243 barrel life

[Bill Poole]

serious high power rifle competitors fire thousands of rounds per year. "standard" (powder to bore diameter ratio) chamberings like .223 and .308 last ~5000 rounds.

I have heard that "overbored" chamberings like most of the magnums last much much less, more like 1000 rounds. And that 243, even tho it does not have a belt fits into that category because there is a lot of powder volume for that tiny bore. I have heard the ~1000 round barrel life comment for the .243.

however, I have never owned a match rifle in any of those chamberings, so I have no personal experience with barrel life. 6mm BR is very popular and there are some other 6mm match rounds (6X or 6x47?) recently becoming popular. I don't ever recall seeing a NRA high power competitor with a .243 or magnum.

For a hunting rifle... does it matter?

Poole