What is the expected life of your average AR barrel?

I have both 16 and 20"

15-20,000 rounds is a fairly decent figure.

Less from a "chrome-moly" barrel.

More from a "chrome-lined" barrel.

Mike

Thanks!

It also depends on the rate of fire.  If you're a slow fire target shooter it'll last longer than if you're a bump-firing Jack off!

I have an article from one of the gun rags, where the author ran 10,000 rounds of PMC thru a colt ar15.  The barrel was key holing by the end of the test.  I can't remember if it was a chrome lined barrel, however.

Im up to 17,000+ in my HBAR 14.5 Bushmaster and its still grouping the same as it did when it was new.Im getting 2 to 21/2" off hand and 1 to 1 1/2" scoped at 100 yds.

Mostly slower aimed fire.  I do hope to get the Bushy into a carbine course, though.

Absolutely right! The gun was a colt match hbar. The ammo was pmc 55 gr fmj listed at 3195fps, and the shooting was done in 2 1/2 days in increments of 1000 rounds. The article is still available at GalleryOfGuns.com under "gun reviews".

[url]www.galleryofguns.com/shootingtimes/Articles/DisplayArticles.asp?ID=1205[/url]

2 to 2.5 inches offhand at 100yards?  That sounds really tight.  So What do you use for targets?  I mean, anything over 2 inches isn't really a challenge if you can group that well.  Golf balls?  Clay birds at 200yards in the offhand position sounds like a good target for you.

Not calling BS, but if you can get groups of 2 to 2.5 inches ar 100 yards in the offhand postition, you can probably shoot june bugs with regularity at 50 yards offhand.

On a very good day, I can hold a dime size group at 25yrds.  Most days I'm safe inside a 1/2 dollar-25yrds.
20" 1/7 Colt MT using Q3131A off hand only.  At 100yrds I'll never see 2.5" groups!  WOW [:O]

Branspop,
no one can you give you an accurate number of rounds a barrel can fire.  FAR too many variables and members above have mentioned most of them.

[b]Your barrel life is at the end when accuracy fails to meet your personal specifications.[/b]  I know that's not a precise answer but there is no precise answer.

5sub

My best group offhand was about a 2 and a quarter inch group offhand at 50 yards with a CMP Remington smallbore.  IT scored out to be 90-X.  They aren't free floated, nor are their triggers good, but those Remingtons can shoot.  The trigger is crisp and don't have much overtravel nor take-up but it is heavy.  My uncle has one that I need to pressure into getting the cheek piece sanded down and the trigger put to about 3.5 lbs.  Then it would really start letting me shoot well.  I never have done expert.  Closest I have ever been was 346 and expert is 356 and you have to do it 3 times.  Getting a bunch of ammo to shoot for grouping would probably help 5-6 points.  I have just been using the CMP Winchester that the club gives me and I have no idea how it groups off a bench.I know one older guy that everyone regards as an excellent rifle shooter, and he has never quite gotten expert either, and he says that I will get it in the next couple of years.  That makes me feel very proud.

I do it usin black hills match grade ammo and plenty of practice.I have an HBAR on all my ARs and a lot of practice.This is also in excellent weather not too hot and plenty of sun on a standard 100 yd target.I also go through a case and a half of rifle ammo a month and have been burning up that much ammo the last 5 years.My shooting didnt get that way over night.Its also easier to group like that when all I used to shoot is my M1A in the usual CMP standing posistion.If I use both eyes open and a combat stance firing quicker the groups open up to 31/2 to 4"I should have been clearer on the shooting style.

I know there are a boatload of variables.  I am just kind of looking at a ball-park kind of thing.  I would be a liar if I told you I shoot as much as I would like to, so it will likely not be an issue.  Still, its nice to have an idea.

and



I can vouch for this. My two 6601 HBARs are going on 11k rounds each [:)]

Good info.

I'd say my barrel is shot out if it can't do 3~4 MoA.(combat accurate) How many rounds through barrel to meet such burn out? (no mag dumps, but rare rapid fires, about 30 rounds in one minute)

Yeah, it takes a lot of ammo, and a lot of good practice.  Thanks for replying back!