Author Topic: thin barrel heat and accuracy (Read 741 times)

Buckfever · « **on:** February 21, 2004, 04:05:33 AM »

I have always wondered with my Remington Mdl 700 Mountain Rifle how many shots before the barrel gets hot enough to create problems for sighting in(thin barrel). For example should I shoot twice and then wait for 10 minutes with the bolt open to cool down or doesn't make much difference. I love this gun in an 30-06 for tree stand hunting and seldom do you get more than one shot in the woods. Also I wonder if anybody has any information on the new Barnes triple shock or the Accubonds? I hunt in Canada and have used Swift A frames. They are a great bullet but man they can really tear up a quarter if you hit the shoulder! I am a hunter and I know there is a group of folks out here that have way more knowledge about these issues then I do. I have read this board for 2 years and finally decided to take part. Thanks

Zachary · « **Reply #1 on:** February 21, 2004, 05:05:59 AM »

Well then, I guess congratulations is in order. Welcome to GBO!

As for the thinness of your barrel, GB has a mountain rifle and he could probably give you more specific insight. However, I don't think that you need to make it as difficult as it sounds. Specifically, it mostly depends on the weather. If it's cold, then you can shoot more shots between cooling sessions. If it's hot, then you shoot fewer shots. Just place your hand on the barrel - if it starts getting hot, then just stop.

I had to sight in my .375 H&H mag during the summer in Miami - 97 degrees! :eek: Needless to say, I shot only 2 shots and then waited a full 20 minutes between shots. Even then the barrel was never really cool, but a mild warm. Yea, it took me all day to shoot just one box of ammo.

As for the new triple shock, I haven't used it, but I have used the Barnes X. Some rifles love them, others hate them. In my guns, they all love them and can shoot under 1MOA. Others will tell you that they can't hit a barn at 10 feet.

As for the new accubonds, I haven't shot them either. Best rule of thumb, try them out and see how they group in your rifle.

Again, welcome to GBO. :grin:

Zachary

CEJ1895 · « **Reply #2 on:** February 21, 2004, 09:55:39 AM »

Zachary - I read a post on another board about hot weather sighting in. The gentleman kept a cooler full of very cold towels and after each firing he'd put a fresh cold towel around the hot barrel to cool it down faster and the previously used one around his neck making both of them cool :drink4: Buckfever - glad you decided to drop in!

I've got a Ruger M77 Ultra light in 30-06 that I limit to 3 shots between cool downs. I usually bring a couple of rifles and switch off between them allowing them all to cool down. This might work for you too.. Luck! CEJ..

Graybeard · « **Reply #3 on:** February 21, 2004, 10:43:20 AM »

I have a pair of the R700 LSS Mtn. Rifles. In both of them I pulled the action from stock and did a glass bed job on them. The 7-08 didn't really need it but the .30-06 did as that's what it took for it to really start shooting those small groups.

Neither of mine really seems to change POI that much as they heat up. BUT heat is the #1 enemy of long barrel life and the hotter they get the more they seem to foul. I never let mine get hot enough to be uncomfortable to hold before I stop shooting. For me that usually will mean I'll fire a single three shot group, set that one aside and shoot a three shot group from another. I'll normally be shooting from two to four at a time like this.

If the weather is real cold or if it is really windy the barrels don't heat as much and more shooting can be done. In winter a couple of groups can easily be shot before barrel gets too hot to hold comfortably.

But as to the question of it impacting your group size or position the only way to be sure is to shoot them hot and see. I generally will do that once with each gun just to know but then afterward seldom get them that hot again.

Barnes bullets are Barnes bullets. The only thing they've done on the triple shock is to reduce the surface area in contact with the bore. This is a tatcit acknowledgement of what the world has been saying all along and they've denied. That being that Barnes bullets foul worse than any other and that pressures are higher with them. They have made an attempt to both reduce pressures and fouling by making rings causing less bullet contact with bore. At least in theory that should work. But they are still Barnes bullets and some rifles shoot them well and some don't. My LSS Mtn. Rifle in '06 barely keeps them on an 8.5"x11" paper at 100 yards. With most conventional jacketed bullets either factory ammo or handloads it is a SUB MOA to 1.5 MOA gun.

GB

Buckfever · « **Reply #4 on:** February 23, 2004, 03:21:59 AM »

Gentleman thanks for the information. It sure makes sense that more heat would contribute to more copper fouling, hadn't thought of that. Most of my buddies use Nosler Partitions and swear by them. They like the accuracy and have never had any seperation problems. I wonder if I have over compensated with the Swift A frame for Whitetails even though the deer are large in Canada. My Mountian Rifle loved Balistic tips which I used for small deer in The Black Hills of South Dakota, but didn't think they were a prudent choice for Canada. Any ammunition suggestions would be great and I will do the bench work to check them out to see if the gun likes them. This light gun is a joy to use in a tree stand! It is easy to get in and out of the stand and they are easier to hold to check out shadows. By the way I have Remingtons but I think most light weight guns in tight woods are great. Not really a brand man. Held both a Tikka T3 and a Winchester featherweight and they came up just fine. Thank You for all the insightful information. Buck Fever

bigjeepman · « **Reply #5 on:** February 23, 2004, 06:02:25 AM »

Buckfever ...

I have a M77 MII in .243 that has a thin stainless barrel. This is by far the most accurate rifle I have with me now having shot a .147" group but regularly shooting below .400" with 3 different load/bullet combinations.

I pay very close attention to barrel heat as I want this barrel/rifle to last a long time. My gunsmith just told me to feel it after each group and use common sense. I let it get warm but it will never get hot with me shooting it. Yesterday at the range (50 degrees), I could shoot 2 3-shot groups before I let it cool down but then I am pretty cautious. So I am estimating that I shot 2 groups every 15 to 20 minutes. In the heat of summer, this would be more like 1 group every 20 minutes.

I keep very detailed records and have not been able to see a difference in group size due to different barrel temperatures though I am not disputing there could be some.