How long is handgun barrel good for?

**Krichardson** · February 22nd, 2014, 10:36 PM

Wasn't sure where else to post this but me and a coworker were having a discussion on the guns that we use on the range to qualify with..We have Glock 19's at the range and my co worker mentions that the guns accuracy could be off and the barrels should be replaced due to the almost daily range use and thousands of rounds fired through them.Any insights would be appreciated.

**Thomas Paine** · February 22nd, 2014, 10:48 PM

5 inches maximum. maybe 6, but that's pushing it.

**twency** · February 22nd, 2014, 11:06 PM

Originally Posted by Thomas Paine

5 inches maximum. maybe 6, but that's pushing it.

The Ruger Mk II with a 6 7/8" bbl is nice.

**twency** · February 22nd, 2014, 11:09 PM

Originally Posted by Krichardson

Wasn't sure where else to post this but me and a coworker were having a discussion on the guns that we use on the range to qualify with..We have Glock 19's at the range and my co worker mentions that the guns accuracy could be off and the barrels should be replaced due to the almost daily range use and thousands of rounds fired through them.Any insights would be appreciated.

Without knowing how many thousands of rounds have been through them it's impossible to say whether they should be replaced. But see comments in this thread re: Glock barrel life generally (albeit in another caliber). http://forum.pafoa.org/general-2/246...llet-test.html

Personally, I don't expect to have to replace my Glock 19's barrel in my lifetime unless I do something stupid to it. But I'm not shooting it daily like the guns you're talking about.

**reichebrown** · February 22nd, 2014, 11:13 PM

Glock barrels can last 100k easy.

**Krichardson** · February 22nd, 2014, 11:25 PM

Thank you for the link and information fellas.I will talk with my coworker and try and get a ballpark figure of how many thousands of rounds our range guns have had through them.

**knight0334** · February 27th, 2014, 12:58 AM

On delayed action designs like most semi-autos your biggest worry is wearing out locking lugs and the receiver's or slide's counterpart than wearing out the rifling.

Handguns operate at relatively low pressures and velocities.. It takes higher pressures to cause bore/rifling erosion - which is what wears out the inside of a barrel.

**justashooter** · February 27th, 2014, 01:33 PM

velocities in the 3800+ fps range can erode barrels in the throat area enough to degrade accuracy potential from 1 minute of angle down to 2 minute of angle in as little as 200-300 rounds, with cheaper, older, or lower grade barrels that are/were made from less than ideal materials, at under 250 BHN. this issue has been addressed by gunmakers since the 1960's adequately. your little pipsqueaks should be able to handle any amount of ammo you can afford to shoot, unless maybe you're bill gates.

seriously, i don't know many people who shoot $50,000 worth of ammo thru a gun as cheap and crappy as a glock. people with that kind of money shoot korths and such.

**Sshuker** · February 27th, 2014, 02:19 PM

I have seen claims from Glock pros that they have seen less than 2 MOA drop in accuracy in 300,000 rounds.

I have never been able to find a source, but I have heard a 100,000 round barrel ratting figure so many times that it is either a well established myth or based of something legitimate.

**PAallterrain** · March 1st, 2014, 11:00 AM

You will wear the rest of the gun out before you shoot the barrel out. The thing would be so sloppy you'd just replace it. I figure my g35 has close 50k on it. Still shoots great.