes throats to grow, not to mention fire cracking in the bore.
Barrels were on order all the time as we shot 24-26,000 rounds per year, and typical days on the dog towns then was 600 centerfire on a bad day, and 1200 on a red hot day.
Instead of air cooling the barrels, we started running water down the bore, this extended barrel life as the barrels actually got cool during rotation. Barrels do not cool down when air temps are 90* and above, even if you have 6 guns in rotation.
If you shoot H335 or Win 748, you can get some very long barrel life out of a 223 or AI. If you shoot N133,N135, IMR 4064 or R#15...barrel life is cut way short(depending on what your definition of accuracy). When barrels started shooting 3/4", it was time to set the barrels back.
That is some good information, esp the part on powder selection. I've long suspected that certain powders ate barrels faster, like RL22. I've shot out a few, but not like you guys go through. Feel free to elaborate on any other powders you feel are rougher or easier on barrels than others.
Also feel I can add, after having a bore cam for just under a year, that it seems like different powders foul very differently. I especially notice that the 8208 I like so much, while it doesn't really foul bores that bad, it leaves some really hard stuff in the throat that, say, A2230 or H335 does not. Would you say that's accurate?