Barrel cooling - I am trying something new

Based on my knowledge of metallurgy, machining and gunsmithing (amateur).

I would advise against this.

There is also the wet rag/towel idea but same.
We're talking about cooling from something like 190F to ambient, and not that rapidly either. What metallurgical concerns do you have?
 
Based on my knowledge of metallurgy, machining and gunsmithing (amateur).

I would advise against this.

There is also the wet rag/towel idea but same.
Years ago, I attended a Soviet Weapons Armorer's course at Front Site in Arizona. We fired the PKM machine gun until the barrel was nearly glowing, and then the instructor removed the barrel from the gun and dunked it into a 55 gallon drum of water. This occurred many times over the course of a day and did not seem to have any negative effect on the machine gun's operation or accuracy. I think there are some situations where rapid water cooling may not be an issue.

Tony
 
Years ago, I attended a Soviet Weapons Armorer's course at Front Site in Arizona. We fired the PKM machine gun until the barrel was nearly glowing, and then the instructor removed the barrel from the gun and dunked it into a 55 gallon drum of water. This occurred many times over the course of a day and did not seem to have any negative effect on the machine gun's operation or accuracy. I think there are some situations where rapid water cooling may not be an issue.

Tony
It's "designed " for that. It's a machine gun not a rifle you are trying to hit an Elk with at +500 yards.

Apples and oranges.
 
Years ago, I attended a Soviet Weapons Armorer's course at Front Site in Arizona. We fired the PKM machine gun until the barrel was nearly glowing, and then the instructor removed the barrel from the gun and dunked it into a 55 gallon drum of water. This occurred many times over the course of a day and did not seem to have any negative effect on the machine gun's operation or accuracy. I think there are some situations where rapid water cooling may not be an issue.

Tony
Yes, because soviet machine gun accuracy is world renown. It might not be possible for it to get worse, so sure.
 
"Misting" a gun barrel won't touch the metallurgy. A real hot barrel in target shooting is one you just can't hang onto bare handed. The last heat treat was probably at 900-1000°F to normalize as raw bar stock before gun drilling and finishing.
Squirting water on that finished, hot to touch barrel, is nothing.
 
Could you not just mist with water?
Yes you can with no effect to the barrel. When PD hunting, I use a fiber towel draped over the barrel. I put the towel on wet. As shooting continues, the towel is checked periodically to make sure it is at least damp. If not a spray bottle is used to wet it down again. Many shooters use this in the PD & ground squirrel fields.
 

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