Jacketed vs. HardCast (barrel wear)

[AriM]

I already know the answer to this....and I am sure most everyone else does as well.....but someone asked me to start this topic....I am respecting that request....

Edited December 16, 2009 by AriM

[RufDog]

I think what wears a barrel out faster than a jacketed bullet is traditional bore cleaning practices.

[Cy Soto]

I think what wears a barrel out faster than a jacketed bullet is traditional bore cleaning practices.

In the past, I have heard others mention this too but I still don't understand the physics of this statement. How is it possible for a brass bore brush to cause more wear to a barrel than a series of scorching hot bullets traveling at ~900 FPS?

[AriM]

I think what wears a barrel out faster than a jacketed bullet is traditional bore cleaning practices.

I will agree with that 100%....I had to use a chore boy last night to get some moly out of my bore....and I was a bit pissed when I looked down the barrel with my bore scope....do you know of a way to accurately measure wear on the barrel lands....w/o slugging the bore each time? I am really currious to know how much damage I am doing each time I clean....I know for sure that this brand new barrel does not look so new anymore.....and it's only had 1500 or so moly coated lead rounds through it....it seems like I have to clean it every 200 to 300 rounds, or the accuracy really starts to fall off....you think I am just being paranoid??

[RufDog]

I think what wears a barrel out faster than a jacketed bullet is traditional bore cleaning practices.

In the past, I have heard others mention this too but I still don't understand the physics of this statement. How is it possible for a brass bore brush to cause more wear to a barrel than a series of scorching hot bullets traveling at ~900 FPS?

Its not so much the brush but whats on it. Solvents and such can etch metal. I have also heard of people using things like JB paste, which removes metal. Lastly the rod, this may be less of an issue with pistols but things like regular GI steel rods are hard on things if they contact the chamber, muzzle or bore.

[AriM]

I think what wears a barrel out faster than a jacketed bullet is traditional bore cleaning practices.

In the past, I have heard others mention this too but I still don't understand the physics of this statement. How is it possible for a brass bore brush to cause more wear to a barrel than a series of scorching hot bullets traveling at ~900 FPS?

lack of proper lube? just going out on a limb there....I would really like to know more about this as well

[AriM]

I think what wears a barrel out faster than a jacketed bullet is traditional bore cleaning practices.

In the past, I have heard others mention this too but I still don't understand the physics of this statement. How is it possible for a brass bore brush to cause more wear to a barrel than a series of scorching hot bullets traveling at ~900 FPS?

Its not so much the brush but whats on it. Solvents and such can etch metal. I have also heard of people using things like JB paste, which removes metal. Lastly the rod, this may be less of an issue with pistols but things like regular GI steel rods are hard on things if they contact the chamber, muzzle or bore.

I rubber coat all of my cleaning rods for this very reason....you can use that Plasti-Dip stuff that you use to coat screwdriver handles.....that and a crown/rod guide help a lot

Edited December 16, 2009 by AriM

[Cy Soto]

Its not so much the brush but whats on it. Solvents and such can etch metal. I have also heard of people using things like JB paste, which removes metal. Lastly the rod, this may be less of an issue with pistols but things like regular GI steel rods are hard on things if they contact the chamber, muzzle or bore.

Oh I see... That makes a lot of sense! Thanks for the quick reply.

[RufDog]

I think what wears a barrel out faster than a jacketed bullet is traditional bore cleaning practices.

I will agree with that 100%....I had to use a chore boy last night to get some moly out of my bore....and I was a bit pissed when I looked down the barrel with my bore scope....do you know of a way to accurately measure wear on the barrel lands....w/o slugging the bore each time? I am really currious to know how much damage I am doing each time I clean....I know for sure that this brand new barrel does not look so new anymore.....and it's only had 1500 or so moly coated lead rounds through it....it seems like I have to clean it every 200 to 300 rounds, or the accuracy really starts to fall off....you think I am just being paranoid??

