Higher pressures thus higher temps will stress barrel metal more than lower pressures and temps no matter which era the barrel is made. Just a matter of degree (pun intended) with better metallurgy.
Are there any calibrated/scientific data points comparing the newer barrels to older ones. Or, comparing high pressures in 1 5C barrel to another 5C using lower pressures. As you have seen above "shooters" and scientists can differ.
"We conjecture about a lot of factors that we know-of or suspect, and often ascribe more weight to 'em than they prove to deserve. "How much" is often of a lot more practical importance than "what" or "whether."
I suspect that we're looking at the same sort of thing here. Tests — not theoretical conjecture — have shown that throat erosion is definitely a function of peak pressure. I suspect that many other known and suspected but untested factors — subjects of much theoretical conjecture — are like what Homer Powley mentioned in the perfect example of such things —
"The moon affects the trajectory but not enough to worry about."
Theoretical conjecture is fun. That may be its only value. "
If the goal is long barrel life then shoot with lower pressures. If you want max speed for whatever reason go with higher pressures. Your choice; pay now or pay later.
Everything has already been said, answering the question.
However, I can add that barrel replacement is a reality, when one wants to flail away at the range.
When I was shooting military rifle matches, one shooter was whining about again needing to replace the barrel on his US M1 Rifle. At that time, a new barrel, installed cost aorund $200. Another shooter began laughing and remarked that his shooting sports were about his least expensive hobby. He said that he and a friend ran a drag racer and that each racing weekend cost them over $600 in tires alone.
The cost of a hobby is all realitive. No?
Steven A.
Other then my shooting habits and barrel care. What factors affect barrel life? I'm sure heat would be the primary contributor to short barrel life. And this can come from a number of different ways. Like the interval between shots, and the velocity of a round? At what velocity does this become an issue? Does powder charge have an effect?
I can control some of these factors by picking loads that minimize these things but there are limits to what I can do.
I'm not in the market for a rifle right now but if I were looking for a new rifle that I could shoot often and have good barrel life what would I look for? My first guess would be any caliber called a magnum would have a shorter barrel life? But would that always be true?
One more question. What does the term OVERBORE mean?
