barrel heating during practice?

[yakimanoob]

Hey folks,

I've not done much target shooting beyond sighting in new rifles, but I'm wanting to get confident shooting deer and elk out to about 500 yards (right now I have a self-imposed limit of about 300 as I haven't practiced beyond that distance) and I know I need to spend some serious time at the range practicing fundamentals and learning to judge wind.  My setup is a Savage 16 LWH in 7mm-08 with a Nikon Prostaff 5 2.5-10x40mm.  Even just sighting in and doing basic practice, the barrel gets pretty warm, so here's my question:

Where do you draw the line and stop shooting to give the barrel time to cool down?  And how do you know when it's cool enough?  Basically, I'm wondering how to tell if I'm causing the groups to open up or if I'm still doing things right and the barrel is just getting too hot. 

Thanks in advance!

[Crunchy]

I typically dont shoot more than 4-5 rounds without giving the barrel time to cool down.  That being said, dont chamber a round until you are ready to shoot.  Letting a round cook in a hot barrel is no bueno for groups.  I will shoot one or two, touch the barrel and see how hot it is getting.  A lot depends on outside temps and maybe wind that can help cool things down.

[BULLBLASTER]

I just usually go by feel. Sometimes I grab the barrel and if I can hold onto it it’s fine to keep shooting. Sometimes I like to take a break and let’s t cool. Other times if I’m having fun sending rounds and they are doing what is expected i just keep shooting.

Let the gun tell you how it reacts to heat. Some don’t change cool to hot and others change a lot. 

[Bob33]

I take ice cubes in ziploc bags to help speed the cooling.

[Jonathan_S]

I've got a .223 that will burn Varget and 69 SMKs until I run out.  Barrel will get darn hot but doesn't change performance much.

I'm more careful with my bigger rifles because it can't be doing any favors.  My 300 WSM with a factory contour gets HOT quick so I go real slow with that one.

[N7XW]

I use a couple of battery operated fans and that helps a lot.  If you go that route, get the biggest one you can find.  My 4" fan cools much quicker than my little 2" handheld one.

[jasnt]

One thing that helps cool faster is get the barrel pointed up and action open while cooling. Heat goes out and cool air in the action

[yakimanoob]

One thing that helps cool faster is get the barrel pointed up and action open while cooling. Heat goes out and cool air in the action

[Tiger1358]

When I shoot my Savage 111 in 300WM, it's pretty much the same gun you got, I make 3 shots then let it cool down. Like the previous comment stated, open the action and it'll help to cool down faster.

[spookgus]

A small fan and funnel to move air through the bore works ok. Does anyone have hands on experience using or fabricating a cooling rod or heat sink for this application?

[jasnt]

http://barrelcool.com/product/barrelcool/

[Jonathan_S]

A small fan and funnel to move air through the bore works ok. Does anyone have hands on experience using or fabricating a cooling rod or heat sink for this application?

No.  I just bring multiple guns and shoot the ones that aren't hot.

Only time I've ever cooled deliberately was when sighting in a muzzleloader in hot conditions.  Wet rag cooled it down quickly.

[ian_padron]

One thing that helps cool faster is get the barrel pointed up and action open while cooling. Heat goes out and cool air in the action

x2...Some of the best advice I was ever given. Crazy how much of a difference it makes.

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[Magnum_Willys]

5 mins between shots for 5 shots.   Now you know what a “cool” barrel does for reference.   Thats on a below 60 day with a barrel cooler.     80 degree day may take double that time.

[yakimanoob]

Thanks everybody.  I never thought about cooling with a rag or other device.  That's doesn't change the properties of the steel does it??