A couple of things that were shared with me from respected persons. 1- (from a record setting benchrest shooter) the powder fouling is the worst thing for a barrel after it sits approx 30 min. It starts off soft but hardens to the extent that it will scratch glass. Additionally, most barrels shoot better fouled. 2- More than one notable person, has said to clean a bore after firing lead just shoot some jacketed. If you shoot jacketed dont do anything aside from maybe some oil on a boresnake.

Thats what I have been told by trusted sources anyhow & its plenty good for me.

edited to add: the oil is simply for corrosion resistance if its going to sit around a while

Edited December 16, 2009 by RufDog

[AriM]

I think what wears a barrel out faster than a jacketed bullet is traditional bore cleaning practices.

I will agree with that 100%....I had to use a chore boy last night to get some moly out of my bore....and I was a bit pissed when I looked down the barrel with my bore scope....do you know of a way to accurately measure wear on the barrel lands....w/o slugging the bore each time? I am really currious to know how much damage I am doing each time I clean....I know for sure that this brand new barrel does not look so new anymore.....and it's only had 1500 or so moly coated lead rounds through it....it seems like I have to clean it every 200 to 300 rounds, or the accuracy really starts to fall off....you think I am just being paranoid??

A couple of things that were shared with me from respected persons. 1- (from a record setting benchrest shooter) the powder fouling is the worst thing for a barrel after it sits approx 30 min. It starts off soft but hardens to the extent that it will scratch glass. Additionally, most barrels shoot better fouled. 2- More than one notable person, has said to clean a bore after firing lead just shoot some jacketed. If you shoot jacketed dont do anything aside from maybe some oil on a boresnake.

Thats what I have been told by trusted sources anyhow & its plenty good for me.

edited to add: the oil is simply for corrosion resistance if its going to sit around a while

so I am a bit confused...."powder fouling is the worst thing for a barrel"...."most barrels shoot better fouled"

I haven't noticed any accuracy problems with fouling from straight hard cast projectiles (I don't shoot jacketed)....I have noticed horrible problems from moly though....I know I know, it's a lube.....but as soon as it get's cold, it's a layer of metal....don't believe me....let your barrel sit with moly in it until it hardens....then take a brass jag and push a patch through the bore...look at what comes out on the patch...

I have heard the thing about firing jacketed after lead, but I was told that 100 rounds are the minimum to clean up....that's more jacketed than I want through my barrel, and more money than I want to spend....what about those cleaning slugs??

I have yet to find a good way to clean up moly....without damaging a barrel....

maybe I should just leave the moly in there, and heat my barrel up before shooting (I am serious)....I could easily bring a heat gun to the range

I am glad you are talking with me about this....I would like to know more, if you can tell me anymore....thanks for the information so far...I appreciate it

edit : do you think the barrel would shoot better fouled, because the fouling is a layer that actually decreases the size of the bore? same as shooting an over sized bullet?? I could see that working out...

Edited December 16, 2009 by AriM

[RufDog]

I think what wears a barrel out faster than a jacketed bullet is traditional bore cleaning practices.

I will agree with that 100%....I had to use a chore boy last night to get some moly out of my bore....and I was a bit pissed when I looked down the barrel with my bore scope....do you know of a way to accurately measure wear on the barrel lands....w/o slugging the bore each time? I am really currious to know how much damage I am doing each time I clean....I know for sure that this brand new barrel does not look so new anymore.....and it's only had 1500 or so moly coated lead rounds through it....it seems like I have to clean it every 200 to 300 rounds, or the accuracy really starts to fall off....you think I am just being paranoid??

A couple of things that were shared with me from respected persons. 1- (from a record setting benchrest shooter) the powder fouling is the worst thing for a barrel after it sits approx 30 min. It starts off soft but hardens to the extent that it will scratch glass. Additionally, most barrels shoot better fouled. 2- More than one notable person, has said to clean a bore after firing lead just shoot some jacketed. If you shoot jacketed dont do anything aside from maybe some oil on a boresnake.

