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Something that has been niggling me is the question of barrel life for F Class. Some of the chaps in my club shoot F Class very seriously and would expect to change their barrels at what are, to me, incredibly short intervals.

I'm idling about getting a .223 set up for some not too serious F Class competition. My problem is that my Protestant soul (and wallet) can't cope with a barrel change every year!!

It may be that I just have to accept that I can't play with the big boys (doesn't worry me) but I would worry if I know that I will quickly burn out a barrel whatever I did.

Watcher wrote:Something that has been niggling me is the question of barrel life for F Class. Some of the chaps in my club shoot F Class very seriously and would expect to change their barrels at what are, to me, incredibly short intervals.

I'm idling about getting a .223 set up for some not too serious F Class competition. My problem is that my Protestant soul (and wallet) can't cope with a barrel change every year!!

It may be that I just have to accept that I can't play with the big boys (doesn't worry me) but I would worry if I know that I will quickly burn out a barrel whatever I did.

Watcher,

I'm thinking the same thing - a not too serious F-Class setup in 223.

I'm not overly concerned about barrel life as I don't think a 223 will be that bad on a barrel (I hope so any way! :shock: ) In any case, I don't think I will be shooting that much 223 to burn out a barrel.

My problem is that I'm stuck trying to decide on a rifle. I've got 5 in mind and each has positives and negatives. I guess I'll have to think about it a bit more and maybe throw it over to the forum for help.

This looks like a .223 (from the F Class website); whatever it is it turned my head!!

Forum = Oracle

Oracle = crazy Greek woman high on volcanic gasses..... :lol:

Watcher wrote:Oracle = crazy Greek woman high on volcanic gasses..... :lol:

Alternative version!
:lol:

Watcher,
It looks the business, but I don't know if I would do it justice?

christel wrote:Forum = Oracle

True, but it also = Chaos and Confusion! :lol:

Sandgroper wrote:Watcher,
It looks the business, but I don't know if I would do it justice?

christel wrote:Forum = Oracle

True, but it also = Chaos and Confusion! :lol:

There is an old English saying...

"It does not improve with keeping!"

Watcher wrote:Something that has been niggling me is the question of barrel life for F Class. Some of the chaps in my club shoot F Class very seriously and would expect to change their barrels at what are, to me, incredibly short intervals.

I'm idling about getting a .223 set up for some not too serious F Class competition. My problem is that my Protestant soul (and wallet) can't cope with a barrel change every year!!

It may be that I just have to accept that I can't play with the big boys (doesn't worry me) but I would worry if I know that I will quickly burn out a barrel whatever I did.

Watcher,

I think a lot of us have had a shock regarding barrel-life. Yes, you won't get much more than 750 rounds out of the 'super sevens' - WSMs and the like.

I burnt-out a 308 at 1200 rounds - which did shock me - and I know of another shooter who did the same. When you start using double-base powders to attain velocities over 3000 fps, don't expect 3 - 4000 rounds from the barrel.

Laurie Holland's 223 was re-barrelled at around 2200 I think - 90 grain bullets and Reloader 17 = HOT!

Unfortunately, at the highest level, barrels are a 'disposable' item.

If you want your 308 to last, stick to a single-base powder and sub. 3000fps velocity.

Haing said all that - my home range Diggle has a 2 & 20 F Class shoot every fortnight - if you shoot every one, it's only 500 rounds per year.

Incidentally Watcher - you can't be too far from Diggle?

Vince

How about 6 seconds?

http://www.accurateshooter.com/technica ... rrel-life/

An interesting and sobering article,

DM