I'm having my first semi-custom rifle assembled/built and I'm thinking about how I occasionally read, "I have xyz rounds on the barrel". I have never kept a record of round count through any rifle I've ever owned and would rather not start unless it makes sense to. The barrel will tell me when it's burnt because it will begin to shoot poorly, right?

You got bit last August when Chad let you shoot his parts gun didn't you.

Don't worry it got me too. Do you think you will have it ready for the July match?

Pretty sure it’s mostly for when you want to sell it. Nobody wants to buy a rig at the end of its life. Others know exactly how long their barrel will last and prepare ahead of time for its demise.

Gary,

On the rifles I keep track of round counts, I keep track of my round counts with my primers. For example, my 6.5x47 Lapua has 2000 CCI #450 primers placed with my H4350 powder that both are only used for this rifle. I can figure out my round count by how many primers I have loaded, minus the loaded ammo I have remaining. This is how I keep track of round counts on comp rifles. Both my 308's I do not keep track of round counts, since the 308 will go many more rounds. My 300 Win Mag and 7mm/300WM I do the same. But my 300 WM I have shot a few extra rounds that were not part of my normal primers, but it's not but about 20-40 rounds.

Now, if you don't reload or shoot other ammo, you will have to keep a log of some sort, which I highly recommend any way. Keep a log of round counts and your drop data with the ammo you are shooting.

I’m pretty OCD so I started keeping track of my most recent build — round count, components, loads etc — on Gunhive.com

Okie, I had talked myself out of getting into the long range game about three years ago when I tallied up an estimated $3-4k to get in because I figured I'd double that within the first 6 months. Then some jack hole buddy of mine left his Rem. 700 308 in my safe for a couple years and I started messing with it one day. That was right before I met you at Jason's. I hope to have it ready and load developed within 6-8 weeks. It is at the hospital now but probably not on the operating table just yet. Now, will I be ready for the July match is yet to be determined. It is good to hear from you again though. If I don't shoot the match, maybe Jason will let me come run the clock and whatever he may need help with. I assure you if that happens I will be bringing some freaking lighter fluid this time.

LOL!! For a cheap parts build rifle, that 308 does shoot pretty good!

If you are buying ammo, then just flatten the empty boxes and stack them up. Easy to count rounds that way.

I'll be loading for it. Maybe I need to keep a log.

Keep up with primers, or there's two ways I do it. One is number of firings on the brass, the other is by no bullets or powder left. Meaning, I bought enough bullets and/ or powder for the life of the barrel. Once I'm out of bullets or powder, the barrel is done. For my 7 Rem Mag, I bought 16 pounds of H-Retumbo from Chad, once that powder is gone, the barrel is probably toast. That will be 1000 rounds, but I am running it pretty hard.

I have a 200 brass minimum, per rifle. They all have that many, or more dedicated to them. If you do that, each time you load the brass, there is a spot on the label for "times fired", that will tell you total round count on the barrel.

Yep, I do it by counting my reloads. I always reload in batches of 50 or 100, so it's simple to keep a running total.

I keep one of these in my target notebook. I just have a page for each rifle. After shooting, I just put in the date and how many rounds I fired that day and any notes. Pretty dam simple

https://www.riteintherain.com/

Yes it does,without a doubt.

If one remembers to do it. What about letting 3 go on a sounder Monday, 1 one a coyote Wednesday, and 2 on two hogs on Friday? You logging all those?

of course = 6, pretty hard math

Buzz, do you keep a rifle long enough to worry about round count or is the book for giving information to the buyer?

With new calibers I count rounds out of curiosity to when the barrel will burn out.
Precision Rifle I rarely shoot so not worried about its life span.
Hunting guns as long as it holds 1 MOA I’m good to go.

Must be for the buyer. Buzz will buy, shoot, then sell a rifle in less time than it takes me to make a decision on barrel length, twist, and contour.

And get upset when it won't shoot some arbitrary load he thought it should shoot.

Ding, ding, ding

Yes Kevin, I only keep count because a low round count is more attractive to future buyers

and I love Jason