Thoughts on reloading, with an older rifle ?

[Leveraction]

I’d like the advice/ opinion of several members here please.

I’ve hunted this coming season (2021 ) 42 years.
in that entire time I have never reloaded my own rounds.
During those years Ive shot federal, Remington, hornady , and having choice will stay with Remington.
I group within a tennis ball out to 250 yards, and site in 2-3 inches above dead centre.
I have good results and am pleased with how my rifle performs/scope perform ( new scope this year though )
Ive also taken my fair share of animals so am not unpleased.

Shooting 500-800 yards, is not me and never will be for the simple reason that at that distance the cross hairs on my scope blot out 75% of the animal, and in addition my heart beat bumps me off target, and I know this happens to Many others as well. I’m going to change up to a vortex for this coming season, still doing research on choice.
for reloading : it looks like a very cool hobby, and from what I’ve read increases accuracy, and gives you a little more distance and not that that is my objective here,

I prefer hunting with an older piece of Iron, it’s a little heavier, walnut stock, no synthetic stock or lightweight metals.
A friend did say if your gonna reload, you will increase your accuracy, gain some distance, tightened groups over factory rounds, but all that comes with a hotter load and can burn a barrel out on older guns rather quickly.

so my question Gents is : is this true ?, can I burn out a barrel on my 45 year old rifle.

[Ride Red]

What caliber are you shooting currently?

[Leveraction]

Sent you a pm

[REMINGTON JIM]

Sent you a pm

You ask for Opinions - Help and then its a secret to what your shooting ? RJ

[Redthies]

You ask for Opinions - Help and then its a secret to what your shooting ? RJ

Now where is that “like” button?

Two people have asked what calibre he’s shooting and he won’t say.

[Leveraction]

Hi RJ

yes I keep it quiet in my original post as I don’t want a ballistics argument. But here it comes.
I shoot a savage model 99c in 308, given to me by my dad when I was 16, I’m 58 now.

[REMINGTON JIM]

Hi RJ

yes I keep it quiet in my original post as I don’t want a ballistics argument. But here it comes.
I shoot a savage model 99c in 308, given to me by my dad when I was 16, I’m 58 now.

Hi I would not think you would BURN that Sav 99 barrel in 308 Win unless you repeatly shot it so Fast it got RED Hot ! LOL I would estimate you should be good for a FEW thousand round's ! jmo RJ

[BromBones]

Hi RJ

yes I keep it quiet in my original post as I don’t want a ballistics argument. But here it comes.
I shoot a savage model 99c in 308, given to me by my dad when I was 16, I’m 58 now.

I have the exact same rifle. It is very accurate with almost any factory ammo.

I hand load for it but nothing that has ever exceeded factory ammo. Keep the barrel cool when testing loads at the range, it’ll last forever.

[Gateholio]

Burning out barrels is possible but unlikely in a hunting rifle. What cartridge and what rifle ?

[Downwindtracker2]

I regularly shoot rifles that are from the WW 1 , that will put them at over 100 years old if my math is correct. Barrel steel , if you go by what the military expected then, were good for thousands of rounds. That's with hot burning, nasty powders that they had. Where the barrel burning comes from are small bores with big cases, the classic example is the 264 Winchester Magnum , even the 243 will do damage. With my favourite, the 264, you can expect a 1000 round life. That means allowing the barrel to cool. That is one of the worst cases. If anything reloads may prolong the life by using a cooler burning but more expensive powder. Stainless will last a little longer, but not that great a deal more.

Reloading is rocket science you can work with. And it's a voyage of discovery. A Blast.

I hear you on wood and blue, these modern rifles are like taking an ugly girl to the dance.