Sporter Barrels vs Heavy Barrels

[MontanaRifleman]

I am specifically asking what the difference is in a sustained rate of fire, for instance varmint hunting. Which barrel can you shoot at a greater rate of fire without it becoming overly hot and causing excessive wear on the bore. By rate of fire, lets say "x" # of rounds per hour for maybe 4 hours of varmint shooting. Let's assume same cartridge and load to make this a comparison between heavy and light barrels.

I have my opinion on this, but I would like to hear other opinions and experiences, especially experiences.

Thanks

-Mark

[Aldon]

I would think the only thing a heavy barrel gives you is a little more thermal mass so you can shoot a few more before you reach the point where you should allow it to rest.

The flutes in the barrels should give either a tiny bit more rigidity and more surface area to dissapate the heat.

I peronally think that the loads themselves and the pressues etc,, have more impact than the weight or length of the barrel.

I would add that if you have more thermal mass, once you get it to same temp, you would have longer to cool it.....

but I am not an engineer...completely...in this field. I did stay at a holiday inn express recently though LOL

[MontanaRifleman]

That was a funny one Aldon, you'll have to remember putting your Holiday Inn Express stay on your resume

I agree that once the barrels warm up to the same temp it would take longer for the heavy barrel to cool off... but... if you fired them at the same rate, let's say a shot every 2 minutes, wouldn't the lighter barrel heat up quicker? if so, then it would need to rest sooner. So which rifle could handle a higher sustained rate of fire without overheating?

Could the varmint barrel be shot 15 times per hour (once every 4 min) vs the sporter barrels 10 times per hour (once every 6 min) or vice versa?

To keep it apples to apples and simple, let's assume both barrels are not flutted.

Thanks,

Mark

[phorwath]

Originally Posted by MontanaRifleman

I agree that once the barrels warm up to the same temp it would take longer for the heavy barrel to cool off... but... if you fired them at the same rate, let's say a shot every 2 minutes, wouldn't the lighter barrel heat up quicker? if so, then it would need to rest sooner. So which rifle could handle a higher sustained rate of fire without overheating?

Could the varmint barrel be shot 15 times per hour (once every 4 min) vs the sporter barrels 10 times per hour (once every 6 min) or vice versa?

To keep it apples to apples and simple, let's assume both barrels are not flutted.

Thanks,

Mark

My initial thoughts on this are: the heavier profile barrel will require extra shots to heat the larger mass of steel up to the same temperature as the lighter profile barrel. However, after both barrels come up to an identical too-hot temperature, I don't think there will be much difference between a prolonged rate-of-fire and measured barrel temperature. My first thoughts... That way if I decide I'm wrong, I can have a second thought...

Let's see what other's think.

[J E Custom]

I agree that the heaver barrel will take more shots to heat up but also it will have a
better cooling rate based on more surface area.

Of course this is with all things being equal (Same load,same amount of rounds fired).

An old trick to help cooling is to stand the rifle up and open the bolt . It has a chimney
effect and will let air flow through the bore for faster cooling.

For varmint hunting one should have 2 or more rifles if the shooting is fast and furious.

A fluted barrel should also help cooling .

Just an opinion

J E CUSTOM

[MontanaRifleman]

JE, that's exactly what I believe. The heavier barrel will take more shots to heat it up and the greater surface area will give faster cooling. I was hoping to get a few more responses before I came out with my view but there it is.

To illustrate... my Sendero barrel has about twice the mass as my Finnlight and about 25% more surface area. So if we were to put some math to it, it would cool about 25% faster than the Finnlight. In theory, you should be able to a round every 4 min through the Sendero to the Finnlight's every 5 min (same load). Not a big difference, but the principle is the barrel with the biggest surface area cools faster, like with fluting.

And I have also found out that it seemed my rifles cooled relatively quickly when I put them muzzle up in a rack at the range with the action open. i didn't think about the chimney effect, but it makes sense.

[MontanaRifleman]

Well Paul, I've said my thoughts.... more surface area equals faster cooling. And faster cooling will allow a higher rate of fire. Make sense?