Anyone happen to know if Kimber barrels are stress relieved?
I'm starting to think barrel heat plays a big part of my group size in the summer. I do load development mostly in the winter. Temps in TN are 20-30 degrees in the winter with the occasional dip into the teens. I try to mimic my hunting temps (NW PA, CO/WY) and shoot when its colder and usually at daylight. I can find a really good sub-MOA load for all my guns. I shoot the same load when the temps climb above 70 and they open up about 50%. Especially with 5 shot groups and even letting the barrel cool 2-3 mins between shots. The reason I'm suspicious is that the first 1-2-3 shots go exactly where they are supposed to then start to wander a bit.
I really dont think its bedding (rifle is bedded) or scope/mounts (Talley, SHV) because all my Kimbers are bedded and set up the same - and judging from my notes, do the same thing. It could be something in my technique but my notes clearly indicate a trend of larger groups in the summer using the identical rifle/load/bench set up. I'm blaming it on the barrel......
I'm starting to think barrel heat plays a big part of my group size in the summer. I do load development mostly in the winter. Temps in TN are 20-30 degrees in the winter with the occasional dip into the teens. I try to mimic my hunting temps (NW PA, CO/WY) and shoot when its colder and usually at daylight. I can find a really good sub-MOA load for all my guns. I shoot the same load when the temps climb above 70 and they open up about 50%. Especially with 5 shot groups and even letting the barrel cool 2-3 mins between shots. The reason I'm suspicious is that the first 1-2-3 shots go exactly where they are supposed to then start to wander a bit.
I really dont think its bedding (rifle is bedded) or scope/mounts (Talley, SHV) because all my Kimbers are bedded and set up the same - and judging from my notes, do the same thing. It could be something in my technique but my notes clearly indicate a trend of larger groups in the summer using the identical rifle/load/bench set up. I'm blaming it on the barrel......