How many rounds do you think those WW I battle rifles actually fired before they got sent back to the armory?
Going back to the armory for failure from overuse, probably almost none. Simply because they didn't get fired that much. Going back because the soldier was dead or seriously injured, a good bit. The highest battle casualty rate was caused by artillery fire. Seconded by machine gun fire. Direct rifle fire, not all that much.
I read many years (1978?) ago (I think in Sierra #3) that the bore of an 03 was good for about ten thousand rounds with the anemic loads used by infantry.
Machine gun rounds were reputedly more powerful.
People who choose to brew up their own storms bitch loudest about the rain.
