22-250 ruger m77 barrel life

L

Linker

New member
I have a ruger m77 22-250 that I got in Fort Worth back In the early 90s.

How is barrel life on these? I have kept It clean and probably do not put more than 50 or 60 rounds through it in a year. Still shoots well though I don't see as well since I am now 68.

I do try to wait about 3 minutes between shots at the range. I have hunted with it for deer. Head and neck shots only shooting a hornady 60 grain bullet with 37 grains of IMR 4350. Not really hot, at least I don't believe so.

When I say 50 or 60 shots that may be stretching. Some years I haven't touched it since I do have other rifles.
 
From my reading, depending on your loads, and the barrel, 1000-2000rnds give or take. 22-2500 is on the spicy side for barrels.

If you have had it since the early 90s, at 60rnds per year, you are probably in the 1800 round range.

If it were me, I would keep shooting it until accuracy dropped off and start putting a little money away for a new barrel in the next couple years.
 
That load isn't listed in my Hornady books but should put you in the 3400fps range, not screaming hot but pretty warm.

I would expect a good barrel in that caliber to hold its accuracy up to around 3,000 rounds and probably more, provided you are running well below max levels.

Slow fire and moderate loads do not erode the throat as rapidly as max pressure loads or strings of rapid fire.

At 60rnds a year or less, your barrel should be good for many many more years.
 
I've got older Hodgdon hard cover manual from late the 80's and they list 22-250, 60gr/63gr start load 36gr/IMR-4350 @ 3290fps and max of 38gr/IMR-4350 @ 3424fps.

Like 44 Amp said got lot of life in that barrel.
 
The simple answer is that when it won't group as well as you want it to any longer, it's time to do something.

As long as it's shooting well enough to keep you satisfied then the barrel is still in good enough shape for you.
 
Shoot it till it won't group well enough for you. 3000 rounds is a good figure, but it's really based on what you find as "good" enough.
 
When one shoots several shots, the shots, together, form a group on the target.

A rifle that keeps the shots close together is said to "group well" to shoot good groups, one that scatters the shots over the target is said to "group poorly" or to shoot bad groups.
 
"...Hornady 60 grain bullet..." The only one of those Hornady lists is a varmint bullet. As such it is not suitable for deer with any load. Head/neck shots included. There are deer suitable .22 cal bullets though. Keeping in mind that .22's for deer isn't legal everywhere.
In any case, barrel life is one of those many subjective things. To a bench rest shooter it means one thing, that is different to a varmint hunter(the intended use for that bullet), that is different to a deer hunter.
50 or 60 rounds a year isn't much. Barrel life wouldn't be a consideration.
 
Having owned a 22-250 for over 40 years, and having rebarreled it several times, I can say that barrel life depends on your loads. Hot loads with light bullets will eat a barrel in about 2,000 rounds. Milder loads with heavier bullets can let your barrel's life stretch out into 3 or 4 thousand rounds pretty easily.
I got in Fort Worth back In the early 90s
Click to expand...
probably do not put more than 50 or 60 rounds through it in a year.
Click to expand...
Shooting 60 rounds a year for the past 30 years, you might have put maybe 1,800 rounds down the tube, so I would say you still have a few years to go before looking for a new barrel.
 
Don't know much about barrel steel. I always thought it got stronger/better the newer it was. Still have a M77 Flat bolt in 243. Ignited allot of hot charges under a 75 gr H.P. As of today its the only barrel I've ever wore out. I liked the little rifle allot. Very flat shooting and it has been real handy in the bush. Some day I'd like it to shoot a 7mm08 or 260 perhaps__>some day.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top