Barrel cool down time?

[7.62user]

I know it's kinda of a vague question but what's the average cool down time when shooting a hunting rifle at the range? My 30-06 hunting rifle is fun to shoot during first 5 rounds, after that it looks like a 12 gauge buck shot. I usually bring 3 bolt rifles and run 150 or more rounds in 2-3 hours. Semi auto is getting boring so I'm slowlly switching to bolt guns. Thanks

[CSACANNONEER]

Every barrel is different. You'll have to experiment. I know people who cool their barrels with dripping wet rags.

[JTROKS]

With hunting rifles I just shoot 3 round group in about 2 minutes then let it cool down. I haven't fired more than one round during hunting except when I used my NHM91 or handguns. With tactical bolt gun I will shoot 3 or 5 round groups. I always pay attention where my clean cold bore shot goes and the fouled cold bore shot.

[toby]

Pouring Bottled water on the barrel after every shot works great. Absolutely not necessary but it works.

[5.56Geo]

Compressed canned air from you choice of electronics dusters work well.

[postal]

Compressed canned air from you choice of electronics dusters work well.

Especially if you turn the can upside down and spray the liquid refrigerant out- which gets frosty as it flashes from a liquid to a gas....

[Sunday]

Lick the barrel and when your tongue doesn't burn to the barrel continue shooting.. Actually I would sat it is barrel dependent so you will have to experiment. Besides it gives you time to B.S. to other shooters.

[Remus]

I will either shoot a 5 shot group within about 1 -3 minutes then let the gun cool off for the rest of the 15 minute shooting session, or I will take one shot wait several minutes, take the next shot. So typically one grouping within 15 minutes either way.

[JohnCCW]

As said, totally depends on mass of barrel and the cartridge.
With a high power rifle, if you can't hold the barrel with your hand, it's too hot, was what I have always heard as a rule of thumb- if you are looking at barrel longevity.
Large case capacity and light hunting barrel will heat up in a handful of shots.

[JMP]

I know it's kinda of a vague question but what's the average cool down time when shooting a hunting rifle at the range?

The one good thing about a barrel that heats up fast is that it will also cool down faster.

Every barrel is different. You'll have to experiment. I know people who cool their barrels with dripping wet rags.

I don't do dripping wet, but a damp towel is an excellent way to cool the barrel. It's not just that the medium has transfers thermal energy faster, it's also helpful if you are shooting out in the hot sun (such as the desert). A barrel sitting out in the hot sun can feel quite hot on the outside even if the inside has cooled--that's what matters.


I'd avoid straying liquid gases or refrigerants as some folks have mentioned. While barrels are very tough, it could be detrimental to the structure. As the barrel heats up, the metal expands very slightly. If you suddenly spray a part of the barrel with a liquified gas, it will bring the contact spot extremely rapidly to a sub-zero state causing the molecules to suddenly contract, asymmetrically about the barrel's axis. While this is probably not going to be that detrimental to a strong steel barrel, there is nothing good that can come of it. A symmetrical barrel is important for accuracy.

[bsumoba]

for my barrel cooling, it depends, but when load developing, I try to wait until the barrel is warm to the touch.

Point the barrel muzzle upwards when cooling. heat convection will help to cool down the barrel faster than you think. keep the bolt open and the heated air in the barrel will escape from the muzzle (because heat rises) and be constantly replaced by sucking air into the barrel from the chamber side.

science is great!

you could also bring a portable battery air pump and a flexible tube and stick the tube into the chamber and pump air into the barrel if you dont like sticking it up on a rack.

[rockblaster]

Also depends on the caliber your shooting. 3 rnds through my 257 weatherby mag and you could cook meat on the barrel.

[toby]

Also depends on the caliber your shooting. 3 rnds through my 257 weatherby mag and you could cook meat on the barrel.

Especially on a 90* day.

[Rangem4]

Good timimg

I am waiting to see if the rain lets up to go to the range today. This thread is written at a time when I am trying to determine cold bore 1st shot accuracy vs. how many shots to begin the spread from a hot barrel. Yes pay attention to where the first shot goes.
I am working today on my Remington 700 .222rem.
I love this rifle, I bought it cheap, it is 45 years old and very accurate for several shots. I just mounted a Vortex 6X24X50 Crossfire and finally got it mounted properly.
I am anxious to dial in the scope and turn to 24 power at 250 yards.
I am hoping to see the holes in the target, I don't own a spotting scope that can identify a .22 caliber hole that far out.

[Satex]

Every barrel is different. You'll have to experiment. I know people who cool their barrels with dripping wet rags.

I have seen people do that, but believe it's very poor practice since it causes extreme temperature gradients in a non uniform way.