Should I let the Barrel Cool Down Between Shots?
01-20-2010, 07:05 PM
#1
Nontypical Buck
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Northern Chautauqua Co. N.Y.
Posts: 2,976
Should I let the Barrel Cool Down Between Shots?
It was a nice day today so I took the ACCURA out to get some exercise. The Coyotes are getting pretty active so it's time to thin em out. As I was shooting I noticed the Barrel get's pretty warm, even hot sometimes. I lke to load em and shoot em. Should I wait a certain amount of time for the barrel to cool off? The ACCURA has a Fluted Barrel so I assumed it's suppos-to help in the cool down process, right? Does the hotter barrel make a difference in accuracy? Also sometimes I wonder if when I pour down the powder seconds after the shot if it's ever gonna be hot enough to ignite the powder, but It's never happened so I just load it and shoot.
Do you wait a certain amount of time befor reloading the powder? Anyway Im still here and the Coyote's are in trouble!
(BP)
Do you wait a certain amount of time befor reloading the powder? Anyway Im still here and the Coyote's are in trouble!
(BP)
01-20-2010, 07:47 PM
#4
Nontypical Buck
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Northern Chautauqua Co. N.Y.
Posts: 2,976
On a usuall day of shooting I usually get about 10 shots off in a little less than a half hour. I'll shoot, and insted of looking through my Binoc's I'll walk to the target, check out the shot and come back and reload, that's all the time I give it, but most times I'll just shoot, look through the scope, see how I did and reload. No problem with accuracy. And sometimes I get 10 shots off in 20 minutes or less.
(BP)
(BP)
01-20-2010, 08:23 PM
#5
Dominant Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 21,193
I have to admit, in the winter I am not one to let the barrel cool too much. But in the warm weather I will often take three rifles to the range and switch between them, giving the barrels lots of time to cool. The problem is I end up shooting a lot of rounds on them days.
01-20-2010, 08:38 PM
#6
Boone & Crockett
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: River Ridge, LA (Suburb of New Orleans)
Posts: 10,918
When it's real cold (like below fifty degrees 
) I don't bother to let it cool any longer than it takes to check the target, swab, and reload.
However, for final sight in and fine tuning of my hunting load I fully clean the barrel between shots and let it return to ambient temperature.
In the summer heat I try to let it cool. But I'm pretty impatient and seldom let it cool as long as I should. I've found a barrel that's getting warmer and warmer for each shot will definitely have an effect on group size when shooting sabots (especially with my little X7), but has almost no effect with patched balls.
) I don't bother to let it cool any longer than it takes to check the target, swab, and reload.However, for final sight in and fine tuning of my hunting load I fully clean the barrel between shots and let it return to ambient temperature.
In the summer heat I try to let it cool. But I'm pretty impatient and seldom let it cool as long as I should. I've found a barrel that's getting warmer and warmer for each shot will definitely have an effect on group size when shooting sabots (especially with my little X7), but has almost no effect with patched balls.
01-21-2010, 02:50 AM
#10
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location:
Posts: 1,408
The surface area increase from fluting is pretty small. I've always been skeptical in the cooling benefits.
If it's summer I always wait 3-5min to cool. The problem is not the powder, it's the sabot getting soft. If you call the barrel "hot" it may likely be affecting accuracy.
I have noticed that the problem is worse the thicker the sabot gets.
If it's summer I always wait 3-5min to cool. The problem is not the powder, it's the sabot getting soft. If you call the barrel "hot" it may likely be affecting accuracy.
I have noticed that the problem is worse the thicker the sabot gets.