What kind of barrel life can one expect in rifles chambered for the 204 Ruger?

about the same as the 223

Ive never had one but JB keeps trying to talk me into it...same as .223 I suppose if you you it hot and dirty it doesnt last as long???

Well I am still trying to find a free home for a Ruger Ultralight Stainless barrel in 204, with about 300 rounds or < down the tube...

It's a matter of spirited debate on www.204ruger.com. One fella's got 3000 rounds, more or less, thru his Savage and it's still shooting well enough to kill prairie dog pups @ 300+ yards, so he's happy enough with that. As a guess, "about like a .223" is probably right enough.
Gotta remember to keep them cool, and clean them once in awhile.

Based on my last .204, which I deliberately abused to death so I could put the new barrel on before varmint "season" started rather than having it crap out on me halfway through, I think, treated right: not overheated and cleaned frequently, a good aftermarket .204 barrel is going to last real close to 4000 rounds.

Tom

I don't think .204's will last quite as long as .223's, on average. The .204 has slightly more case capacity and a smaller bore. The powder-to-bore ratio isn't quite as much as a .22-250's, but it's closer to a 22-250 than a .223.

That said, I've shot three .204's quite a bit, and quite hot, without seeing the kind of quick deterioration of the throat through that a .22-250 will produce after relatively few rounds.

If you run near the 4000fps area in your reloads, It will most likey be ok for 2500 rounds. If you baby the rifle like I do and only shoot 32 to 3400fps you will get close to 4,000 rounds before the accuracy falls off badly. I got 3,500 out of my older 22-250 shooting 3200 fps, with only once in awhile striking the 36 or 3,700fps level.

The rifle will be used as a walking varminter, I cant see firing more than 30 rounds in a day. More than likely I would fire around 10 rounds in a day of walking and shooting. As for range time, I do a barrel break in at the same time I am zeroing the rifle. I usually wait a few minutes between shots, on average five minutes some times more. It will not be used as a high volume shooter, I mostly like walking canyon rim rock and hunting chucks, rabbits, coyotes and other predators on my feet.

With that kind of use it oughta last a while ....

Ive been kinda babying my fave .223 barrel...it is at the point they usually start to deteriorate(7K+) but there is absolutely no visible sign of wear anywhere on it or in it

no matter what round you chamber for if you shoot it hot it won't last as long as one you let cool down between shots