Hammer bullets barrel life

[Huntnful]

I shot about 1/2 hammer bullets and 1/2 bergers out of my 28 Nosler. Shooting the hammers at around 3300+FPS. Barrel life was about 850 rounds. Pretty standard for a 28. So I don't personally think they had any ill effect. The extra 4gr. of N570 probably did more damage than the bullet IMO

 

[Petey308]

As a guide for how much ammo you need, we use the cheapest ammo we can find

That was definitely a discussion point too I had. Seems odd to use expensive bullets for culling huge numbers.

 

[NorthRiverGuide]

So let's hear from Fordy instead of making speculative unsubstantiated comments.

I have been to Down Under many times and it is a different landscape and if you have never been there, it is certainly major thought change. I spoke to kangeroo cullers when I was there many times that killed 300+ easily in one night. They have the resources and have different mindset. Heck, buffalo hunters in the old West killed 50-100 1500-2000 lb animals a day with single shot Sharps. So where there is a will there is always a way.

I know Fordy will have data, that is what he does.

I have buddies in Texas that literally hunt hogs from helicopters with machine guns and thermal scopes. They don't even rack up numbers like 600 in 12 hours. They are covered in hogs and will wipe out groups at a time. I've traveled around and have friends around the globe including places like Australia and New Zealand. Even culling they don't hit those numbers. I've killed bison they aren't hard and don't really run. Even then you're saying 50-100 bison a day. Big difference between that and 600 in less than 12 hours. Hell even major processing plants with kill floors don't hit those types of numbers.

 

[NorthRiverGuide]

I shot about 1/2 hammer bullets and 1/2 bergers out of my 28 Nosler. Shooting the hammers at around 3300+FPS. Barrel life was about 850 rounds. Pretty standard for a 28. So I don't personally think they had any ill effect. The extra 4gr. of N570 probably did more damage than the bullet IMO

Thanks for actually answering my question on barrel life

 

[WildRose]

I'm more interested in outlasting my barrels than my barrels out lasting me . My goal is too wear em out , shoot 'em till there toast and go too my next rifle until the new barrel is in , and start the wearing process again.

Hey in this crowd that's pretty common. Some folks though want just one, two, or a handful of very special rifles to last them a lifetime.

Around here for many if not most barrels are just an expendable and something you just figure in like having to replace brass.

The higher pressures you run they more expendable barrels are whether by intent or not.

 

[HARPERC]

That was definitely a discussion point too I had. Seems odd to use expensive bullets for culling huge numbers.

I really didn't read his post, but I'm guessing everything from .22LR, and mixture of other stuff.

 

[WildRose]

I have buddies in Texas that literally hunt hogs from helicopters with machine guns and thermal scopes. They don't even rack up numbers like 600 in 12 hours. They are covered in hogs and will wipe out groups at a time. I've traveled around and have friends around the globe including places like Australia and New Zealand. Even culling they don't hit those numbers. I've killed bison they aren't hard and don't really run. Even then you're saying 50-100 bison a day. Big difference between that and 600 in less than 12 hours. Hell even major processing plants with kill floors don't hit those types of numbers.

300 which you highlighted would be half of the 600 you repeated.

He's also talking about groups culling roos, not a single guy killing 300 a night.

I've literally shot more hogs just for control than I can count but the most in any one night was with the 6.8 pc and that was in the low forties. A mild round like the 6.8 doesn't eat barrels unless you're shooting it till it glows.

Conversely even with frequent cleaning shooting 250-300rds per day on a prairie dog hunt can smoke a 220 swift, 17 Rem, or .204 Ruger barrel on a single trip.

 

[WildRose]

So let's hear from Fordy instead of making speculative unsubstantiated comments.

I have been to Down Under many times and it is a different landscape and if you have never been there, it is certainly major thought change. I spoke to kangeroo cullers when I was there many times that killed 300+ easily in one night. They have the resources and have different mindset. Heck, buffalo hunters in the old West killed 50-100 1500-2000 lb animals a day with single shot Sharps. So where there is a will there is always a way.

