Barrel burner.
 

My question is what makes a barrel burner? Is it the speed of the projectile or unburnt powder going down the barrel. I've often heard of certain calibers ( cartridge or chambering if you prefer) being considered to be a barrel burner. I have some a .204 that can easily approach 4000 fps. Is there a danger?

It's generally a combination of powder capacity, pressure and overbore, and how you treat the barrel. If you run maximum loads with a large capacity overbore cartridge, the barrel life will be shortened. If you repeatedly heat the barrel up,it will accelerate throat erosion.

Heat not friction.

Not sure if I am on thin ice or not, but I have read of differences between single base and double base powders. One burns hotter than the other. Have also read Stainless steel is more resistant to barrel erosion than chrome moly. I am sure if I am wrong, some one will point it out.

Think of your brass, powder, bore like a cutting torch.

lots of gas = heat, small bore = erosion.

Large bore, less gas = less heat, less erosion.

500 rounds one right after the other = heat and more erosion.

If the barrel is too hot to touch then your getting it to hot, no matter what cutting torch your using.

Length of the bullet is supposed to have an influence.
The longer the bullet the more abrasion, correct me politely if I'm wrong!

What makes a barrel burner? High case capacity to bore ratio. Bigger the cartridge in a given caliber the more throat/barrel erosion. 7mm-08 will give great accuracy for 3000+ rounds, I've seen 7mm RUM's not make 300 rounds.
The 458 Win Mag, 338 Win Mag, 7mm Rem Mag, and 264 Win Mag all share the same cartridge. I've never heard of anyone burning out 458 or 338 barrels, I have shot out 7mm Rem Mag barrels and the 264 is a renowned barrel burner.
Barrel wear from bullet friction is insignificant compared to the heat erosion and fire-cracking caused by burning propellants. Area of barrel damage starts at the throat and progresses from there.

Abrasion is the least of your worries, the throat will erode due to heat and pressure, long before the barrel wears out due to friction.

I think the worst of the barrel erosion will be right in front of the chamber. This is where the bullet speed is lowest and the powder charge temp. and pressure will be highest.

id offer more confusion by defining what 'barrel burner' means itself. should a barrel last 500- 3000- 10,000 or 15,000 rounds.
so what if the throat is burnt out?...if the group size doubles consistently..is it expired? so if the rifle goes from 1/4" to a 1/2" group is it done??if its a competition rifle then it might matter but for an average joe with an over the counter rifle..not so much. if the accuracy is within what you can accept..who cares if its fire-cracked.

remembering that a 1000 rounds from a barrel burner is a lifetime of hunting if your a recreational hunter, so to run a 257 stw or other hi-performance rounds it is unlikely that your going to wash it out in use, and even then, replace it. its small price to pay for ultra performance, much the same as 1/4 mile dragsters having to rebuild there engines between runs.
economy and performance components have vastly different lifecycles.

The only issue that I see, is that some people are so scared of burning out the barrels of their large capacity overbore hunting rifles, that they never practice with them.

The overbore ratio seems to be the greatest cartridge design factor, and heat abuse caused by repeat firing is a big contributor that could be reduced significantly by the operator. A buddy uses HV contour barrels that have a long shank so he can have the chamber set back when the throat starts to wash out. Although I have never washed out a throat, a couple of times I have done the initial chamber with a "short" cartridge (6.5 X 47), cut the shank 1/2"", and recut the chamber to a longer cartridge (260 Rem). Would not do this with a heat cracked barrel.

man down
 

In most cases the barrel burner ,is the guy squeezing the trigger.LOL...:sHa_shakeshout:

ZING...ZING...:snapoutofit:

So then... My 204 isn't much of a danger to burn out the barrel but my 7mm is?
With my 7mm I stay within the load specs with re22, I also don't shoot more than 2-3 shots with out taking a break to cool the barrel. Am I on the right track?

Your 204 is still a hot cartridge for its bore size. It will go more rounds than your 7mm rem mag but not near as many as a 30-30.

You choose.
 

The 204 is more fun to shoot than the 30-30.

Now that is very true :sHa_shakeshout:

If I stay within the recommended powder charges should I expect 3000 plus rounds out of my 7mm?

Over heating the barrel (shooting multiple rounds without waiting for the barrel to cool)will do way more damage than the actual powder charge of each individual shot, within reason of course.