Terso01
Member
Just wondering what everyone does as far as shooting some steel/targets and how hot you let the barrel get before you let it cool down. How hot is to hot?
How many shots before letting the barrel cool
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WildRose
Well-Known Member
Lot's of variables come into play here.
If you're shooting high pressure magnums of any caliber if you shoot it hot and keep shooting your throat life is going to be very short.
As a general rule I've settled on no more than three shots in any given one minute period and if I'm shooting more than one shot per minute in a prolonged shooting session I'll open the bolt and let it cool after five shots with any of the big guys or varmint rifles which are chambered in .204R and .220 Swift.
My 556 AR's I don't worry about at all unless they get hot enough I wouldn't want to touch the barrel. That's what they are made for. With my M1 A's (7.62 NATO) about the same.
If I want to shoot a lot and keep shooting I get out the 10/22. That's what it is made for and replacement barrels are dirt cheap.
It varies a great deal from gun to gun how quickly they will lose accuracy from heating up and I'm past the point in my life of shooting just to shoot, it just gets expensive when you start adding up all of the time and money spent on ammo/reloading not to mention barreling costs.
If you're shooting high pressure magnums of any caliber if you shoot it hot and keep shooting your throat life is going to be very short.
As a general rule I've settled on no more than three shots in any given one minute period and if I'm shooting more than one shot per minute in a prolonged shooting session I'll open the bolt and let it cool after five shots with any of the big guys or varmint rifles which are chambered in .204R and .220 Swift.
My 556 AR's I don't worry about at all unless they get hot enough I wouldn't want to touch the barrel. That's what they are made for. With my M1 A's (7.62 NATO) about the same.
If I want to shoot a lot and keep shooting I get out the 10/22. That's what it is made for and replacement barrels are dirt cheap.
It varies a great deal from gun to gun how quickly they will lose accuracy from heating up and I'm past the point in my life of shooting just to shoot, it just gets expensive when you start adding up all of the time and money spent on ammo/reloading not to mention barreling costs.
I don't let my barrels hot, just warm; when I feel it is too warm. I let it cool for 15 minutes or so. I always bring another rifle(s) to shoot. 
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shaughn
Guest
Load development 15 minutes between shots so as to eliminate as much as possible any variable related to barrel temp. Gives me time to inspect brass and record MV and if I can bribe a friend to bring out his Oehler 83 set up I can do pressure testing.
Zero 15 minutes between shots
Verifying ballistic charts 5 minutes between shots
I find the longer breaks allows me to be more on the ball, for an extended range session.
Zero 15 minutes between shots
Verifying ballistic charts 5 minutes between shots
I find the longer breaks allows me to be more on the ball, for an extended range session.
Rick Richard
Well-Known Member
No more than three shots and monitoring the barrel temp between them. Now with that said, I do fire five shot strings with my 308 with heavy barrel.
KillerBee
Well-Known Member
What about 300 Win Mag with a 3 contour barrel, does the 3 shot rule apply here as well or is the barrel heavy enough to shoot more then three shots at a time?
WildRose
Well-Known Member
I wouldn't and I'd let open it up and let it cool at least five minutes between strings.
It's just not worth it.
I simply cannot stand a hot bolt action hunting rifle barrel !
I have a matress pump with a tube that I blow cool air into the bore between shots.
I'll look down the side of the barrel and check for mirage ,most of the time I won't shoot again till the mirage goes away.
The waiting is painful for me to endure in summer and I always shoot verry early, I'm almost never seen shooting my hunting rigs in temperature hotter than 70°.
My ammo and barrel is never in sunlight , a collapsible canopy from Cabelas helps me keep my sanity.
My target rigs get pounded pretty hard because they have to endure such abuse in competition.
I have a matress pump with a tube that I blow cool air into the bore between shots.
I'll look down the side of the barrel and check for mirage ,most of the time I won't shoot again till the mirage goes away.
The waiting is painful for me to endure in summer and I always shoot verry early, I'm almost never seen shooting my hunting rigs in temperature hotter than 70°.
My ammo and barrel is never in sunlight , a collapsible canopy from Cabelas helps me keep my sanity.
My target rigs get pounded pretty hard because they have to endure such abuse in competition.
WildRose
Well-Known Member
I know guys that have used everything from refrigerants, to canned air horns to canned air for cleaning computers, to a compressor and air hose to cool them so you aren't alone.
My rule is simple, if it's hot to the touch it's way too hot to shoot unless my life depends on it.
I burned up at least a couple of 7mm Rem's and three .220 Swifts in Ruger Number 1's shooting coyotes and prairie dogs and it was a complete waste of resources.
Fun? You bet, but irresponsible.
The only reason I don't use a refrigerate or anything with compressed gass is I really believe the condensation left in the barrel will saturate powder residue,
Bad for business. But ,yes I've thought on it.
Trust me, its all I really want to do... JUST SHOOT. But I respect my equipment now days.
The only reason I don't use a refrigerate or anything with compressed gas is I really believe the condensation left in the barrel will saturate powder residue,
Bad for business. But ,yes I've thought on it.
Trust me, its all I really want to do... JUST SHOOT. But I respect my equipment now days.
Frank in the Laurels
Well-Known Member
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Depends on the cartridge, from as little as 5 to 20...say .300 mag vs 6 PPC ! Outside temperature plays a big role in this number...
I generally keep my LR hunting rifles under 5 consecutive shots before allowing my barrel to cool. Depends on the air temperature. I have shot my competition rifles to the point where an egg could be fried on the barrel when it's +85 degrees outside. No ill effects for the 20 round strings other than the barrel life which seems to cut it in half with my 308's.......2000-2500 rounds before I loose accuracy.
