How many shots can I take until I have to cool my barrell?

[Shooter Fred]

I am working on some new loads...I was wondering if someone can tell me if I should cool my barrell after each shot or shoot a group of 3 or 5 then let it cool?

Any suggestions?

I am shooting a 300 RUM if it makes a difference.

 

[venom600]

That totally depends on your rifle and the conditions at the range as well.

My philosophy:
I shoot mine until the barrel is almost uncomfortable to touch. If it's too hot to touch, it's too hot. In my 300 RUM with a fluted Sendero contour barrel, that usually means about 5 shots.

--Ben

 

[Shooter Fred]

That totally depends on your rifle and the conditions at the range as well.

My philosophy:
I shoot mine until the barrel is almost uncomfortable to touch. If it's too hot to touch, it's too hot. In my 300 RUM with a fluted Sendero contour barrel, that usually means about 5 shots.

--Ben

That's good to know, I am also shooting a Sendero in 300 Rum. Do you cool it off with water or ice or just let it air cool? Any best practices there?

 

[venom600]

Just let it air cool. I'm no metallurgist, but rapidly cooling the barrel with something like water or ice doesn't seem like a good idea to me.

--Ben

 

[Shooter Fred]

Thanks Ben

 

[learning]

Three and let it cool.

 

[Mikecr]

I would let it cool a minute between shots -for only a few shots, from cold.
Then I'd let it cool an hour or so before repeating.
That's me though..

For barrel life it ain't the barrel you wanna cool, but the throat specifically.
Let that heat sink away from the throat, or you'll damage it with successive shots.

 

[Boss Hoss]

Edited Edited

 

[Daves762]

I make and sell an air pump with hose that is inserted into the breach after a shot string to speed up cooling by cooling the barrel from the inside out.

It will reduce your cooling time by at least half.

 

[Shooter Fred]

I like all of these suggestions...I wonder if any barrel or gun manufacturers have any recommendations or instructions on this matter?

 

[FEENIX]

I never let my barrel get hot where I have to cool it down with something other than time. The best way to keep the barrel cool is to pace yourself when shooting and also bring more than one gun to the range. During load development, I normally fire 3 shots set 1-5 minutes between shots and 15 minutes cool down between sets depending on outside temp, I like firing my .22s between cool downs.

ADDED:

Open action during cool down.

Good luck!

Ed

 

[timmyatnop]

With my 300 rum all I was interested in was the first shot ,therefor I would shoot once ,on hot days then let it cool for 15 minutes then shoot again . On cold days I would wait about 5 minutes between shots ,it was amazing how much my group size shrunk when I let my barrel cool. That's. Just me though my bro said I was a waste of time , I didn't think so though.

 

[Tikkamike]

With my 300 rum all I was interested in was the first shot ,therefor I would shoot once ,on hot days then let it cool for 15 minutes then shoot again . On cold days I would wait about 5 minutes between shots ,it was amazing how much my group size shrunk when I let my barrel cool. That's. Just me though my bro said I was a waste of time , I didn't think so though.

I totally agree. That is exactly what I do.

 

[Tikkamike]

I make and sell an air pump with hose that is inserted into the breach after a shot string to speed up cooling by cooling the barrel from the inside out.

It will reduce your cooling time by at least half.

you have any pictures? how much are they?