@ Morganni: Gunderson's law prevails every time. The part fails at the worst possible way in the worst possible time. I had my M60 had a runaway fire (just kept on firing without my finger on the trigger) and had to stop it by breaking the link. It was a broken recoil spring. And the part didn't look any different from the last time I inspected it.
@ BA: If you can determine from field tests how many rounds would have to pass through before the aim is significantly degraded, then add a safety margin, you can have the barrel swapped out. Whether that requires field or depot level maintenance depends on the size of the barel.
__________________
Into terror!, Into valour!
Charge ahead! No! Never turn
Yes, it's into the fire we fly
And the devil will burn!
- Scarlett Pimpernell
@ BA: If you can determine from field tests how many rounds would have to pass through before the aim is significantly degraded, then add a safety margin, you can have the barrel swapped out. Whether that requires field or depot level maintenance depends on the size of the barel.
__________________
Into terror!, Into valour!
Charge ahead! No! Never turn
Yes, it's into the fire we fly
And the devil will burn!
- Scarlett Pimpernell