Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters Barrel Life and VihtaVuori Powders Question

It has been said on other threads that the 500 series powders from VihtaVuori will shorten barrel life due to higher flame temperatures.

The 500 series powders are double based powders.

I was wondering if anyone has compared barrel life of the same brand of barrel with the same pressure with the same bullet/caliber with 500 series vs 100 series powders and if the 500 series was harder on barrels?

Also, if 500 series is harder on barrels, are all double based powders (Reloader series) harder on barrels than their single based brethren?

Thanks just trying to wrap my head around this.

It will really be hard finding someone to shoot several thousand rounds to verify a shortening of barrel life ;o).

IMHO, if there will really be a shortening of barrel life, it is negligible for hunting rifles. HOw many shots will it take to get aware of a difference in precision? I think under normal hunting conditions, shooting even 100 animals a year, it would take at least 30 years to wear out a barrel.... so what?

Sure... in a precision rifles, mainly used on the range, it could probably become a factor, but all one needs is the power to punch holes in paper targets. Costs will always be a theme and in this regard single based powders are the choice.

That said, I use mainly Vihta N500 series powder in my hunting rifles for several years, mainly N550 and 560 and they are my go-to - powders and will always be. Maximum energy and superior accuracy are inherent factors with these powders. The only thing with these powders is that they are much more expensive than i.e. Alliant, IMR, and so on... but who care's?

There are some who shoot long range with fast twists at speed who tout slower VV 100 series powders and frequent throat scrubbing with JB bore paste as adding significantly to their barrel life. One of the things that often goes before accuracy is target type bullets coming apart at the speeds they like to push them. Supposedly some found the above combo adds significant time to barrel life in that regard.

I've shot a load of N540 hard loads. I"ve not shot the 100 series much, but I have shot Varget, RL15,and WC852 along with the N540. What I can say from that, and this is up to 20,000 rounds a year of 223 when I was shooting a fair bit with my wife, I could never seen anything that said the N500 was tearing up my barrel life any faster noticeably than others. IE some tubes last a bit longer, and its no reason, but certainly not clearly related to powders only.

I got 6500 rounds out of my last AR match Krieger 1/7 shooting 540 and 80's at 600 yards and Re-15 at 2 and 300. By the way those two powders play very well together.

Thanks rost, that is the kind of information that I was looking for, 20,000/year-WOW! I wish I could shoot that much sometimes.