? For you guys that work up loads for your rifles.

[Cranny]

How long between shots are you letting the barrel cool when you are working up loads?

 

[Bearlodge10]

Cranny,
I am sure there will be more serious shooters to answer this one. The short answer is just a few minutes making it so that a three shot group is done with 12-15 minutes. This is when temps are cooler and breeze is pretty even. When I think I have things pretty close I will shoot pretty quick just making sure that my form and other variables are in check.

 

[wapitibob]

Minute or two, sometimes more. I have #5 taper on this one.

 

[starsky]

As fast as I can load em...

 

[Daniel_M]

Im not a loader but I know this little guy can be used for many things.

Air pad pump,
Stoke the tipi.
barrel-cooler at the range.

http://www.backcountry.com/therm-a-rest-neoair-mini-pump

 

[Cranny]

So say I shoot a 3 shot group with a certain load boom,boom,boom. Shouldn't I let the barrel cool completely for the next 3 shot group with different parameters? Maybe I'm over thinking this..

 

[HONEYBADGER]

So say I shoot a 3 shot group with a certain load boom,boom,boom. Shouldn't I let the barrel cool completely for the next 3 shot group with different parameters? Maybe I'm over thinking this..

I would let it cool, you don't have to let it cool completely, but you don't want to shoot it too hot which will shorten your barrel life....some calibers are harder on barrels than others.

 

[mtswampfox]

Have been in some situations shooting p dogs thought the barrel was going to droop........

 

[tstowater]

Depending on the caliber and how hot you have it loaded will make a difference. Also, some guns shoot cold bore different then when the barrel warms up a little. Worth knowing that especially if you end up shooting several times quickly at some point. Might want to consider weather conditions and elevations when and where you will be hunting as they will impact bullet flight also.

If the gun is hot enough that you notice, then it is too hot to be shooting and you are jeopardizing barrel life and accuracy. Safe answer would be to not get in a big hurry, but get the job done. Remember, if loads sit in the sun for a while, the loads may warm up and impact your results. All in all, lots of things to consider.

 

[tstowater]

Have been in some situations shooting p dogs thought the barrel was going to droop........

That's where I get in trouble as I fear that some will crawl in the hole before I get a chance to shoot them. FIL and I took 9 guns between us on the last trip and still didnt' have enough of the ones we needed. Got to the point that I had to methodically shoot 10 times out of a 204 and then take a break to let the gun cool. Wish I had taken another 204 along to spread out the barrel time. Had a pair of 22-250's but didn't need to extra zip and noise. Already working on plans for '15.

 

[jwb300]

So say I shoot a 3 shot group with a certain load boom,boom,boom. Shouldn't I let the barrel cool completely for the next 3 shot group with different parameters? Maybe I'm over thinking this..

I shoot a group of 3 then let the barrel cool to a point where I can hold it without it burning me. Depending on the ambient temp this can take a while. Last Sunday it took about 20 minutes for my very thin 300wsm barrel to cool after 3 shots but it was about 35C. If you aren't using temperature stabilised powders (like the good old Aussie made ADI powders) I would be very careful on how long you leave rounds sitting in the chamber with a hot barrel. Powders like W760 for example are known to cause very high pressures that can exceed your rifles pressure ratings when subject to high temperatures.

The other problem with non-temp stabilised powders is obviously the changes in velocity that you achieve in different weather conditions which can be quite dramatic but that is another story...

 

[rayporter]

lots of ways to cool off the barrel if you need to.
pump water through the barrel
pour pour water over it
blow air on it

shooting p dogs i have carried a tank of CO2 to squirt down the barrel

easy way is to keep a wet towel in a cooler of ice water and lay it on the barrel when you clean or while you have a drink. works and quick.

 

[KINGSNAKE]

When testing loads I will shoot 4 rounds and set the riffle down until it cools. I want a load that will be accurate on follow up shots as well not just a completely cold barrel.

 

[luke moffat]

When testing loads I will shoot 4 rounds and set the riffle down until it cools. I want a load that will be accurate on follow up shots as well not just a completely cold barrel.

Thats what I do, but with 3 shot groups. Granted I am far from a knowledgable reloader and have only been doing since 2011 and likely less than 1K total rounds loaded so take that for what its worth. But my reloads have worked out to the distances I shoot on all the game I have tried to kill so can't be all bad. Is it a best practice to do it that way, not sure, but it works thus far.

 

[lcxctf2000]

I always throw a fouling shot through the barrel to start range time. This puts a little warmth to the barrel as well as clears bore of any oil left from cleaning and dirties it for future rounds. I haven't seen huge POI changes from clean to fouled, but have seen that others have so figure why not.

Only thing is that at the end of a shooting session where my next time out will be hunting I have to clean at the range and then do one more fouling shot to feel confident that I will hit where I aim. Kind of a pain in the butt, but whatever.

 

[TylerW]

I like to keep it simple,

minute or two between shots( take notes, look at the target and so on)
two, 3 shot groups
switch out rifles ( I like to take at least 2 rifles when doing load work)
do the same with that rifle
swap out rifle #2 for #1
I'll do that till I run out of targets, I normally have 6 targets(size of a sheet of printer paper) on my backboard put two three shot groups on each target. I do have the targets numbered so I don't get them mixed up.

That's it take your time make your shots count. Oh I mainly do my load work in the winter I just seem to have more time and it keeps the barrels cool

 

[KINGSNAKE]

I agree I like to do my load work in the cooler months. And I usually have three rifles so I can change em out to let them cool also.

 

[Cranny]

Thanks for all the replies. Lots of good advice

 

[lcxctf2000]

Good point on cooler months testing. Good for keeping barrels cool. Also nice to shoot in conditions similar to the ones you'll be hunting in. Some powders are affected by temp more than others, which can affect POI.

My favorite shotgun powder is worthless in the fall/winter but can't be beat for summer clay busting.

 

[wapitibob]

So say I shoot a 3 shot group with a certain load boom,boom,boom. Shouldn't I let the barrel cool completely for the next 3 shot group with different parameters? Maybe I'm over thinking this..

I don't do that anymore. I shoot the different loads in round robin fashion till I have my 3 or 4 in each target.