When do AR barrels need to be replaced? - Page 1

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Posted: 1/25/2021 5:09:32 PM EDT

How many rounds do you get through your barrels before you see the need to replace them?

Posted: 1/25/2021 5:10:33 PM EDT

[#1]

Depends on the barrel

When you start shooting 10” groups at 100 yards it might be time for a new one

Posted: 1/25/2021 5:11:39 PM EDT

[#2]

When they start drooping

Posted: 1/25/2021 5:14:32 PM EDT

[#3]

Keyholes could be an indicator

Posted: 1/25/2021 5:15:23 PM EDT

[#4]

When a formerly accurate barrel becomes inaccurate with good ammo and a proper cleaning doesn't bring it back.

I think I got about 10k rounds out of my last 3 gun barrel but I don't keep precise count.

It went from a 1.5 MOA barrel to a 5 MOA barrel. I knew something was wrong when I started consistently having inexplicable misses on steel targets at 200+ yards.

Posted: 1/25/2021 5:16:05 PM EDT

[#5]

With current ammo prices? Never

Posted: 1/25/2021 5:16:52 PM EDT

[#6]

Quote History

Quoted:
Depends on the barrel

When you start shooting 10” groups at 100 yards it might be time for a new one

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Negative. Torsos are bigger than that. At that point its a good gun for low man on totem pole.

Keyholes are a better indicator

Posted: 1/25/2021 5:20:43 PM EDT

[#7]

I replace all mine whenever I set the clocks back or forwards.

Posted: 1/25/2021 5:22:18 PM EDT

[#8]

That’s when I cut off a couple of inches and recrown.

Posted: 1/25/2021 5:27:05 PM EDT

[#9]

Depends on barrel, goals, firing rate, ammo type etc. If it's keyholing is time. Or when accuracy for your purposes is no longer possible.

Posted: 1/25/2021 5:28:34 PM EDT

[#10]

When its slots instead of holes.

Posted: 1/25/2021 5:30:16 PM EDT

[#11]

In today’s market...$8,000-$10,000 dollars worth of ammo and probably even more than that depending on your needs/desperation.

Posted: 1/25/2021 5:31:53 PM EDT

[#12]

If you're in doubt, better safe than sorry.

Posted: 1/25/2021 5:35:57 PM EDT

[#13]

Match barrel used for competition. Few thousand rounds. GI speck barrel used for range time 10's of thousand.

Posted: 1/25/2021 5:36:47 PM EDT

[#14]

Quote History

Quoted:
That’s when I cut off a couple of inches and recrown.

View Quote

Posted: 1/25/2021 5:40:37 PM EDT

[#15]

In all seriousness I tend to think the vast vast majority of people will never have a need to replace a barrel. I wish to god I could win the power ball just so I could afford to shoot my barrels out.

Posted: 1/25/2021 5:43:15 PM EDT

[#16]

Barrel wear has ALOT to do with ammo type (Whether it's a copper coated lead bullet, or a bi-metal (Mostly copper plated steel, covering a lead core), barrel quality (Anymore most are good) and how hot your barrel gets when you shoot it.

Hot barrel while shooting = Bore erosion
Bi-metal bullets = Bore erosion

Copper jackets + don't get your barrel hot = Barrels will last a LONG time.

Milspec barrels are known to go an EASY 40k rounds before accuracy changes.

Posted: 1/25/2021 5:44:52 PM EDT

[#17]

Redrill and rifle for a new caliber.

Posted: 1/25/2021 5:45:20 PM EDT

[#18]

Depends on the barrel, how you shoot it, and the ammo used.

Long answer short, replace it when the accuracy has degraded beyond what you find acceptable.

Posted: 1/25/2021 5:46:55 PM EDT

[#19]

I put over 25,000 rounds through a Bushmaster (circa 2004) barrel, and when I sold that gun it was still grouping well. Had some throat erosion, for sure, but still shot great.

They're pretty robust, really. Few people outshoot an AR barrel of any quality.

