I have one of these on my AR. Do you guys have any clue on how many rounds this beast can take before I need to replace it?
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It totally depends on your firing schedule, ammo choice, and accuracy expectations. If you do continuous mag dumps maybe 4-5k, but probably closer to 10k. If you do a little bit of rapid fire with some breaks in between - which I would guess is a lot of M4C members practicing or competing - I’d expect at least 10k, and maybe up to double that. If you do slow fire only, longer still, but you’d probably buy a different barrel or have stringent accuracy expectations if that described you. Continuous mag dumps with bimetal-jacketed ammo, probably 4-5k based on the Luckygunner test.* Shooting with only copper jacketed weaker ammo, like PMC or US-made .223 FMJ, expect a bit longer than the above guesses.
(*cue repeat discussion of how useful / stupid and useless that test is.)
Basically, shoot it a bunch and don’t worry about it. If bullets start keyholing or accuracy falls noticeably, think about a replacement. A new barrel costs less than 1k of ammo.
There are some reports of well treated barrels maintaining “combat” accuracy for up to 20k rounds. If your not burning up the barrel and you can live with minute of man, that barrel will just keep going.
Maybe start worrying about it when your group sizes start to open up and become un-serviceable, by your own standards.
There have been reports of Stainless AR Barrels making it easily to 10k to 15k that have seen hard use, and they are still fully serviceable… a good Chrome Lined Barrel, should last even longer.
What has prompted you to be concerned about this?
Here’s something to ponder, by the time you’ve sent $7,000 worth of Ammo downrange, you may, just may have to start worrying about replacing a $300 Barrel.
double-tap
You can most likely shoot 40k + rounds before replacing it.
Here is a comparable barrel…
http://www.slip2000.com/blog/s-w-a-t-magazine-filthy-14/
http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2013/01/09/epic-torture-test-40000-rounds-and-four-ar-15s/
40,000 rounds?!?!?
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I was going off of the same article from SWAT Magazine and another interview with Pat Rogers, I believe Travis Haley also has some BCM Carbines over 40k
More then you or the average shooter will put down range in several years. I’m sure that a quick search will reveal numerous threads about barrels and life.