2000 rounds is a lot for a long range rifle, but not very long in barrel life compared to what I would expect on other rifles. I wonder why the short life. When I compare reloading data, the max pressures for the Creedmoor are not that much more than max pressures for 308Win. Like 60,000 PSI vs 59,000 PSI. For the same weight bullet the muzzle velocities are also pretty comparable. I wonder what the life issue is?
Maybe related to burn rate, high temperature corrosion around lands area, tighter twist rates and bullet initial sliding over first part of rifling....
When you can buy 6.5 Creedmore in bulk, and I mean by the thousand lot, at less than .70 per round, maybe I’ll consder it. Until then I’ll stack 5.56 and .308 as deep as I can and spend the dollar delta at the range turning it into skills.
Save the brass. Reload the 5.56 with soft point social work ammo. The .308 with Sierra “reach out and just say hi” loads.
Everything is is firearm masturbation.
Just my opinion.
L
It's not the pressure. It's the flame cutting by the high-temperature gases that result from the burning propellant. The reason the 6.5 Creedmoor performs like it does is due to heavy bullets and a lot of slow-burning powder to push them at those velocities and still stay under allowed pressure. Using stainless steel increases the barrel life somewhat, but they still burn the throats out pretty quick compared to other cartridges.