I understand that centerfire barrels tend to lose accuracy after around 1500 shots. So what do people do after that? Can most rifles be rebarreled? About how much does it cost?

I'm just getting into centerfires, so curious. All of mine are milsurp, so probably not reasonable to get them rebarrelled, but as I get into commercial ones, I'd like to know my options.

1500 is potentially true for calibers like 338lm. But not true for most others. You could spend over 10k in ammo trying to wear out a quality 308 barrel. But to answer the question, when the barrel is done, you may be able to have it set back but of not, replace it, its a consumable.

Unless you have semiauto milsurps, the barrels will probably outlast you unless you shoot several thousand rounds a year in each. A semiauto can be led to destruction by a lot of rapid fire. If you don't do this the barrel should last 10,000 rds or more. Shorter lives for calibers like Shane mentioned.

 

A friend of mine is a serious high power and service rifle competitor (has placed at Camp Perry, has his Distinguished Rifleman badge). He changes barrels on his ARs used for competition after 3000 rds. Not that most of us would see the difference but he does. He gets more mileage from M1 barrels.

 

IIRC the M16 was designed for a 10,000 rd barrel life. Most last a lot longer. A lot of full auto can shorten this. I had a M4 issued to me as a LEO and I estimate I put. 5-6K rds through it maybe a third of that full auto and when I retired it was still running well. We had Mini 14s at work that went well over 50K rds before bullets keyholed.

 

Unless you're running a 338, 300 magnum, or do a lot of competitive shooting I wouldn't go changing barrels at a certain number of rounds.

1500?  I'll dispose of it for you.

If you've got enough bank to shoot out a barrel, the cost to replace it won't bother you much.

1500? I'll dispose of it for you.

I was thinking the same thing.

I understand that centerfire barrels tend to lose accuracy after around 1500 shots. 

 

It's the difference between a benchrest rifle doing 0.03" groups and 0.04" groups, which will move them from first to last place.  On a normal usage rifle, it's not an issue.

.... keep shooting.

I was gonna go with just clean it...

.... keep shooting.

Very good advice.

1501-1502-1503-1504-1505................

I'll change a barrel if I see the groups opening significantly.

Did u mean 15000?