Cold bore zero versus (very) Hot bore zero “test”

[mtnwrunner]

Awesome test fellas.

Randy

 

[Bigolmuley]

Thank you for this! Very interesting.


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[Formidilosus]

Out-of-curiosity, would you expect a Blaser R8 to perform the same as the rifles in 5hia test? I've seen you talk about their quality/reliability before.

Absolutely. They may actually have the best barrels in the industry.

I was also wondering if the results are primarily attributed to barrel quality or is it a combo of the barrel and the action. Asking cause you mentioned the loose screws causing more recoil but no shift due to a hot/cold barrel.

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Properly stress relieved barrels just work. Rifle #4 did have a measurable change due to the action screws being loose. Not even noticeable to most at .5”. When tightened back down, it did not have a shit.

 

[Formidilosus]

I haven't been loctiting action screws as I tend to move actions between stocks a lot, do you recommend just checking torque more often in that case? I know the ideal situation is to just leave things together, which I hope to get to one day.

I wouldn’t switch around, but yes- you just have to check them constantly.

 

[SirChooCH]

Absolutely. They may actually have the best barrels in the industry.




Properly stress relieved barrels just work. Rifle #4 did have a measurable change due to the action screws being loose. Not even noticeable to most at .5”. When tightened back down, it did not have a shit.

How would you rank barrels then by company since profile doesn’t matter? Like a top 5 or 10 factory barrels list

 

[yfarm]

Thanks for answering the question. Confirms my recent results sighting in and rapid firing a RA Ranch in 5.56 at 200yds with inexpensive PSA ammo.Not a great shooter but the rifle did better than the shooter. Ambient air temp was 100 degrees.

 

[mxgsfmdpx]

Great test and expected result from Sako/Tikka barrels. Cool to see the others tested as well.

Would be fun to try it with some popular carbon barrels like Christensen and Proof, and some other popular steel barrels like Remington and Savage.

 

[Formidilosus]

Great test and expected result from Sako/Tikka barrels. Cool to see the others tested as well.

Would be fun to try it with some popular carbon barrels like Christensen and Proof, and some other popular steel barrels like Remington and Savage.

I fully expect it to be a continuously updated library of rifles checked exactly the same way. Overall there is an effort to better organize and catalog what is being done.

 

[canyonhunter47]

Cool test and definitely removes another excuse for “flyers” (at least with a Tikka lol). I would like to see a similar test with factory R700’s, Savage, Ruger American, etc.

Question: would shooting nonstop at the range and getting the barrel hot be bad for barrel life? I ask because I’ve always swapped guns or taken a break when the barrel gets hot because I was told 1) the barrels “walk” when hot and 2) shooting a hot barrel wears the throat faster.

 

[SwiftShot]

Awesome, thanks for doing it as it answers a lot of questions many people have.

 

[Formidilosus]

Edited to correct Gun #2’s stock. It was a McMillan Game Warden 2.0, not a Mesa. Extremely similar egos and shape between them.

 

[Formidilosus]

Question: would shooting nonstop at the range and getting the barrel hot be bad for barrel life?

Yes. However, 10 rounds isn’t going to do anything. Neither will 20-30 rounds a few times a year.


Mostly people that worry about barrel life due to shooting larger shot group sizes, don’t shoot enough to wear a barrel out.

 

[JGRaider]

Not sure why a guy should worry about hot bore shot groups for a big game rifle setup? I've been big game hunting since 1971 and never fired more than 4 consecutive shots at a game animal. Prarie dogs and vermin are another matter.

 

[Marbles]

Not sure why a guy should worry about hot bore shot groups for a big game rifle setup? I've been big game hunting since 1971 and never fired more than 4 consecutive shots at a game animal. Prarie dogs and vermin are another matter.

The point is one should not tediously let a rifle cool down between shots to zero it, or use a cold bore as an excuse for 3 round "groups" or not to shoot as much in general.

The other point is ambient temp changes Should not effect zero on any decent rifle.

 

[ShootOkHuntWorse]

There’s no doubt. Garbage barrels are garbage barrels. Barrels that walk, shift or move based on temperature are garbage.

It’s like having a vehicle that only starts at 55°, but won’t start when it’s 70° out, then trying to convince people “it’s a good vehicle”. No, it’s broken and needs to be fixed.

Ooof. Cessnas don’t like being hot but everyone loves them. Terrible to start in the heat.

 

[Macintosh]

Not sure why a guy should worry about hot bore shot groups for a big game rifle setup? I've been big game hunting since 1971 and never fired more than 4 consecutive shots at a game animal. Prarie dogs and vermin are another matter.

Because many people are using too-small round counts to actually get a good zero for shooting at longer ranges, and using the excuse of “only the first 1-3 matter+cold bore shift=Im better off shooting smaller groups” to justify it. The experiment is trying to prove that you wont wind up with a different zero location due to “cold bore shift”if you take the time to get a better zero by shooting a group-size that is more representative of the actual statistical dispersal of shots of the gun.

 

[JGRaider]

I specifically said "big game hunting" rifles. In 40 years of reloading, I've never not had 3-5 shot groups do the trick. Almost 400 big game animals and hundreds of hogs later, the stats and experience I've had don't lie. Killing what you're hunting isn't that hard.

If I want a 10 shot group, I'll shoot a couple of cold bore shots at the same target over a 5 day period. "Hot" barrels and big game hunting don't mix.

 

[Macintosh]

If I want a 10 shot group, I'll shoot a couple of cold bore shots at the same target over a 5 day period. "Hot" barrels and big game hunting don't mix.

This is exactly why they tested this and its exactly why its relevant for a big game hunting rifle—because according to the results of this, you could achieve exactly the same result with one 10-round group in one short shooting session. In other words, unless Im missing something in the results, at least according to this experiment, the “cold bore shift” you are trying to avoid is a myth.

 

[JGRaider]

I've never experienced this cold bore shift either, and agree it's a myth, as is the mandatory 10 shot group. I've never had a proven 3 or 5 shot 200 yard group all of the sudden throw a flyer out into oblivion somewhere as some are led to believe.

 

[Ram94]

I've never experienced this cold bore shift either, and agree it's a myth, as is the mandatory 10 shot group. I've never had a proven 3 or 5 shot 200 yard group all of the sudden throw a flyer out into oblivion somewhere as some are led to believe.

Then keep doing what you’re doing!