The need for speed - your hottest load? - Page 3

Tom Matiska · May 20, 2013, 11:33 AM

Can any members of the 4000 club expand on barrel life? Wood chuck accurate after 500 rounds? 1000?

Kimber84 · May 20, 2013, 11:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tom Matiska

Can any members of the 4000 club expand on barrel life? Wood chuck accurate after 500 rounds? 1000?

This is 3rounds at 100 yards after 550 rounds through my .204, at almost 4100 fps.

I've pumped another 250-300 rounds through it since with no evidence of accuracy loss. I'm consistently killing groundhogs at 400 yards, and rarely go beyond 500.

Sure Shot Mc Gee · May 20, 2013, 06:59 PM

No Sir!! wouldn't want to be the only'est wood chuck in a field your glassing over._

For such a small bullet. That sure is one tight 100 yard grouping. No doubt about that.

S/S

Kimber84 · May 20, 2013, 07:17 PM

I'm convinced the .204 is just one of those inherently accurate rounds... I've fed this gun various hand loads and while some were .75", there were none that were greater... That's something I've been unable to accomplish in other calibers.

Brian Pfleuger · May 20, 2013, 08:24 PM

My .204 has about 750 rounds through it and routinely shoots under 1/2MOA 3 shots, often 1/3 MOA, at 100 and I'm typically at about 3/4 MOA at 400. The .204 runs at relatively barrel friendly pressures (58k max). So long as its not run hot (temp or pressure) it should last a good long time. Even pushing the envelope a bit, say up to 65k psi as other cartridges run using the same exact barrel dimensions and receiver, you'd probably be looking at at least 750 rounds of peak (BR quality) accuracy and many thousands more of acceptable hunting accuracy.

Tom Matiska · May 21, 2013, 12:32 AM

Nice groups K84. I asked because one guy I know of years back ruined his 243 after 500 rounds of 55's loaded to photon torpedo range. I suspect his real problem was that plugging and soaking the barrels overnight to remove the copper caused his pitting problems.

boondocker385 · May 22, 2013, 03:01 PM

Does a 68 tornado (6800lbs) at 155 mph into a coyote count? Pretty fast and tremendous amount of energy delivered....

Boomer58cal · May 22, 2013, 04:02 PM

Got me beat! I shot a 67 bug(1700ish lbs) at a 1000 lb elk at 58fps(40 mph). The elk just walk away. The bug left on a hook.

Boomer

jmorris · May 22, 2013, 09:58 PM

250 grains of "x" with a 700 grain "x", if you take the time to work up loads that " might be safe" in your 50 BMG, or anything else, the might cause another " kaboom" thread and there are already far too many of them.

If you want a really hot 38spl load buy a 357. Want a hot 44 mag, buy a 460. Hot 30-06 load seems cool, get a 300 WM.

At least it gives you a reason to buy another gun...

FWIW a 180grain out of a sabot, in a 50bmg will go over 5000 fps, safely.

dahermit · May 23, 2013, 07:32 AM

Quote:

If you want a really hot 38spl load buy a 357. Want a hot 44 mag, buy a 460. Hot 30-06 load seems cool, get a 300 WM.
At least it gives you a reason to buy another gun...

My sentiments exactly.

reynolds357 · May 23, 2013, 08:20 PM

Tom, it just depends on what you are using to break 4000. I rebarreled my .220 swift at around 1000 rounds. My .264Win Mags never seem to go much past 500. My 6X284 bench rifle wasnot doing 4000 and it began to start opening groups up at around 400; that's why it got turned into a .284 Winchester last time it got a barrel.

May 20, 2013, 11:33 AM	#51
Tom Matiska Senior Member Join Date: April 12, 2000 Location: Wilkes-Barre, Pa Posts: 1,029	Can any members of the 4000 club expand on barrel life? Wood chuck accurate after 500 rounds? 1000? __________________ A gun is like a parachute... when you need one you usually need it pretty bad...

May 20, 2013, 07:17 PM	#54
Kimber84 Senior Member Join Date: April 8, 2013 Location: US Posts: 455	The need for speed - your hottest load? I'm convinced the .204 is just one of those inherently accurate rounds... I've fed this gun various hand loads and while some were .75", there were none that were greater... That's something I've been unable to accomplish in other calibers.

May 21, 2013, 12:32 AM	#56
Tom Matiska Senior Member Join Date: April 12, 2000 Location: Wilkes-Barre, Pa Posts: 1,029	Nice groups K84. I asked because one guy I know of years back ruined his 243 after 500 rounds of 55's loaded to photon torpedo range. I suspect his real problem was that plugging and soaking the barrels overnight to remove the copper caused his pitting problems. __________________ A gun is like a parachute... when you need one you usually need it pretty bad...

May 22, 2013, 04:02 PM	#58
Boomer58cal Senior Member Join Date: February 18, 2013 Location: closer than you think Posts: 967	Got me beat! I shot a 67 bug(1700ish lbs) at a 1000 lb elk at 58fps(40 mph). The elk just walk away. The bug left on a hook. Boomer __________________ The number one cause of death in the 20th century. 290,000,000 citizens were first disarmed and then murdered by their own governments. This number does not include those killed in war. We're from the government, we're here to help

May 20, 2013, 06:59 PM	#53
Sure Shot Mc Gee Senior Member Join Date: January 2, 2012 Location: Minnesota Posts: 3,876	No Sir!! wouldn't want to be the only'est wood chuck in a field your glassing over._ For such a small bullet. That sure is one tight 100 yard grouping. No doubt about that. S/S

May 20, 2013, 08:24 PM	#55
Brian Pfleuger Moderator Emeritus Join Date: June 25, 2008 Location: Austin, CO Posts: 19,578	My .204 has about 750 rounds through it and routinely shoots under 1/2MOA 3 shots, often 1/3 MOA, at 100 and I'm typically at about 3/4 MOA at 400. The .204 runs at relatively barrel friendly pressures (58k max). So long as its not run hot (temp or pressure) it should last a good long time. Even pushing the envelope a bit, say up to 65k psi as other cartridges run using the same exact barrel dimensions and receiver, you'd probably be looking at at least 750 rounds of peak (BR quality) accuracy and many thousands more of acceptable hunting accuracy.

May 22, 2013, 03:01 PM	#57
boondocker385 Senior Member Join Date: March 6, 2013 Posts: 640	Does a 68 tornado (6800lbs) at 155 mph into a coyote count? Pretty fast and tremendous amount of energy delivered....

May 22, 2013, 09:58 PM	#59
jmorris Senior Member Join Date: November 22, 2006 Posts: 3,077	250 grains of "x" with a 700 grain "x", if you take the time to work up loads that " might be safe" in your 50 BMG, or anything else, the might cause another " kaboom" thread and there are already far too many of them. If you want a really hot 38spl load buy a 357. Want a hot 44 mag, buy a 460. Hot 30-06 load seems cool, get a 300 WM. At least it gives you a reason to buy another gun... FWIW a 180grain out of a sabot, in a 50bmg will go over 5000 fps, safely.

May 23, 2013, 08:20 PM	#61
reynolds357 Senior Member Join Date: December 10, 2012 Posts: 6,165	Tom, it just depends on what you are using to break 4000. I rebarreled my .220 swift at around 1000 rounds. My .264Win Mags never seem to go much past 500. My 6X284 bench rifle wasnot doing 4000 and it began to start opening groups up at around 400; that's why it got turned into a .284 Winchester last time it got a barrel.