My Barrel Cooler

[ChocDog]

While searching this forum and others for a decent solution to help cool down my rifle barrels during range sessions, this is what I have came up with. It is a culmination of ideas from others and a few of my own. It consists of temp strips from Grainger, a 12 volt mattress blower from WalMart ($10), some tubing, fittings and a modified case to fit tight in the chamber. It works really well, I can take the temp from 122-135 down to ambient in about 5-7 minutes. It was taking about 20-25 when the gun was vertical in the rack. The next test is to place the blower in a cooler with freezer ice packs.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Very nice job

 

[nmkid]

Well, I'm gonna have to copy you. I use the same pump but an old action guide. Your method with the case is better, I won't have to remove the bolt.

 

[ChocDog]

Well, I'm gonna have to copy you. I use the same pump but an old action guide. Your method with the case is better, I won't have to remove the bolt.

I did the case method for the same reason. I would have to take of the cheek rest to remove the bolt every time to use it. I am going to try to come up with something else to direct the air into the chamber and keep it fed from the larger hose to get more air volume through the pipe.

 

[JFrank]

Pressure might be better than volume
Add a cool can (ice bucket) for the really hot days to keep the hose cold

 

[hogpatrol]

Good idea. I have my next lathe job.

 

[Bc'z]

Pressure might be better than volume
Add a cool can (ice bucket) for the really hot days to keep the hose cold

Yes a bucket of beers on ice to keep fan propped up so as it doesn't get wet.
And a cold one to keep yourself cool.

 

[JFrank]

Yes a bucket of beers on ice to keep fan propped up so as it doesn't get wet.
And a cold one to keep yourself cool.

Put a sleeve through the ice bucket to run the hose
Just don't disturb the adults beverages

 

[Plumsask]

We have a member at our range who does this without a case- but I took note the other day of how windy it was and when cars drove by how much dust blew accross us . I like this idea but I think I would filter the air- depending on length of time the device I running is it possible to push a fair amount of dust down the barrel? Any thoughts guys?

Ave

 

[Dusty Stevens]

We have a member at our range who does this without a case- but I took note the other day of how windy it was and when cars drove by how much dust blew accross us . I like this idea but I think I would filter the air- depending on length of time the device I running is it possible to push a fair amount of dust down the barrel? Any thoughts guys?

Ave

I figure dust in the air will settle in the barrel in the rack and dont have the pump to blow it back out. If its in the cooler its not sucking dust anyway

 

[Jdne5b]

Any concerns about condensation with cooler air?

 

[Bc'z]

Any concerns about condensation with cooler air?

You sir might be on to something

 

[JFrank]

You sir might be on to something

I suggest running the hose through ice, throw a light cloth over the pump when dusty conditions set in
In all fairness a little dust ain't gonna hurt a barrel that sends an explosive charge down the pipe at Mach 1
A bronze brush does more damage than dust

 

[muleystalker]

I would just put about 4-5 coils of extra hose in the cooler rather than the blower, then not as much worry about condensation.

 

[Bc'z]

I would just put about 4-5 coils of extra hose in the cooler rather than the blower, then not as much worry about condensation.

Think home made liquor.
If outside air is warmer and cooled it will condensate you would be making a condenser at this point.
Air follows path of least resistance water follows gravity.

 

[nmkid]

Any concerns about condensation with cooler air?

Maybe, if you kept the hose in there all day long. I would think, one shot, and your concerns would be gone.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Ive had my barrels chilled to where theres condensation dripping off. Run a patch thru it and after the first shot no more worries

 

[Mozella]

Thinking back on a helmet cooling system I built when I was doing automobile road racing, I'd suggest this if you want colder air.

From a fluid dynamics point of view, you want to slow down the airflow when you reject the heat of the ambient air to some colder medium, such as the ice water in your beer cooler. An easy way to do that is to solder up a pair of in/out fittings on opposite ends (or sides) of a tin can and put that can into a cooler full of ice. To greatly increase heat transfer, stuff the can with a copper Chore Girl dish scrubber or two. Make sure you get good contact between the scrubber and the sides of the can. Pump air into the can, it will slow down and reject heat to the copper scrubber and transfer it through the can walls to the ice water in the cooler.

Connect the can outlet to the same rig you have going into your action. A copper can would be good and sterling silver even better. Don't go overboard and use pure gold because it's thermal conductivity isn't as good as copper.

If weight and bulk is an issue, you could vent a can of R134A through the barrel via a needle valve, but don't tell anyone I said so. The NASCAR guys used to do this sort of thing with their helmet coolers using R-12 Freon back in the day. Now, of course, this is highly illegal and they tell me the food at federal penitentiaries isn't as good as it once was, so perhaps you'd better not try it.

 

[P1ZombieKiller]

bump

 

[dusterdave173]

$11 on Amazon Weefeestar air mattress inflator--piece of silicone hose from NAPA--small pkg of it is $12 but does three--will not melt way better than plain rubber--NO cartridge case needed--just shove it in my chamber on my 223--works best when rifle is propped up in a rack or standing up--It works--have tried several , this model seems to work the best--I take the middle size nipple , trim end on grinder until I get good interference fit then wedge hose in pull through and Viola! Easy as pie--I use a $25 infrared temp gun to monitor barrel temp--rechargeable with cord provided
Could not be easier--use the middle size nipple the smaller one that you can put hose over is too small and restrictive