SmallCaliberCentral

Hey Guys, I've been looking at Gun Broker at .204 bolt rifles. Seems there quite a few used rifles available. I am wondering if this is because the barrels are quickly shot out. Waddaya say?

It really depends on "how" the gun was shot. Out in a pdog/rat field and the shooter was under heavy attack, one can burnup/toast a barrel in a day if the barrel gets too hot to hold you hand on. Using really hot/fast loads will shorten the barrel life as well. Even powder selection in the reloads can have an affect on barrel life. If the previous owner/seller did not allow the barrel to get overheated, and used sensible loads, then it could still have some barrel life left. If the brand of firearm allows for easy barrel swapping (ie Savage for one), then you can just re-barrel for a modest sum. Things to ask the seller if all possible.

Hard to find reloading components could be another reason. I see lots of ads for various guns with the seller stating they are consolidating/reducing their calibers due to the current conditions.

As jpx surmised, much depends on how the rifle was treated in the field in regard to barrel heat.

So far we've figured out that if the rifle was treated properly, a good barrel will last in excess of 4,500 rounds before accuracy starts to degrade in this caliber. The rifle may still shoot "okay" for many, but not for the guys that expect less than .5 MOA on a regular basis.

When considering a used varmint rifle, especially one that has the speed of the 204, it's a good idea to ask the seller about round count prior to sealing any deal, and hope he's being honest with you. With all the hassles of shipping firearms now, along with the increased cost of doing so, you want to get it right the first time.