Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters Barrel Cooling methods, What do you think JB?

I normally end up going to the range with 4-5 rifles. If it's not too hot out (say under 80) I usually sit them in the shade the same way somebody already suggested, with the barrels up and actions open. This sucks cooler air up through the bores.

If it's warmer than 80 I take along a big jug of cold water in some container with a pour-spout, and pour it on the outside of the barrel.

Very simple --- can of compressed air turned upside down. Attach the plastic tube and a 2 to 3 second blast on the inside of the chamber and then a light blast on the outside and you are ready to shoot again. Took longer to type this than it would to do cool down the barrel and chamber area.

I thought about that. But, doing so creates ice and I cannot afford that.

Hmmmmm I never have and have been doing this for at least 10 years and a 200 cans of air.

Is there any problem with cooling the barrel down quickly? Could it warp the barrel or introduce new stresses that would affect acuracy? I have been tempted to flush a little water down the barrel during extended shoots but did not want to mess up the rifle.

I'm another that uses the rechargeable Coleman air mattress pumps and a flexible plastic hose.
I let it run on one gun while I shoot something else.

I've heard, but never tried, that a spray bottle of rubbing alcohol works very well. It won't cool quite as well as water but it has a low latent heat of vaporization so you don't need to worry about it staying liquid like you do with water.

I've never had a problem with water staying liquid on a hot barrel. Then again, I live in Montana.

Savage 10ML-II have dozens of ways to do this. One is a brass rod that fits in the bore. They keep the rod in a PVC pipe full of ice water.

I have a buddy whose solution for most things simple or complicated is "Oh, Pss on it!"

Chimney and second rifle is my favorite.

Jim

Water on the outside of barrel, or poured/squirted down the bore, have both worked for me. I prefer the bore; seems like a) it's cooling it where it really matters most in terms of not damaging your rifle (the throat area), b) it's a more even cooling than pouring it on the outside or using towels, and c), you don't end up worrying later about water below the stock line. I hate taking rifles out of stocks.

I do the same thing. AC cranked on HI will cool a bbl quickly.

+3. Works like a champ.

I also take 2-3 rifles to the range and rotate. Unless its really hot, rotating 3 rifles will allow you to shoot non-stop for a long time.

And to think I run off 22 shots in ten minutes, take a five minute break and do it all over again. All without a worry and no loss of accuracy...

Probably not a good idea to bump into my barrel either.

I don't see a real difference in barrel life from my NTIT and my XC guns...

Let me explain... XC might see 22 shots fired in 12 minutes or so.. plus some rapid fire strings of 10 in 60-70 seconds... with rests between....

My NTIT gun is as many rounds as I can get out in 50 seconds 4 times in a row with maybe 5-10 minutes between strings... for me thats up close to 40 rounds give or take generally....

We dont' wait for cool weather. We practiced in July and August TX heat because nationals were in August.... I have passed out twice after these practices..... it is not cool or cool on the gun. AND in XC moving between yardages the gun is in a case and that keeps it warm.

I'm not saying they are BR guns... but all of mine shoot around .5 moa for gas guns.... the XC better than that. They have similar barrel life...

Jeff

I have used CO 2 (spendy and clunky)
I have run water down the tube (and patched it out)

Strips of old towel. Just get them damp, put on the barrel (nicely free floated) and when the towel is dry, the gun is cool.

I just use pre-64 Model 70's in .257 Roberts, 7X57 and .300 H&H, Oberndorf Sporters in 9.3X62 and custom Remingtons in garish McSwirley stocks chambered for Ackley Improved cartridges.

So, all my rifles are cool, all the time...

Only if you are shooting TSX's, Jim....

You got AC?

Does it cause a problem that the barrel is cool and the scope is hot??????
Jus' wonderin'??????



George