Good 1k rifle that barrels last a long time

scottyd2506

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Aug 22, 2009
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I've been looking to build a new rifle, not a competition gun, but something that holds it's own to 1k and I don't have to replace barrel often.

I built a 284 a few years back. Even started a thread here. on LRH

The 284 Rifle turned out great, I've got maybe 400-500 rounds through it. I shoot the 195's@2600+ fps and sometimes 180s@2830 fps
it's a M700 long action, 30in bbl 8.0:1tw 5R. w Ras brake, Choate stock, Jeweel trigger set at around 3oz, Sightron SIII MOA-H 8-32x56. 20moa back with Lee 0.10 incerts, I'm 7 clicks from bottom on a 200 yard zero in case I want to go the mile (1760yrds). main load is 195 OTM 3.24 oal 52.0 H4831. BR2's.
180 Hybrids 55.0 H4831. They all shoot 1/2 moa if my crap eye's are on. shot two 3 shot 600 yards groups, 1st was 2.5in, 2nd was 3.1 (wind gust).
WE shoot at 1k when we can and farmer doesn't have crops in, or it isn't flooded, small window in times of year to shoot 1000 yards..
Wind really kicks are butts at 1k.. my friend shoots a SPS in 308 with 20in bbls and175smk 2550 fps.

We aquired a shooting range that goes to 1k and we will be shooting much more.. Been thinking of another rifle that doesn't eat barrels..
Of Course the 308 comes to mind. wind kicks bullets more than most, But it's still fun . I have a Ar10 in 308 that I've shot to 1k, but I want a bolt gun with bigger scope. Tinking with ideas of something other than 308

Since I'm after barrel life 1st, then ballistcs 2nd. And I plan to use aftermarket barrel w twist I can pick. I want to use heavy bullets per caliber, they require less powder and also do better

It's come down to either a 308 w 215 Hybrids, a 7mm-08 w 195's.. possible 7mm creedmore or 7mm x47. I will use a 30-32 inch barrel on the build with brake.

I know RL is not paper, but to get into the ballpark, I used Quickload and the "Barrel Life Calculator" page

For standard Referance,
a 308 like my AR10 and friend SPS shooting a 175 SMK w 44.0 Varget 2.800 QL shows, and Barrel life calc, most likely Competition BR life
Wind drift is per mph 90deg
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Seem like Re17 & Varget are hard on barrel throats esp Reloader 17 dbl based powders.

I'll throw in some other rounds to compare

6.5 Creed 140 Hybrid 47.0 H4831, 30in bbl, 2900 fps, 55k, barrel life 1803 rounds, wind drifts at 1k 6.3i

308, 175smk, 44.0 varget, 2.80oal, 20in bbl, 2550fps, 56k psi, barrel life 3000 rounds, wind drift at 1k 11 in
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308, 215ber, 44.0 CFE223, 3.150oal, 30in bbl, 2550fps, 56k psi, barrel life 3432 rounds, wind drift at 1k 6,61 in

308 ,215Ber, 40.5 H4350 , 2.80oal, 30in bbl, 2341 fps, 49k psi, barrel life 6600 rounds, wind drift at 1k 7.61 in

308, 230otm, 38.0 H4350, 2.80oal, 30in bbl, 2224 fps, 49k psi, barrel life 6593 rounds, wind drift at 1k 7.85 in

7-08, 195 ber, 37.0 H4350,, 2.800oal, 30in bbl, 2344, 48k psi, barrel life 5100 rounds, wind drift at 1k 6.75 in

7-08, 195 ber 36.3 H4350, 2.80oal, 30in bbl, 2405 ps, 46k psi, barrel life 5600 rounds, wind drift at 1k, 6.93 in


As above you can see the std 308 w 175's as around 11in drift per mph compared to the 6.5 Creedmore at 6.3in.
But if you build a 308 with a 9tw in using 215 bergers, a long action w a 30 in bbl it can compare to a Creedmore in wind drift at 6.6in drift
Not a big differance, for the almost double barrel lift you get.

judging wind can be hard no doubt (I know), a 1 mph miss calculation on a 16 inch steel plate is a miss with a 308-175smk, but not with a Creedmore at 6.3in per mph (going to nip the edge if accurcy is right). But he heavy bullet 215@2550 fps 308 going to also nip the plate if accurcy is on.

