Question about barrel longevity....

[beauregard]

I'm thinking of purchasing a ten year-old Savage 110E in 30-06 that's had some use. My question is: assuming that a rifle has been cleaned after use and that is has only fired commercially available ammo, how long should a barrel last on the average?

Your input is appreciated.

[Linus]

caliber would help a lot if you want an answer.

[Jpach]

How much use are we talking about? I highly doubt that the previous owner came near to shooting out the barrel unless he shot it ALL the time and put tons of rds down the pipe each time he went out. It should last you a while.

Dont forget that you can rebarrel it

[slappomatt]

There really is no way of knowing without looking down into the bore and checking the throat. Its usually the first thing to go. savages are easy to rebarrel so if the price is right I would go for it. A 30-06 bolt gun isn't something that you take to the range and put 200 rnds a trip through so it should be fine. can you see any pitting in the barrel?

[CSACANNONEER]

What does cleaning and commercial ammo have to do with barrel life? OK, I grant you that over cleaning or improper cleaning can prematurely destroy a barrel but that's it.

[beauregard]

Right on. I'm not particularly concerned with this barrel, it's only had about 200 rounds through it. I was asking more in a general sense.

Do stainless barrels wear more quickly or slowly?

[ar15barrels]

I'm thinking of purchasing a ten year-old Savage 110E in 30-06 that's had some use. My question is: assuming that a rifle has been cleaned after use and that is has only fired commercially available ammo, how long should a barrel last on the average?

3000 to 6000 rounds.

[ar15barrels]

it's only had about 200 rounds through it.

Every used gun you buy "only has 200 rounds through it".
That's gun seller code for "I have no friggin idea how many rounds it has through it."

[runninmike]

As an armorer on the USMC hi-power team @ Quantico we used to re-barrel m-14's every 5-8000 rounds to keep the things shooting tiny groups for competition. In a hunting rifle situation, I'd bet that the original owner didn't put more than a couple hundred through that 30-06 and probably less. And even if it did have a few thousand down range, it will almost certainly still shoot minute of fur.