Expected life time of barrels

I would expect most here already know the answer, but not me.  I shoot low power loads, either copper  plated lead or coated lead from Bayou and Missouri as well as Zero HP.
I just opened my fifteen thousandth case of primers, so I have shot 10,000 so far, although through 3 different
guns.
Any need to have a spare barrel for my discontinued CZ 97?

My main wadgun shoots just as good as it did 10k rounds ago (just had it in a rest), my older wadgun probably has at minimum 2-3x the round count and still shoots extremely well. Both 1911s however, no personal data on a CZ.

Depends on the pressure of the loads you shoot.  Most loads in bullseye are about 9000 psi to 13000 psi.  At those pressures a barrel should have a life of 25000 rounds or more.  A 9mm at 30000 psi will have a life of around 15000.  By the time your barrel in a 45 is worn out the rest of the gun will be worn out as well.

L. Boscoe wrote:...
Any need to have a spare barrel for my discontinued CZ 97?

Yes and No.

Yes:

The AMU does all sorts of measuring and checking of their equipment, but only replaces a pistol barrel when it no longer shoots to their accuracy standard. When you think about how many rounds the fellows shoot in a year (30K to 100K depending on shooter and discipline), they are going to be replacing components more than you or I do. So if your desire is to meet some accuracy standard, then it may be prudent to pick up a spare.

No:

Barrels generally don't fail from use, they just become less accurate from use over time. In talking to an AMU armorer about barrel work one match, he mentioned that the expected service life of a 1911 barrel (in 45) was 250K rounds. Now, that only means that you could potentially use a barrel that much, not that the AMU does. That's a lot of rounds, and you are nowhere close to even half that number.

I wouldn't sweat it, if I were you.

Best,
Chase

thanks to all.

I have an old Clark Guns brochure from the 60s. Came with one of the guns my father had purchased that I still have. And it had been re-barreled by Crawford Gunsmithing of Altha Florida when the crown showed out of round wear.
 
Clark makes two interesting statements in the brochure.
1. A good target gun will cost about two weeks of pay. 
2. A barrel will have optimum accuracy for 5K rounds and begin to diminish after that.

I get 'acceptable' accuracy from my AR service rifles to 5k and beyond. A 45 should last about forever by comparison.

Lugs wearing would be a bigger issue ... I'd think.

I thought my Hardball gun barrel was possibly shot out, but an AMU Armour said the rifling was good. My round count is 8760 ish.
  I thought this because I haven't been shooting any groups the few years so back to the basics for me.

"Optimum Accuracy for 5k rounds................."

Seeing RR groups from guns I've built shoot 1-1.5" after 25k rounds. 

Majority of older pistols I see/work on are very loose after being shot a lot. Peened frame rails will loosen/wear over time. Old school barrel fit with minimal bottom lug engagement. These factor into poor shooting pistols, so I wouldn't blame the barrel.

I've welded and refit Colt standard barrels, NM barrels, S&W MTU barrels all with high round counts and they all grouped 1.5" or better with Federal Match 185 jacketed ammunition.

So based on my real world experience, I do not think 5k rounds is realistic. If it was, I'd be rebarreling pistols like crazy for some 2650/2670 shooters I know.

Jon