Posted: 1/25/2021 6:15:52 PM EDT

[#20]

Quote History

Quoted:
That’s when I cut off a couple of inches and recrown.

View Quote

Barrels wear out from the throat. Unless it is damage from cleaning.

Posted: 1/25/2021 6:19:12 PM EDT

[#21]

Quote History

Quoted:
Redrill and rifle for a new caliber.

View Quote

Just run some .300 BO through it.

Posted: 1/25/2021 6:19:39 PM EDT

[#22]

Every 5k rounds. Less if it's shoddy to start with.

Posted: 1/25/2021 6:24:07 PM EDT

[#23]

It also depends on the type of barrel.

Chrome lined: GTG.
Nitride: Depends on the quality and type of Nitride
Phospnate (non-chromed): Entry level; carry a lot, shoot a little

I added the last one because people like PSA have been selling a lot of these. Garands, M1 Carbines, and a lot of other weapons did fine with this type of barrel, but those guns didn't go full auto. I know most people here don't own full auto, but there's a reason why those weapons have chrome-lined bores. Chrome lining greatly increases barrel life.

I've seen quotes of non-chrome lined phosphate barrels wearing out at 5,000 rounds.

To me that's about 5 years worth of shooting. Not acceptable.

Posted: 1/25/2021 6:25:56 PM EDT

[#24]

Quote History

Quoted:

Just run some .300 BO through it.

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Why? Is it a geissele super duty?

Posted: 1/25/2021 6:32:35 PM EDT

[#25]

Probably after about $7500.00 worth of Tula!

Posted: 1/25/2021 6:33:50 PM EDT

[#26]

When they group like a top quality Ak

Posted: 1/25/2021 6:34:34 PM EDT

[#27]

87,000.

Posted: 1/25/2021 6:49:12 PM EDT

[#28]

Quote History

Quoted:
Every 5k rounds. Less if it's shoddy to start with.

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Lol. I don't own an AR that doesn't have 2x that through them, and they're all like new. PSA, Colt, Stag, none are even remotely shot out.

Posted: 1/25/2021 7:06:26 PM EDT

[#29]

If you have to ask, its a not issue for you.

Posted: 1/25/2021 7:09:18 PM EDT

[#30]

Quote History

Quoted:
With current ammo prices? Never

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That's the fucking truth.

Posted: 1/25/2021 7:15:43 PM EDT

[#31]

Usually I dig up the link to Adco dudes stainless barrel torture test but I don’t feel like it and I can never remember which bigbore he is off the top of my head.

Quote History

Quoted:

Lol. I don't own an AR that doesn't have 2x that through them, and they're all like new. PSA, Colt, Stag, none are even remotely shot out.

View Quote View All Quotes

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Quote History

Quoted:

Quoted:
Every 5k rounds. Less if it's shoddy to start with.

Lol. I don't own an AR that doesn't have 2x that through them, and they're all like new. PSA, Colt, Stag, none are even remotely shot out.

From what I’ve seen you’d have to ride a 223 pretty hard to burn it up in 5k. Certainly could but not with normal usage from 99% of the shooting community.

Posted: 1/25/2021 7:22:17 PM EDT

[#32]

After every round fired.

Posted: 1/25/2021 7:27:54 PM EDT

[#33]

Don't do what I have seen idiots do= run four mags through as fast as they could pull the trigger on a hot day. Their barrel was sent on it's way to ruin just that fast. Normal shooting at a reasonable pace using good copper jacketed bullets and a good chromed lined barrel will last 20,000 plus rounds no problem. Also, don't buy a bore scope, that can ruin your day.

I shot this guys Colt MG years ago and I couldn't hit a man shaped target at 25 yards in semi auto. We looked at his barrel and it was literally shotgun smooth! He had spent the day blasting mag after mag through it on FA (at a guess 15 or so mags). Still functioned great even though he had blown the chrome and rifling right out on the ground.

Posted: 1/25/2021 7:32:29 PM EDT

[#34]

when your barrel asks you if it's groups look fat and you pause before saying no

Posted: 1/25/2021 7:37:39 PM EDT

[#35]

You use the rifle for close uarters run and gun drills, or is it you prairie dog sniper?

