Shot out barrels, but what about shot out actions? How long should they last?

Alantoo

Well-Known Member
I have read posts where people talk about barrels being shot out after so many thousand rounds, but can anybody tell me the life expectancy of the action?

Just on first principles of mechanical wear if non "hot-load" like a .308 barrel will last 5000 rounds how many times could the action be re-barreled? How many cycles should an action be expected to perform?

I understand "it all depends on how well the gun is maintained" but given reasonable care and attention....

I have a slight bias towards information relating to Sako 75/85 and Blaser actions but any info would be good.

Alan
 
A Riflesmith freind of mine says he has never seen a worn out Sako action he had a target rifle in 308 come in for its 4th barrel.

Well that's reassuring.

I suppose if cycling the bolt equals a revolution, 5000 cycles equals a couple of minutes of a motor car engine at 70mph on the motorway....

Thank you for your responses.

Alan
 
At worst you will see wear on the lugs from lack of application of grease., there may be galling, all can be easilly fixed during the re-barrelling process (in the case of shot out barrel)


Ive seen several 20 + yr old actions that are perfect, yet the barrels were very worn.


Dont discount that old shot out rifle sat at the dealers....
 
What is the likely cost of a re-barreling, say a Sako 75? Does one use a manufacturers original replacement or one from an specialist / independent barrel maker? What is involved?
 
Personally I have seen one shot out barrel on a .303 P14 Eddystone rifle. God only knows how many cordite rounds had passed down it's bore but when it was retired from use the first 5" or possibly a bit more were smooth with no visible rifling. At this stage it now failed to hold a group in the 200 Yd Bisley bull at 100 yards so it was time to retire it.

The .270 Win barrel I removed from the 1st Pat Monarch is quite worn but not shot out but I needed a donor for the .280 AI project so this became it. The barrel was still capable of MOA or just over with suitable loads.

Then there was the eroded throat on the 22/250 BSA CF2 that was bought with a project in mind to have it re-barrelled in .257 Roberts but which came with a quantity of Federal 55 grain ammunition so as you do i put a scope on it and retired to the range to see how it shot. Once sighting in was confirmed I was shocked to find that groups of 5/8"-3/4" were easy to obtain despite the obvious wear the the barrels throat. That particular rifle was sold when Bisley decided to ban the 22/250's use due to it exceeding the new velocity restrictions. I was pulled aside at one of the range days on the Running deer range b John Kynoch and informed that I was no longer allowed to shoot that rifle on their ranges any more. It was sold through Powells of Reigate to an organic free range egg farmer for fox control. Once again I have no idea how many rounds had been through the bore of that rifle.

I also had for a while a 1895 Steyr in 8x56R that was not shot out but had a deeply rust pitted bore and despite that 2 1/2" groups at 100 yards using old military (1938 manufacture) ball ammunition and the issue iron sights were possible with concentration and careful shooting.

There is so much rubbish spouted about shot out barrels here in the UK it really is hard to credit half of it with truth.

Edit:- An interesting comparison is that in America amongst the military surplus crowd more concern is of lug set back in the action than barrel wear yet we never hear of lug set back being mentioned in the UK do we?
 
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The US Military long range rifle team once used some specially built single-shot Winchester Model 70's that had a solid bottom. They were made pre-1964 and when I talked to the man who spent many years rebarreling them they were chambered in 300 Winchester Magnum. This was in the mid eighties and he said the actions were still in use.~Muir
 
Neilo here.
I have a Winchester Model 62 pump action around 1930's vintage I guess that the barrell is shot out as
you have to look hard to find the rifling, at 150 yards I can still drop a bunny or 2 for the evening meal. Every thing about this rifle is worn out. Yet my mate took it to the range and won the R/F Iron Sight at 100 yards.

HE then entered the Iron Sight C/F open Iron Sight and the Optical open and won both. All with a .22 winchester. I must add that Jay my mate is a Jeweler and Watch maker and shot small bore target for many years. He has used this rifle of mine on and off for 50 years so. He has often offered to purchase this rifle from me, but I will never sell as My Dad gave it to me and my youngest son Loves it so much.

A good rifleman knows his weapon and will adjust his style to suit his weapon,most shot out 30 caliber will still group at under 1 foot at 250 yards. With the right ammunition what ever you hit wont go far and you have meat on the table.

REMEMBER A GOOD TRADESMAN NEVER BLAMES HIS TOOLS


HAPPY HUNTING, NEILO
 
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@ Neilo...I know what you mean about the real value of a favourite tool, they become almost part of the family!

"REMEMBER A GOOD TRADESMAN NEVER BLAMES HIS TOOLS"...I tell that to the journeyman coming through the forge, but I always add that a good/smart tradesman buys or makes the best tool he can to start with, and then looks after it!

@ everyone...So the general consensus appears to be that action hardly wears, and that the barrel can wear but rarely does, but if it does it can be sorted.

A favourite rifle can be a bit like my grandfathers' axe then...five new hafts and three new heads and still the best axe in the world!

Thanks for all the posts. Good to have an informed perspective.

Alan
 
I don't believe the average+ deer hunter/target shooter(500rds a year or less), could ever wear out a barrel with the average deer round by shooting it. Target shooting is a different 'animal' altogether. My gunsmith says the few 'worn out' barrels that he has seen are from improper cleaning. An action should last forever with proper care. capt david
 
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