I know Fordy will have data, that is what he does.

That was with low pressure black powder loads and multiple rifles.

 

[WildRose]

I have buddies in Texas that literally hunt hogs from helicopters with machine guns and thermal scopes. They don't even rack up numbers like 600 in 12 hours. They are covered in hogs and will wipe out groups at a time. I've traveled around and have friends around the globe including places like Australia and New Zealand. Even culling they don't hit those numbers. I've killed bison they aren't hard and don't really run. Even then you're saying 50-100 bison a day. Big difference between that and 600 in less than 12 hours. Hell even major processing plants with kill floors don't hit those types of numbers.

I saw three records set at the XL plant in Friona over one summer. The first record they broke was 1,130 steers.

Unless something has changed the Aussies make dog food from the roos and the come in a trailer load at a time.

 

[yorke-1]

This thread took an odd turn.

I don't think I would gauge barrel life on the experiences of anyone firing 300+ rounds a day, regardless of the context. The barrel doesn't care what you're shooting at. It would be just as useful to hear from competitive shooters who've shot monos and lead core bullets.

I have a buddy who's a PRS shooter and burns through 2-3 barrels per season. I'll ask him if he's ever had a barrel that he shot monos in exclusively. David Tubb would be another person with some possible experience on this topic. I know he used the Flatline bullets in his XC rounds, but I don't know if he uses them exclusively. Both of those scenarios are competitive shooters though, so it may not be relevant to hunting rifles.

 

[NorthRiverGuide]

This thread took an odd turn.

I don't think I would gauge barrel life on the experiences of anyone firing 300+ rounds a day, regardless of the context. The barrel doesn't care what you're shooting at. It would be just as useful to hear from competitive shooters who've shot monos and lead core bullets.

I have a buddy who's a PRS shooter and burns through 2-3 barrels per season. I'll ask him if he's ever had a barrel that he shot monos in exclusively. David Tubb would be another person with some possible experience on this topic. I know he used the Flatline bullets in his XC rounds, but I don't know if he uses them exclusively. Both of those scenarios are competitive shooters though, so it may not be relevant to hunting rifles.

I shoot competition and know guys running monolithics especially for elr. They are running heavy for caliber bullets though at normal speeds. Guys I've see running hammer bullets are running light bullets at over 4000 fps. I've seen what the normal speed barrel life is like for heavy bullets but not light at really high speed. Still I would be interested to hear what you find out from your friend more data is always good.

 

[Petey308]

This thread took an odd turn.

I don't think I would gauge barrel life on the experiences of anyone firing 300+ rounds a day, regardless of the context. The barrel doesn't care what you're shooting at. It would be just as useful to hear from competitive shooters who've shot monos and lead core bullets.

I have a buddy who's a PRS shooter and burns through 2-3 barrels per season. I'll ask him if he's ever had a barrel that he shot monos in exclusively. David Tubb would be another person with some possible experience on this topic. I know he used the Flatline bullets in his XC rounds, but I don't know if he uses them exclusively. Both of those scenarios are competitive shooters though, so it may not be relevant to hunting rifles.

Yeah I was thinking the same. Didn't mean for that to happen. I seriously just meant to tag Fordy to get his input based on his experience and wanted to at least explain why to those unaware as some form of context is all.

Time to get the train back on the tracks lol

 

[Muddyboots]

That was with low pressure black powder loads and multiple rifles.

The point was quantity

 

[NorthRiverGuide]

Yeah I was thinking the same. Didn't mean for that to happen. I seriously just meant to tag Fordy to get his input based on his experience and wanted to at least explain why to those unaware as some form of context is all.

Time to get the train back on the tracks lol

Honestly it's the claim he's made that got me sidetracked. I thought there must be a typo from you but nope he's actually claiming that. Hopefully this thread turns out some good information on hammers and barrel life. Some might not care but I do especially when I'm looking at the whole picture with how much I shoot.