Thats what I have been told by trusted sources anyhow & its plenty good for me.

edited to add: the oil is simply for corrosion resistance if its going to sit around a while

so I am a bit confused...."powder fouling is the worst thing for a barrel"...."most barrels shoot better fouled"

I haven't noticed any accuracy problems with fouling from straight hard cast projectiles (I don't shoot jacketed)....I have noticed horrible problems from moly though....I know I know, it's a lube.....but as soon as it get's cold, it's a layer of metal....don't believe me....let your barrel sit with moly in it until it hardens....then take a brass jag and push a patch through the bore...look at what comes out on the patch...

I have heard the thing about firing jacketed after lead, but I was told that 100 rounds are the minimum to clean up....that's more jacketed than I want through my barrel, and more money than I want to spend....what about those cleaning slugs??

I have yet to find a good way to clean up moly....without damaging a barrel....

maybe I should just leave the moly in there, and heat my barrel up before shooting (I am serious)....I could easily bring a heat gun to the range

I am glad you are talking with me about this....I would like to know more, if you can tell me anymore....thanks for the information so far...I appreciate it

edit : do you think the barrel would shoot better fouled, because the fouling is a layer that actually decreases the size of the bore? same as shooting an over sized bullet?? I could see that working out...

I suppose its due to reduced bore size & likely a smoothe coating over possible imperfections. I'm not a scientist, barrel maker, or metallurgist. All fouling is not the same, there is lead, copper, moly, powder. In my reference to fouling it is generally referring to copper. Shooting better fouled, even with powder fouling present, and the wear created from hardened powder fouling are 2 subjects. Enhanced accuracy vs. barrel wear, solution dont total clean just push the powder fouling out with a patch or snake leaving you with a fouled barrel minus potentially harmful powderfouling.

In "sniper land" people talk about the "cold bore" shot. Cold Bore, contrary to what some say, refers to a clean barrel. If shooting a fouled vs. clean bore werent an issue this wouldnt be such a discussed topic. FWIW, if temperature actually does effect your groups its because you got a bad bedding job.

[AriM]

I suppose its due to reduced bore size & likely a smoothe coating over possible imperfections. I'm not a scientist, barrel maker, or metallurgist. All fouling is not the same, there is lead, copper, moly, powder. In my reference to fouling it is generally referring to copper. Shooting better fouled, even with powder fouling present, and the wear created from hardened powder fouling are 2 subjects. Enhanced accuracy vs. barrel wear, solution dont total clean just push the powder fouling out with a patch or snake leaving you with a fouled barrel minus potentially harmful powderfouling.

In "sniper land" people talk about the "cold bore" shot. Cold Bore, contrary to what some say, refers to a clean barrel. If shooting a fouled vs. clean bore werent an issue this wouldnt be such a discussed topic. FWIW, if temperature actually does effect your groups its because you got a bad bedding job.

hmmmm.....all very interesting....

as far as bedding jobs....I am talking pistols here....what I have noticed....is that with moly "fouling", if you let it cool/harden...you start to lose accuracy...that is just my perception/experience....I haven't done enough ransome rest shooting to be able to qualify that observation....

what I have noticed though is this....if I keep shooting my pistol....and don't let the moly cool/harden...it maintains accuracy....but as soon as I set it down and go have a smoke or chat with someone at the range....the moly hardens and accuracy seems to decrease....

I think somewhere I had read that powder, when trapped by grease, actually has lubricity....but I can totally believe how hardened powder fouling in a bore could cause problems....

sigh* I guess I just have to go with my gut, since it's an ongoing debate....you think someone would have been able to scientifically prove all of this stuff by now....maybe they have and I just don't know where to look....

thanks for your tips and the information....I am going to spray out powder fouling from my barrel before I leave the range, from now on....it can't hurt....that's for sure...as far as the moly fouling...well I think i am done with moly for a while, too much trouble....no real benefit

[G-ManBart]

I already know the answer to this....and I am sure most everyone else does as well.....but someone asked me to start this topic....I am respecting that request....

You sure about that?

