AR SR barrel life?

[M1Tommy]

Can y'all tell me the APPROX. barrel life of an AR15 Service Rifle "Wilson" stainless steel barrel?
Would one with 2400 rounds be on the 'down side" or good for another 2 or 3K rounds?
I am completely clueless about these AR critters.

Sincerely,

Tommy

Information

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[Hip's Ax]

Well, it depends (from what I am told). I have a box stock Armalite M15A2 NM and it has about 2400 rounds on its Wilson barrel. Shoots great and the gunsmith says it has plenty of life left. I'm told it matters what type of round were put through it. Mine had a lot of 100 yard 52 gr SMK with WW748 through it and those rounds (if I understand this correctly) aren't as hard on the barrel as lets say my 80 SMK & Varget 600 yard load is.

If my barrel had all XTC loads (77 gr and 80 gr & Varget) it would probably be more worn. I would expect the barrel to die with these rounds at about 3000 rounds.

I would not expect your barrel to be good for another 2000 or 3000 rounds if it already has 2400 through it.

[M1Tommy]

Well, it depends (from what I am told). I have a box stock Armalite M15A2 NM and it has about 2400 rounds on its Wilson barrel. Shoots great and the gunsmith says it has plenty of life left. I'm told it matters what type of round were put through it. Mine had a lot of 100 yard 52 gr SMK with WW748 through it and those rounds (if I understand this correctly) aren't as hard on the barrel as lets say my 80 SMK & Varget 600 yard load is.

If my barrel had all XTC loads (77 gr and 80 gr & Varget) it would probably be more worn. I would expect the barrel to die with these rounds at about 3000 rounds.

I would not expect your barrel to be good for another 2000 or 3000 rounds if it already has 2400 through it.

This one was shot by a HM, XTC with 77 and 80 gr. bullets. I'll verify this via email.
You answered my question. Albeit a bit of a wait, a new one from would be just $50-$100 more and well, new!
Thanks for the reply.
Tommy

[High Plaines Doug r]

My SS Olympic 1/8 barrel shot under 1 MOA when new; would still almost hold the "X" ring SR target at 4000 rounds and would not hold the 9 ring at 5000 rounds. It was on my High Power gun and was used with 69,75 and 80gr bullets exclusively.
MHO: your 2400 shot barrel is 60% used up. HTH
Doug

[HighPowerShooter]

My current barrel on my Service Rifle is a Wilson/DPMS barrel and it has a tad under 6K rounds though it and my last outing saw it shoot a 198-12X offhand and clean the slow prone(200yd reduced course)....

[M1Tommy]

Thanks for the replies. I've emailed the seller, asking for verification as to just what type rounds has been through the barrel.
Tommy

edited to add:
P.S. I received an email from the seller. The barrel has seen a steady diet of nothing but 77 and 80 gr. bullets, so I decided to 'pass' on it.

[snell]

Tommy,

When you get your new rifle start keeping a log of rounds fired from day one. It is generallly accepted that the Wilson barrel will keep pretty good accuracy at 600 yards to around 4000 rounds. It is at 600 yards that the first indication of trouble will appear. At about that round count you can expect to start getting unexplained flyers. The barrel will still perform very well at the closer ranges and oft times folks will have two uppers. When one gets a high round count, and before it starts costing points at 600, it becomes the practice and reduced range upper and the new unfired upper is restricted to full length ranges. When the first one starts losing its edge at the reduced ranges it is sent off to be rebarreled and the "newer" upper is used until the new "new" upper is returned from the smith. Then the process is repeated. It's amazing how quickly the round count climbs when you get bitten by the High Power bug. 1500 rounds a year is easy to do. The current turn-around time to get an upper rebarrled is making it almost a necessity to have two uppers.

Best of luck!

Art

[GSmith223]

From Equip Talk Section

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[M1Tommy]

Tommy,

When you get your new rifle start keeping a log of rounds fired from day one. It is generallly accepted that the Wilson barrel will keep pretty good accuracy at 600 yards to around 4000 rounds. It is at 600 yards that the first indication of trouble will appear. At about that round count you can expect to start getting unexplained flyers. The barrel will still perform very well at the closer ranges and oft times folks will have two uppers. When one gets a high round count, and before it starts costing points at 600, it becomes the practice and reduced range upper and the new unfired upper is restricted to full length ranges. When the first one starts losing its edge at the reduced ranges it is sent off to be rebarreled and the "newer" upper is used until the new "new" upper is returned from the smith. Then the process is repeated. It's amazing how quickly the round count climbs when you get bitten by the High Power bug. 1500 rounds a year is easy to do. The current turn-around time to get an upper rebarrled is making it almost a necessity to have two uppers.

Best of luck!

Art

Thanks! I kept a log of rounds through my primary M1 when I was shooting matches. I know how fast the round count can add up!
Tommy

[M1Tommy]

From Equip Talk Section
........

'appreciate the links, and will read up on them.
Your handle seems familiar.

Tommy