When you pick up a new rifle, you’re probably thinking about accuracy, recoil, and how flat the trajectory looks on paper. But if you don’t consider barrel life, you might be setting yourself up for disappointment down the road. Some cartridges are notorious for running hot and eroding rifling far sooner than expected. It’s not always about pressure alone—it’s the combination of velocity, bore diameter, and powder volume that determines how quickly a barrel wears. You can have a rifle that groups well for a season or two, but by year three, accuracy falls apart. Barrel burn-out is expensive and inconvenient, especially for hunters and shooters who aren’t planning to rebarrel often. Knowing which calibers are hard on barrels helps you set realistic expectations and keeps you from being caught off guard when groups suddenly open up.
.220 Swift
The .220 Swift earned fame as the fastest commercial cartridge of its time, but that speed comes at a price. Pushing lightweight .22 caliber bullets at blistering velocities means high heat and rapid throat erosion. While it’s unmatched for varmint hunting when fresh, many shooters find accuracy fading after just a couple thousand rounds.
This round’s performance is impressive, but it highlights the trade-off between speed and longevity. If you’re shooting paper or prairie dogs all summer, you’ll notice the barrel giving up sooner than you’d like. Careful cleaning and controlled shot strings can extend its life somewhat, but the Swift is a prime example of why chasing velocity can cost you barrels. It’s fun while it lasts, but it’s not a caliber you buy expecting decades of precision shooting.
.243 Winchester
Hunters love the .243 Winchester for its flat trajectory and versatility on everything from varmints to deer. But behind the reputation lies a tendency to wear barrels faster than many expect. Its small bore combined with relatively large powder capacity means it generates plenty of heat with every shot.
If you’re only firing a few rounds a season for hunting, you might never notice the issue. But for range shooters or varmint hunters running high round counts, throat erosion shows up sooner than with other medium calibers. Many rifles lose their edge well before reaching 3,000 rounds. The .243 is a strong performer, but if you plan on shooting it heavily, you should be ready for barrel work more often than you’d like.
.257 Weatherby Magnum
Roy Weatherby built his cartridges around speed, and the .257 Weatherby Magnum is no exception. It’s lightning-fast and carries a reputation for excellent performance on deer-sized game, but that velocity means your barrel pays the price. This cartridge dumps a lot of powder behind relatively small bullets, creating a high-pressure, high-heat environment.
Barrels chambered in .257 Weatherby often start losing accuracy after a surprisingly short lifespan compared to other hunting calibers. For the average hunter firing a handful of rounds per year, it may not matter much. But if you shoot often, especially at the range, you’ll see precision fall off faster than with more moderate cartridges. It’s an exciting round to shoot, but one you can’t expect to last long without rebarreling.
6.5-284 Norma
The 6.5-284 Norma has been popular among long-range shooters for its excellent ballistics and relatively flat trajectory. It pushes high-BC bullets with authority, but the performance comes at the cost of barrel longevity. With a large powder charge in a relatively small bore, throat erosion happens quickly under sustained use.
Many competitive shooters who run this caliber know they’ll be rebarreling sooner rather than later, often within 1,500 to 2,000 rounds if accuracy standards are tight. For hunters, that might not matter since a season’s worth of shots is low, but for those chasing precision at distance, it’s a constant reality. The 6.5-284 Norma is undeniably accurate, but it’s one of those cartridges where you trade barrel life for ballistic performance.
.264 Winchester Magnum
The .264 Winchester Magnum was ahead of its time, promising long-range flat shooting with heavy 6.5mm bullets. Unfortunately, it developed a reputation for being a barrel burner. It pushes bullets fast, but the combination of high velocity and overbore design means the throat erodes quickly compared to other hunting rounds.
Shooters often saw accuracy deteriorate in fewer than 1,500 rounds, which limited its appeal. For hunters who didn’t shoot much, this wasn’t a deal breaker, but target shooters found it frustrating. While modern powders and barrel materials have helped somewhat, the .264 Win Mag still sits on the list of calibers that can’t be pushed hard without shortening barrel life significantly.