Why wouldn't that other someone want to start the thread themselves.....never mind, got that from RufDog....just seemed odd.

Regardless, back on topic. Bullets don't wear out barrels, burning gunpowder wears out barrels. The friction caused by the bullet is an extremely small percentage of wear.

The difference in wear we see between lead and copper jacketed (if any) isn't about the bullet material, but the amount of powder required to push said bullets to the desired velocity.

Jacketed require more powder for the same velocity which causes more wear due to flame cutting. Jacketed don't seal/obturate quite as quickly or perfectly as lead so there's a bit more flame passing the bullet before it obturates....so that's another factor that enters into it....not huge, but it's there.

There is also an element of powder volume to bore diameter that comes into play, but that's getting pretty far into the weeds for what we talk about here. In rifle cases the worst offenders are the cases with the largest case capacity relative to their bore size....which is why the .220 Swift with it's .458 Win Mag parent case is probably the all-time leader in bore wear rate.

The last thing that occurs to me is that a huge factor is how you treat the barrel. Bullseye shooters don't get the barrel really hot because they're shooting powder puff loads and a very slow rate of fire. Everything there is conducive to long barrel life. We shoot relatively hot loads at very high rates of fire, so the barrels get hot and when metal get's hot, it wears more quickly. R,

Edited December 16, 2009 by G-ManBart

[RufDog]

Great point on heat & erosion. Flexible Money suggested the thread & there was a misunderstanding, but it is true, this thread is the result of a suggestion.

[G-ManBart]

I think what wears a barrel out faster than a jacketed bullet is traditional bore cleaning practices.

In the past, I have heard others mention this too but I still don't understand the physics of this statement. How is it possible for a brass bore brush to cause more wear to a barrel than a series of scorching hot bullets traveling at ~900 FPS?

The phosphor bronze from a bore brush is much harder than the copper of bullet jackets. Also, it's like dragging hundreds of sharpened little needles up and down the bore....add chemicals that can etch the metal and it only gets worse. None of that is going to help keep the bore smooth

My MC Open gun has 12K through it now (MG 115gr JHP at 1,500fps) and it has never had a bore brush used on it. I shot some groups at 25yds two weeks ago and it was putting 10 shots into an inch and a half or less....and I could probably do better if the dot was a little smaller and I used a rest of some sort (this was just shooting prone with a bit of towel to support my wrists.

[AriM]

I already know the answer to this....and I am sure most everyone else does as well.....but someone asked me to start this topic....I am respecting that request....

You sure about that?

Why wouldn't that other someone want to start the thread themselves....that seems just a bit odd. Please don't take any offense, but you've been on the forum a couple of days and now folks here are coming to you to ask you to start threads? Why won't they do so themselves? All of that is pretty peculiar

Regardless, back on topic. Bullets don't wear out barrels, burning gunpowder wears out barrels. The friction caused by the bullet is an extremely small percentage of wear.

The difference in wear we see between lead and copper jacketed (if any) isn't about the bullet material, but the amount of powder required to push said bullets to the desired velocity.

Jacketed require more powder for the same velocity which causes more wear due to flame cutting. Jacketed don't seal/obturate quite as quickly or perfectly as lead so there's a bit more flame passing the bullet before it obturates....so that's another factor that enters into it....not huge, but it's there.

There is also an element of powder volume to bore diameter that comes into play, but that's getting pretty far into the weeds for what we talk about here. In rifle cases the worst offenders are the cases with the largest case capacity relative to their bore size....which is why the .220 Swift with it's .458 Win Mag parent case is probably the all-time leader in bore wear rate.

