Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles first shot...cold bore?

If the cold shot is in the same place every time, you've got it made.

I knew I was old and dirty,but I didn't know it would affect my rifles like that.....LOL

Is the barrel even "broke In". yet?

back in 2000 I bought two identical Weatherby markV synthetic rifles the first I bought used in 30-06 and the second I bought new in .270win.

The 30-06 would reliably with most any ammuntion I shot in it put the first shot about 5 inches high (IIRC but it was way high)from a cold but fouled barrel, then the second would be 2.5 or so high the third right on. If you let it cool completly or near completely it would be right back up there. I could have zeroed it there as it was quite reliable but like BobinNH I detest foolishness like that. It was my own fault really because I knew the fellow that sold it to the gun shop and he never parts with a good rifle, so my own foolishness. The .270win on the other hand is very accurate and puts the first one of factory or reload right on the money, as well as how many ever more you want to shoot that day. I have a Bob now that looks just like that one, naturally I would try some different bullets/powders before I gave up on it, but thanks for the heads up I will reshoot the same target for several days now!

Finally if your barrel is really cool before you shoot the second one and I mean just like it was before you started, maybe 30 minutes in the shade, the second shot should go higher as well, so if it does not maybe its you.

I only have one rifle today that doesn't put the first shot with the rest of the group at 100 yards. That's a "B" Grade Rem 722 in 244 Rem. I suspect it's a bedding issue, but I'm not going to fix it. The first shot goes 1/2" to the right of the remaining 4 shots which all cut the same hole.
My take is, if all shots don't go in the same cluster, there's something wrong with the rifle; ie, bedding, or barrel related.

I would say not,it's had less than 50 rouunds down the tube.This was just one of my weekly experiments on a "Cold Bore" shot and maybe what to expect...

Rifle, have you been shooting the same bullets during each trip?


Now that I think about it, my WSM seems to act a little squirrely if I shoot say a Barnes or Nosler after shooting Speers. Could be nothing to it though, hell if I know.

Same bullet each time. It does this with Wincheter and Hornady ammo.

Typo got me, meant to say cold shooter not an old shooter

sometimes I wonder if a rifle has to "settle in" to its bedding and it takes it a few rounds to get there. I also wonder if you check the torque on the action screws in one of these supposidly bedded kimbers if that has any effect on how it shoots?

I'm working on keeping notes and so far all the screws have stayed tight.The beding looks good.

Hey Rifle-try this. Shoot a cold bore shot and put the rifle away. Come back tomorrow and shoot a cold bore shot. Do the same for 5 days. That will tell you the consistency of a cold bore shot, and what you can expect when you pull the trigger on an animal in the field.

Keep records, and if it's a completely consistent happening, then it's a non issue. Just adjust accordingly for that first shot. The clean vs cold question should be addressed though.