How long to wait?

[Tnjones1247]

When developing a hunting load, how long do you wait between shots? I know it will vary between barrels, velocity ect. Question comes to mind if I have a group that is 1.5inches while shooting every 15 to 30 seconds, would it be a smaller group if say 10 minutes between shots. Like I said a hunting load, so a cold barrel shot will hopefully be the only one.

 

[cjcavinaw]

I just finished up some load development on my 300rum and for me I only wait between shots to cool down my barrel. No wait if the barrel isn't hot. If its hot I give it a bit to cool down then back to shooting. I see no variation in shot disbursement on a cold bore vs a warm one. A "cold bore shot" has typically been for me one where the barrel has not yet been fouled.

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[Rich M]

I shoot 3-5 and then let the barrel cool.

 

[cmahoney]

I love this thing

AA Bolt Action .308 SA Chamber Chiller

www.chamberchiller.com

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[Tnjones1247]

Thanks for the replies

 

[MidGAHunter]

Painless load development (mine)

I have had multiple people ask me to lay out how I do load development being that what I do is different. Since Shaen @Shooter71 just rebarreled a Tikka 595 in 6XC I thought it would be easy to show how I do it. It’s a Master Sporter with a T3 lite profiled 20” barrel- keep in mind it is a T3...

rokslide.com

 

[Harvey_NW]

When developing a hunting load, how long do you wait between shots?

Long enough to chamber a round, settle in, and break the next shot. Usually 5 shot strings and let it cool.

I know it will vary between barrels, velocity ect. Question comes to mind if I have a group that is 1.5inches while shooting every 15 to 30 seconds, would it be a smaller group if say 10 minutes between shots.

Likely not. You'd have to shoot a decent sample of three shot strings into a group, and also cold bore shots into a group, to distinguish any credible difference. Typically the only thing that will cause a barrel to start pitching shots after a few is pent up stress in hammer forged or button rifled barrels that aren't properly stress relieved, but usually not within 3 shots from a cold bore.

Like I said a hunting load

Then shoot it like any realistic hunting situation, map the cold bore and subsequent. Hopefully the first one is the only one needed, but what about a follow up shot, or a second chance if there was an error made?

so a cold barrel shot will hopefully be the only one.

Cold bore shots are almost always just a part of the normal population a rifle will produce, most people just excuse them like fliers. Cold shooter has more of an impact than cold bore.

 

[geoff995]

I wait long enough to get the next round chambered and fired. 5-10 seconds.

 

[49ereric]

Depends on the cartridge and whether or not it is a barrel burner and if you want to spend coin to rebarrel the rifle in the future.

 

[Tnjones1247]

The cold shooter idea makes since. Thanks Harvey for breaking all that down.
I'll see what the Ole .270 will put together.