The last thing that occurs to me is that a huge factor is how you treat the barrel. Bullseye shooters don't get the barrel really hot because they're shooting powder puff loads and a very slow rate of fire. Everything there is conducive to long barrel life. We shoot relatively hot loads at very high rates of fire, so the barrels get hot and when metal get's hot, it wears more quickly. R,

Yes, someone asked me to start the thread....believe me or don't....makes no difference to me....because I am new to the forum....does that somehow make my opinion less valid? does it mean that I should be treated with dis-respect?

as far as the rest of your post goes....it's an opinion poll....all answers are a matter of opinion...you can choose to dis-agree with me or agree with me....it doesn't make either one of us a jerk....no reason to dis-respect me or my opinions...as I don't dis-respect yours...I don't agree with them, however....neither does the poll....just trying to keep us all honest...

you don't have to be hostile towards me...you have been in your last 2 replies to me...I see no reason for it....we can be friendly you know....

on that note....you are saying that shooting jacketed bullets will wear out a barrel faster than shooting lead bullets right? regardless of the reasons for that happening?

Edited December 16, 2009 by AriM

[s_gorilla45]

I guess I've just got a little thicker skin but I didn't see anything "hostile" in G-Man Bart's post. Maybe I spend too much time over at ar15 to take offence without some serious intent?

I can't really comment on barrel wear in pistol calibers. I've got a G35 with ~60,000 rounds down the tube and no visible wear. It's not uncommon for Limited bbls to go 100,000+ before the accuracy drops to an unacceptable level and need to be replaced.

I shoot a 6mm Remington for long range varmint and paper punching. Now I accept the fact that an 87 gr V-Max at 3450 fps is going to cause enough erosion in the throat that I will get maybe 1,800 to 2,000 (very generous) rounds before I need to replace it. Different pressures and temperatures in that sport.

[AriM]

Also, it's like dragging hundreds of sharpened little needles up and down the bore....add chemicals that can etch the metal and it only gets worse. None of that is going to help keep the bore smooth

great point....I use copper or "plastic" brushes.....do you think they would result in the same problem??

[GentlemanJim]

Dont get your knickers in a twist Ari...Bart is just being factual, not nasty

My 264 win mag went south at less than 800 rounds

But I have a p08 Luger...just shy of 100 years old all it has ever shot is jackets..who could ever guess at the round count

Its bore is just fine.

Jim

[AriM]

I guess I've just got a little thicker skin but I didn't see anything "hostile" in G-Man Bart's post. Maybe I spend too much time over at ar15 to take offence without some serious intent?

I can't really comment on barrel wear in pistol calibers. I've got a G35 with ~60,000 rounds down the tube and no visible wear. It's not uncommon for Limited bbls to go 100,000+ before the accuracy drops to an unacceptable level and need to be replaced.

I shoot a 6mm Remington for long range varmint and paper punching. Now I accept the fact that an 87 gr V-Max at 3450 fps is going to cause enough erosion in the throat that I will get maybe 1,800 to 2,000 (very generous) rounds before I need to replace it. Different pressures and temperatures in that sport.

well I felt attacked in the last 2 or 3 threads g-man has responded to (not just this one)....I certainly have no animosity to anyone on this forum...but I feel some towards me....like somehow me being new here makes my opinions less valid....just because I am new here and don't shoot competition yet, doesn't mean that I may or may not have years of experience under my belt in other firearms related subjects....

do you think that maybe the poly rifling in Glocks and HK's could lead to less barrel wear with jacketed projectiles? I am not able to comment either way, because I have zero experience with those types of guns (other than shooting them)

thanks for any info.

[AriM]

Dont get your knickers in a twist Ari...Bart is just being factual, not nasty

My 264 win mag went south at less than 800 rounds

But I have a p08 Luger...just shy of 100 years old all it has ever shot is jackets..who could ever guess at the round count

Its bore is just fine.

Jim

"Why wouldn't that other someone want to start the thread themselves....that seems just a bit odd. Please don't take any offense, but you've been on the forum a couple of days and now folks here are coming to you to ask you to start threads? Why won't they do so themselves? All of that is pretty peculiar ph34r.gif "

well maybe it's common around here, but I take someone questioning my integrity and suggesting that I am being less than honest, as a bit offensive....

maybe I am not used to the way folks around here talk though....so as stated....I have no animosity towards anyone....but def. don't like being called less than honest...

wow that is really odd Jim,

so what do you think the reasons are for that? If Bart is right....then it's directly related to powder charge....which would hold up in your scenario

yet the opinion poll says otherwise....I just don't get it

it has been my experience, that jacketed bullets will wear barrels faster, I have no scientific analysis to show why that is, but it's an observation....and remains my truth....until someone can convince me otherwise.....seems to be a debate as old as any of the others....