Posted: 1/25/2021 7:58:28 PM EDT

[#36]

accuracy or throat erosion. A throat erosion gauge is cheap and you can watch as the erosion increases and accuracy declines. It's kind of fun and really interesting. If you really want to get fancy, a bore scope lets you see all the crazy stuff that is happening inside of the barrels. Deposits, shitty cleaning technique, lack of cleaning, gas port erosion, etc. I get a perverse kick out of it. (I was an armorer)

Posted: 1/25/2021 8:01:48 PM EDT

[#37]

Quote History

Quoted:
With current ammo prices? Never

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And availability.... Nailed it!

Posted: 1/25/2021 8:06:40 PM EDT

[#38]

Caliber also makes a difference. A .300 Blk will last much longer than a .300 WM. Basically, the more powder to. Bore space ratio, the more wear you will experience, AOTE.

Posted: 1/25/2021 8:12:08 PM EDT

[#39]

If your groups start opening up, try Dremel tool fluting! and File down barrel diameter.

Attached File

Posted: 1/25/2021 9:01:31 PM EDT

[#40]

Quote History

Quoted:
Don't do what I have seen idiots do= run four mags through as fast as they could pull the trigger on a hot day. Their barrel was sent on it's way to ruin just that fast.

View Quote

I have a really hard time believing that emptying just four mags in rapid succession (even on full auto) would be enough to ruin an AR barrel.

Posted: 1/25/2021 9:02:42 PM EDT

[#41]

Quote History

Quoted:
I replace all mine whenever I set the clocks back or forwards.

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Posted: 1/25/2021 9:05:17 PM EDT

[#42]

Quote History

Quoted:

Barrels wear out from the throat. Unless it is damage from cleaning.

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Not cannon barrels

Posted: 1/25/2021 9:07:02 PM EDT

[#43]

Quote History

Quoted:
Don't do what I have seen idiots do= run four mags through as fast as they could pull the trigger on a hot day.

View Quote

That won't trash a barrel. If you do that ALL the time? Maybe, but a few mag dumps aren't going to trash the barrel.

Posted: 1/25/2021 9:18:52 PM EDT

[#44]

Around the time that the M16A2 was type classified and adopted as the new standard issue rifle for the USMC and US Army, Peter G. Kokalis (of SOF magazine) conducted a reliability and durability test of a commercial Colt M16A2 and I wish I could remember how many rounds he fired through it before removing the barrel from the rifle and sawing it in half along its axis to inspect the throat and bore for wear (the 1/7 in twist was thought by many to potentially wear faster than the 1/12 in twist of the M16A1). I want to say he estimated it would have been serviceable for 13,000-15,000 rds or so, but that was decades ago and my memory is probably faulty.

Anybody here remember that article or the data?

Posted: 1/25/2021 9:27:36 PM EDT

[#45]

25 to 50 thousand rounds would be my guess. Really boils down to when it doesn't meet your expectations anymore

Posted: 1/25/2021 9:38:59 PM EDT

[#46]

Quote History

Quoted:

I have a really hard time believing that emptying just four mags in rapid succession (even on full auto) would be enough to ruin an AR barrel.

View Quote

Nope, it won't destroy the barrel, and the rifle will still be accurate. The throat just took a hit though, and if it's chromed, it took a hit, and it helped it on it's way out much faster than if it hadn't received mag dumps. I seent it I tell ya! Bought my buddies rifle and it was in good shape and accurate, but he had been doing the mag dump bit exactly as I described. I had been out with him every time he ever shot it, and I figured it would be in great shape. I tore it down and went over it and scrubbed the barrel clean, and lo and behold, the first inch of chrome was flaked badly in front of the chamber.

I put another barrel on, just because they were cheap then and because it bugged the shit out of me.

Did I mention don't buy a bore scope?

Mag dump one, but let it cool off, or pace your shots like the military sez if you are practicing. Mag dumps and full auto are stupid anyway in an AR. Full auto is for belt feds.