Category: Ammo

1. Platform deck
2. Shell room
3. Lower deck
4. Magazine
5. Middle deck
6. Trunk
7. Main deck
8. Barbette
9. Working chamber
10. Upper deck
11. Roller path
12. Cradle
13. Gunhouse

Your question is extremely complex with many variables. As an example, an M1 Garand requires midrange powered ammo with medium burning rifle power (like H-4895) to have enough gas port pressure to run the gas system to actuate the operating rod and bolt. Slow burning powder with a heavy bullet (like a 200 grain bullet will ruin the operating system. A light bullet might also cause damage to the operating system because it may send too much pressure to the gas port. That is just one rifle.

Wear and tear on a rifle is caused frequently by a cartridge case/chambering that is, “over bore.” Example of over bore cartridges include the 220 Swift, 7mm STW and most Weatherby cartridges. They wear out the leade/throat of the rifle and velocity and accuracy is lost by the leade being eroded by hot gas. Many of these weapons have a barrel life of less than 1,000 shots.

A bolt action rifle chambered in 300 Winchester can shoot bullets from 100 grains to 220 grains. Full power 100 grain bullets would have problems with throat erosion due to a large amount of hot gasses hitting the chamber throat. Heavy bullets like 220 grain would have a long pressure curve which would also cause throat erosion because of the longer period of time the throat is exposed to the hot powder gasses.

Actually a book could be written on this subject and some might disagree with what I have written but it is a small amount of general information.