Ari

[s_gorilla45]

It's possible. I'm no expert on this subject but I think most glocks will start to lose accuracy more from wear on the locking surfaces vs internal wear. The only auto pistol barrel that I have personally seen with throat erosion was a 9X25 Dillon with about 75,000 rounds through it.

edit cause my spellin ain't so gud

Edited December 16, 2009 by s_gorilla45

[AriM]

It's possible. I'm no expert on this subject but I think most glocks will start to lose accuracy more from wear on the locking surfaces vs internal wear. The only auto pistol barrel that I have personally seen with throat erosion was a 9X25 Dillon with about 75,000 rounds through it.

edit cause my spellin ain't so gud

do you think that the same thing could be true in 1911 style pistols....maybe the bottom lugs being deformed by an improperly cut recoil surface (frame) would have more of an effect on accuracy than barrel wear?

[G-ManBart]

Dont get your knickers in a twist Ari...Bart is just being factual, not nasty

My 264 win mag went south at less than 800 rounds

But I have a p08 Luger...just shy of 100 years old all it has ever shot is jackets..who could ever guess at the round count

Its bore is just fine.

Jim

"Why wouldn't that other someone want to start the thread themselves....that seems just a bit odd. Please don't take any offense, but you've been on the forum a couple of days and now folks here are coming to you to ask you to start threads? Why won't they do so themselves? All of that is pretty peculiar ph34r.gif "

well maybe it's common around here, but I take someone questioning my integrity and suggesting that I am being less than honest, as a bit offensive....

maybe I am not used to the way folks around here talk though....so as stated....I have no animosity towards anyone....but def. don't like being called less than honest...

And I edited my initial reply when someone explained what happened. I just said it was peculiar, which it would be most of the time. I didn't call you a bad name, and was careful to say I wasn't trying to offend you. I didn't question your integrity or say you were being less than honest, I was saying it didn't seem to make sense...which it didn't.

wow that is really odd Jim,

so what do you think the reasons are for that? If Bart is right....then it's directly related to powder charge....which would hold up in your scenario

yet the opinion poll says otherwise....I just don't get it

it has been my experience, that jacketed bullets will wear barrels faster, I have no scientific analysis to show why that is, but it's an observation....and remains my truth....until someone can convince me otherwise.....seems to be a debate as old as any of the others....Ari

You're experience is tricking you, and the whole thing about no scientific analysis, etc means you're running off incomplete information....that's the issue. Not that anybody truly has all of the information when it comes to ballistics, but there's a lot more to it than what you're suggesting above and there really isn't much "debate" on this topic any longer.

While you're more than free to ask the question, it's a question that can't really be answered properly....essentially, it's a trick question even though you didn't intend it to be (and I'm not saying that as a wisecrack)

Certainly, a gun shooting lead bullets with mild charges at low velocity will have a barrel that lasts for a long time. It isn't because it's a lead bullet rather than a jacketed bullet. It's because you're not forcing large quantities of burning powder down it each time you pull the trigger.

Why do .22LR barrels last so long? Because aside from the priming compound there is very, very little powder and it's going down the same size bore as that of a .223/5.56. There simply isn't enough to wear the bore considerably and it has almost nothing to do with the bullet involved.

Again, we're dealing with facts, not opinions or beliefs. Wear isn't caused by the bullets (not the significant part anyway), but the kind of bullet can cause us to do other things (like use a bunch more powder) which will cause the wear. The primary, significant, cause remains burning gunpowder, not the bullet.

