SmallCaliberCentral

Has anybody shot out a 204 barrel yet? how many rounds did it take?

Ask acloco, he knows.

(I'd say around 6K, but that's just a guess.... After that many, it just might not give minute of rat any more ((.25 MOA for me.....))

I had a Rem 40X in 223 that still shot well (.6&.7") after more than 20,000 shots. I do maintain my rifles well and I try not to let the barrels get too hot. A good frien has an ancient 700 varmint in 223 that he uses as a loaner to new varmint shooters. The throat is gone for over an inch, but this rifle still prints inch to 1 1/4 after 35,000 shots.

My point would be that a 204 uses about the same powder charge as a 223, so maintain it well and don't get too hot and with some good luck maybe you'll get performance like that.
Even if you got half that barrel life think how much fun you had when you pay for a new barrel.

Purportedly, Cooper Arms will replace your barrel if you shoot it out in one of theirs.

Also, Weatherby reportedly will replace a shot out barrel, depending on circumstances such as the age of the gun, etc.

I would tend to think that after 5,000 or 6,000 rounds, accuracy would have to begin tapering off some. However, for some of us, we demand .5 MOA or less, and others only demand 1.0 MOA, and even others believe 1.5 MOA is fine. It all depends on your standards.

I shot out a .223 in 6,000 rounds or so. I did not baby it at all, and it did get pretty hot sometimes shooting at chucks.

Hotshot:

A 40X is on my wishlist. I would think that with a properly tailored load, the 40X should shoot .25 MOA on decent days. Is this expecting too much?

I loaded mostly for varmint performance. In other words .5 to .7 with fast explosive bullets did the trick out to 300 yards if the wind wasn't too bad. I did some 52 gr Sierra loads with H335 that would do .3 most any day. I highly recommend the 40X if it fits your budget.

stevecrea wrote:Purportedly, Cooper Arms will replace your barrel if you shoot it out in one of theirs.

It's not purported....it's fact...

If you are the registered original owner of a Cooper Arms rifle, they will replace the barrel no questions asked as to who many rounds, etc. if it no longer shoots to its original capabilities within their accuracy guidelines. And their accuracy guidelines are far tougher than your average mass produced factory rifle...

I have heard - I've never seen it personally - that they have even replaced barrels on second-hand Coopers just to keep good shooting rifles in front of the public...

-BCB

Bayou:

I am happy to see your confirmation of Cooper's policy. That guaranty is probably worth at least $400 or $500, and makes a Cooper rifle an even better deal. One of their Model 52s is definitely on my wishlist. Also, a Jackson Squirrel Rifle.....and......