.270 Weatherby Magnum
The .270 Weatherby Magnum delivers blistering speeds with flat trajectories that hunters admire. However, that kind of performance puts intense strain on barrels. With so much powder burning behind small-diameter bullets, the throat wears fast, especially under sustained shooting sessions.
Hunters who only fire a few rounds a year often avoid noticing the problem, but range work and high-volume shooting expose it quickly. Accuracy tends to degrade in a shorter round count than comparable hunting cartridges. The .270 Weatherby Magnum excels in performance but carries the same reality as other Weatherby magnums—it sacrifices barrel life for speed. If you choose this caliber, expect impressive results but also plan for shorter intervals between rebarrels.
7mm Remington Ultra Magnum
The 7mm RUM is a powerhouse with serious long-range capability, but it’s also a well-known barrel eater. With an overbore design and massive powder charges, it generates extreme heat and pressure with every trigger pull. While the downrange performance is undeniable, your barrel throat takes a beating almost immediately.
Competitive shooters and long-range hunters often note accuracy fading in well under 1,500 rounds, sometimes sooner if fired in rapid succession. For a rifle that many buy for precision at distance, that’s a tough compromise. It’s a caliber that shines in short bursts but doesn’t reward sustained high-volume shooting. If you pick a 7mm RUM, know you’re signing up for an incredible performer with a short-lived barrel.
.30-378 Weatherby Magnum
When it comes to barrel burners, the .30-378 Weatherby Magnum is infamous. Originally designed for extreme long-range shooting, it launches heavy .30 caliber bullets at remarkable speeds. But that performance is fueled by a cavernous case full of powder, which means enormous heat and rapid throat wear.
Barrel life on the .30-378 can be shockingly short, sometimes under 1,000 rounds for those who demand precision accuracy. For most hunters, that may still represent years of use, but competitive or frequent shooters often find themselves rebarreling much sooner than expected. The .30-378 is a ballistic powerhouse, but it’s a perfect example of why extreme speed almost always comes at the expense of barrel longevity.
.300 Remington Ultra Magnum
The .300 RUM pushes .30 caliber bullets to impressive velocities, making it popular with long-range hunters. But like other ultra-magnums, it’s notorious for chewing through barrels. Its overbore design means throat erosion shows up quickly, even with careful shooting and cleaning practices.
If you’re a hunter who fires only a few rounds a year, you may never run into the problem. But if you’re working on long-range precision or doing high-volume practice, you’ll find the barrel life frustratingly short. The .300 RUM remains a heavy hitter, but you need to go into it knowing you’ll trade barrel longevity for raw power and reach.
.338 Lapua Magnum
The .338 Lapua Magnum has a reputation as a serious long-range performer, but it’s not easy on barrels. It burns a tremendous amount of powder with each shot, generating heat that accelerates wear in the throat. While military and long-range shooters value its capability, most also accept that barrel life is limited compared to smaller, less aggressive calibers.
You might see 1,500 to 2,000 rounds before accuracy starts to fall off, which is acceptable for specialized use but disappointing if you’re thinking of it as a high-volume target round. For those who want the reach and authority of the .338 Lapua, it’s a compromise that comes with the territory. It’s powerful, but you’ll pay for that power in barrel wear.
6.5 Creedmoor (Hot Loads)
The 6.5 Creedmoor itself isn’t known as a barrel burner when loaded moderately, but the picture changes when shooters push it with hot loads. High pressures and sustained strings of fire, especially with lighter barrels, can accelerate throat erosion more than most expect. The popularity of this cartridge in long-range competition means many shooters push it harder than intended.
When kept within normal pressure ranges, it offers decent barrel life. But if you’re running hot loads to squeeze out every bit of speed, don’t be surprised if accuracy fades faster than you planned. The 6.5 Creedmoor isn’t a barrel eater by design, but the way it’s often shot puts it in this conversation. How you load and shoot it determines whether it stays easy on barrels or becomes another caliber that burns them out faster than expected.
*This article was developed with AI-powered tools and has been carefully reviewed by our editors.