When you go sit down beside a bunch of guys shooting creedmores at 1000yards with a little wind, at the range, and they ask what you got, and you say 308, the look at each other and smile. Then when you ping the same steel in the winds they are, and they are like "***" --PRICELESS--!


If you load down just slightly from max, barrel lift seems to take off...

I loaded down the Berger 195's to 2305 in the programs to extend barrel lift and see results, seems the Berger Twist rate calculator minimum for 8:1 is 2300fps.. the 30's will go much lower.
A lot of ppl going to say 2300 fps too low and such, But one can still have a lot of fun and 7in drift per mph w 5600 round barrel life, that beats the pants off any std 308 factory gun on the planet, with the 10-11in drift per mph, is nothing to per down on.

The heavy 215-230 grn, 308's at 49k psi at 6600 rnds barrel lift are not too shabby with 7.5in drift per mph either.
I know these are just programs, but gets one into the gerneral ballpark
I'm toren between the 7-08 and 308.

anyone have any ideas of other calibers that have good barrel life, and drift less that 8in per mph at 1k?
 
Thinking outside typical LR hunting cartridges.

Maybe look at the 6BR BRX Dasher. They have close to the same bore area to useable powder vol ratio as the 308/7-08/6.5CM respectively and so barrel life.

Lower recoil, powder, cost, equal wind.. After all your punching paper & ring'n steel not putting holes in flesh hunting.

One thing proven by the F-T/R shooters is anything over 200gr becomes very hard to hold well for 1k. All the top shooters went back to 200x

The 105s thru 110s

grabbed a couple examples

30" barrel

105 Berger Hybrid
0.005" off lands
30.6 gr Varget
CCI 450
3000 fps
(similar psi 30.3gr IMR 4895 2905 fps)
1k yd/100yd
1503 fps
7.6"/mph
Drop: 26.1 moa
TOF: 1.413 sec


110 A-Tip
.002 off lands
32.9 Varget
BR4
2950 fps
1k/100yd
1574 fps
25.9 drop
6.7"/mph
TOF: 1.396 sec

Seems to be in the same range as the top 308W and 6.5 CM. With less powder. An improved or dasher would likely equal CM barrel life. Not to mention its something a bit different good or bad as that may be.
 
Top ranked Palma rifle shooters shooting 150 to 200 grain bullets leaving the 308 Winchester for 1000 yard targets typically rebarrel at around 3000 rounds.

A couple tried the 243 Winchester with heavy bullets. Did ok but got less than half the barrel life. Still better than the popular 6.5x284 barrel life of 850 rounds.
 
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The 6 Dasher W 107smk, 32.0 Varget, 58k psi shows 2100 rounds life for the barrel.

No doubt the Dasher is easier to shoot more accurate. low recoil not only effects shooter, but the action, bedding, stock recoil direction etc less. I belive for awhile now the world record 10 shot 1000 yard group had been held by a 6mm of some sort.
I would love to have this round someday.

But I don't think it fits the 3k barrel life or more.
Seems to get good ballistcs for bucking with, one has to give up barrel life.
Thanks for te stats guys
 
Well yes 2100rd for br level but if you rake that feom 1/4 moa to 1/2 moa you get another 1200 rd. The dasher was also compariable in life to the CM the 6br to the 308
 
Top ranked Palma rifle shooters shooting 150 to 200 grain bullets leaving the 308 Winchester for 1000 yard targets typically rebarrel at around 3000 rounds.

A couple tried the 243 Winchester with heavy bullets. Did ok but got less than half the barrel life. Still better than the popular 6.5x284 barrel life of 850 rounds.
John Whidden does pretty good with his 243.
 
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