Target barrel damage from hot .22lR ammo?

[timlt]

Gundoc, is it bad for a target bull barrel mounted on a 10/22 to have "hot" rimfire ammo fired through it? I'm referring specifically to ammo such as the Aguila Super Max stuff, 30gr and nearly 1800fps super-high velocity, and possibly also CCI Stingers. I've heard a few people (including one smith I talked to) who think this kind of ammo can actually damage a target barrel or at least wear it out much faster.

What do you think?

[gundoc]

Higher velocity ammo can certainly wear out a barrel faster, but I wouldn't be afriad to shoot it. SAAMI sets the standards for CUP pressures that a bullet is loaded for, so all commercial ammo that I know of, especially rimfire rounds, will fall within those guidleines regardless of velocity. What you will find is that Stingers and the like have a slightly longer case for powder capacity and shoot lighter bulets to acheive the velocity. Typically these bullets will acheive less accuracy due to the BC of the round. They hit harder, but are less accurate. They may also fail to load properly in a target barrel, especially one with a Bentz chamber due to the case length. There is also the difference between an exposed lead round that is lubed and a jacketed round like the Stinger that will deposit copper just like a centerfire round. This can adversely affect accuracy and barrel life, especially removing the copper from a rimfire barrel.