Now, I wasn't attacking you in this thread and I didn't in the other thread. I pointed out that you were making an irrational statement in both of them. I'm not saying that you haven't seen your barrels wear out faster doing zyx with them. I'm saying the cause isn't what you think it is. You're looking at anecdotal evidence, not factual root causes behind it. R,

[AriM]

Dont get your knickers in a twist Ari...Bart is just being factual, not nasty

My 264 win mag went south at less than 800 rounds

But I have a p08 Luger...just shy of 100 years old all it has ever shot is jackets..who could ever guess at the round count

Its bore is just fine.

Jim

"Why wouldn't that other someone want to start the thread themselves....that seems just a bit odd. Please don't take any offense, but you've been on the forum a couple of days and now folks here are coming to you to ask you to start threads? Why won't they do so themselves? All of that is pretty peculiar ph34r.gif "

well maybe it's common around here, but I take someone questioning my integrity and suggesting that I am being less than honest, as a bit offensive....

maybe I am not used to the way folks around here talk though....so as stated....I have no animosity towards anyone....but def. don't like being called less than honest...

And I edited my initial reply when someone explained what happened. I just said it was peculiar, which it would be most of the time. I didn't call you a bad name, and was careful to say I wasn't trying to offend you. I didn't question your integrity or say you were being less than honest, I was saying it didn't seem to make sense...which it didn't.

wow that is really odd Jim,

so what do you think the reasons are for that? If Bart is right....then it's directly related to powder charge....which would hold up in your scenario

yet the opinion poll says otherwise....I just don't get it

it has been my experience, that jacketed bullets will wear barrels faster, I have no scientific analysis to show why that is, but it's an observation....and remains my truth....until someone can convince me otherwise.....seems to be a debate as old as any of the others....Ari

You're experience is tricking you, and the whole thing about no scientific analysis, etc means you're running off incomplete information....that's the issue. Not that anybody truly has all of the information when it comes to ballistics, but there's a lot more to it than what you're suggesting above and there really isn't much "debate" on this topic any longer.

While you're more than free to ask the question, it's a question that can't really be answered properly....essentially, it's a trick question even though you didn't intend it to be (and I'm not saying that as a wisecrack)

Certainly, a gun shooting lead bullets with mild charges at low velocity will have a barrel that lasts for a long time. It isn't because it's a lead bullet rather than a jacketed bullet. It's because you're not forcing large quantities of burning powder down it each time you pull the trigger.

Why do .22LR barrels last so long? Because aside from the priming compound there is very, very little powder and it's going down the same size bore as that of a .223/5.56. There simply isn't enough to wear the bore considerably and it has almost nothing to do with the bullet involved.

Again, we're dealing with facts, not opinions or beliefs. Wear isn't caused by the bullets (not the significant part anyway), but the kind of bullet can cause us to do other things (like use a bunch more powder) which will cause the wear. The primary, significant, cause remains burning gunpowder, not the bullet.

Now, I wasn't attacking you in this thread and I didn't in the other thread. I pointed out that you were making an irrational statement in both of them. I'm not saying that you haven't seen your barrels wear out faster doing zyx with them. I'm saying the cause isn't what you think it is. You're looking at anecdotal evidence, not factual root causes behind it. R,

I would have to say that there IS a debate on it Bart....just look at the poll....it's not a trick question....it's a generalization....generalizations exist everywhere you look.....I am not asking people to give anything more than an answer to an opinion poll....if you shoot jacketed bullets, does your barrel wear faster? that's really the only question....there is no concern or need to go beyond that....this is not a scientific debate....if it was I would have started by posting thorough, in depth analysis on BOTH sides of the debate....

I am very aware of the abx method of testing and analysis (part of my job is EE and proprietary development)....I have conducted numerous abx type test on various auditory and spatial hearing/psychoacoustics scenarios....I am well versed in the method......but this is a simple poll.....and it remains my truth, and the truth of the majority of poll takers here....that shooting jacketed bullets, will wear a barrel faster....would you agree on that? did you vote? if you did tell me which option you picked.....thanks for your interest