Shooting in the heat

[Gone Ballistic]

Several years ago I had a total joint replacement done to my left shoulder. For several weeks after I had to keep my shoulder iced down. I used a small machine that has a small ice cooler connected to a fan that pumps cold air through an insulated hose to a dispersing plate that distributes the air to the area needing cooling. Immediately I thought, "barrel chiller!" Thanks to my insurance company for paying for it I decided to repurpose it for cooling down my barrels. Although it had a 110AC plug the fan is identical to a computer cooling fan that runs on 5V so I rewired it and connected it to a trail camera 6V battery pack. Then I cut off the end of a plastic funnel and attached it to the end of the hose so it would fit inside the action pointing down the chamber of my rifles. It would be relatively easy to make one by putting a fan inside of a plastic box with a nipple on each end to attach the hoses and drilling a hole through a small cooler to run one hose through.
This thing, once filled with ice, will cool a barrel in a few minutes.

 

[Scott E Ames]

Chamber Chiller. This is a small but very effective device that really speeds up barrel cool down. Runs off of one of the accessory batteries I use for my LabRadar with USB plug.

https://www.longrangehunting.com/attachments/31tapjpqwml-_sx90_-jpg.201032/

$41 on Amazon

 

[338 dude]

Good info. Def use the ice chest for sure.. And I just purchased an air pump that runs off a 12v battery. I dont want to stop shooting just because it is hot outside.

Ice and coolers are for refreshments think of how much a barrel heats and expands when it cools it contracts I just would not want to get my barrel hot and hit it with something like ice water or icy wet rag cooling it too fast I don't believe is good either

 

[338 dude]

Like you said a mattress air pump you'll have much more airflow and all I have in this unit is $24 including batteries

 

[milo-2]

I have one, called the chamber chiller, but the plastic melts in my chamber and leaves red plastic residue. Does yours?

If your chamber melts plastic, the first couple inches in front of your chamber are WAY hot. I'd get a replacement barrel coming and have it on standby.

 

[Moose Whacker]

I used to compete in the Canadian Bkack Powder BC Summer games which were held in August and temps very hot.
Barrels would get so hot one could hardly touch them. There were several cases of DIESELING which is when the patched ball is pushed down on top of the powder and ignited. Not a good thing!!!
The ones in the know used ice water soaked towels and between strings lay em over the barrels to cool em off.

 

[jpope02]

I have an old air mattress pump with a hose that I feed into the chamber to help cool between shots. The warmer it is the slower it cools though. Like mentioned, have a couple others to plink with.

I place my old air mattress pump in my cooler with a couple of bags of ice. Works pretty good.

 

[Deviant]

Hey guys! With the start of summer and the heat, what are you all doing to keep your barrel cool and ammo cool. Obviously shade and shooting early is important. But wanted to hear what tricks-of-the-trade everyone is using. It is in the 90s pretty much everyday npw with high humidity..... I despise the heat... longing for cool fall days!

Hope everyone is having a good start to your summer and staying healthy!

I stay home in the AC and drink cold beer until Fall arrives.

 

[338 dude]

The clear tube on mine has never melted or even discolored or changed shape

 

[Bob Wright]

I have one, called the chamber chiller, but the plastic melts in my chamber and leaves red plastic residue. Does yours?

Saw it in use at the range. If it's melting I'd say you have a lot of heat, lol. Normally I fire 1-2 minutes apart, and let it stovepipe cool (muzzle up) while I do something else. Must be better stuff out there to address heat.
In Arizona summers, its almost impossible to not over heat the rifle unless you're way up in elevation and forest not closed for shooting due to fire restrictions.
I'm giving up for the summer.

 

[Bob Wright]

Several years ago I had a total joint replacement done to my left shoulder. For several weeks after I had to keep my shoulder iced down. I used a small machine that has a small ice cooler connected to a fan that pumps cold air through an insulated hose to a dispersing plate that distributes the air to the area needing cooling. Immediately I thought, "barrel chiller!" Thanks to my insurance company for paying for it I decided to repurpose it for cooling down my barrels. Although it had a 110AC plug the fan is identical to a computer cooling fan that runs on 5V so I rewired it and connected it to a trail camera 6V battery pack. Then I cut off the end of a plastic funnel and attached it to the end of the hose so it would fit inside the action pointing down the chamber of my rifles. It would be relatively easy to make one by putting a fan inside of a plastic box with a nipple on each end to attach the hoses and drilling a hole through a small cooler to run one hose through.
This thing, once filled with ice, will cool a barrel in a few minutes.

I got one of those. Thanks for a great idea!

 

[tnek13]

Chamber cooler and an air mattress pump and plastic hose. Takes a while but works - also I shoot several rifles letting the little fan work on the guns I am not shooting.

 

[skipglo]

Hey guys! With the start of summer and the heat, what are you all doing to keep your barrel cool and ammo cool. Obviously shade and shooting early is important. But wanted to hear what tricks-of-the-trade everyone is using. It is in the 90s pretty much everyday npw with high humidity..... I despise the heat... longing for cool fall days!

Hope everyone is having a good start to your summer and staying healthy!

You can always do a little dry firing exercises between strings....fire 3 shot groups..... And go fire another three dry..... Slowly...check your form, cheek weld, grip.... slower is better!

 

[Gone Ballistic]

I got one of those. Thanks for a great idea!

Make sure you check the DC voltage as I got another one at a yard sale that has a 12V motor.