Barrel Cooling

[amlevin]

So where would you get a small tank of nitrogen gas? Same place as oxygen or acetylene?

Yes. Most "Industrial Gas" outlets have tanks of nitrogen. Lots of "Racers" use them rather than lug around a compressor to operate their tools and air up their tires.

An idea hit me in the last day or so. A sealed box with a series of copper tubes from end to end, kind of like a boiler heat exchanger. On one end is a manifold that's has a couple of computer cooling fans. On the other end is a manifold that just has a hose nipple to which a small diameter hose is attached. The other end of the hose would be attached to a bore guide, inserted into the chamber.

Fill the box with ice, crushed, cubed or dry. Air blowing through the "heat exchanger" would be chilled and then go on through the hose, through the bore guide, and down the bore. Nice clean, dry air. If the ambient temp is real hot, insulate the hose so the air is still cold when it reaches the barrel.

Computer fans are available that would provide more than enough air circulation for the bore size and draw very little current. A fully charged motorcycle battery would provide more than enough use considering that the system would be turned off between cooling sessions (unless your buddy/neighbor wants to use it too).

Just "noodling" a little. Think I'll build one and see if it works.

 

[Ing. Michael W. Mayerl]

Setting aside fluted barrels or sleeved "rail gun" barrels filled with anti-freeze or oil, what methods have you used to enhance barrel cooling. I have seen some custom stocks with slots cut in the forend area of the stock but what about the action?

What can one do to minimize heat buildup in the action and barrel as well as reduce the cool down interval between strings?

What have people tried that:

Works?

Doesn't Work.

Forget fluted barrels. They only cost money.


The best is:

- a thicker barrel is better than a thinner barrel
- a battery ventilator prevent mirage from barrel heat
- less powder - less heat = Smaller calibers with less powder

 

[4xforfun]

Setting aside fluted barrels or sleeved "rail gun" barrels filled with anti-freeze or oil, what methods have you used to enhance barrel cooling. I have seen some custom stocks with slots cut in the forend area of the stock but what about the action?

What can one do to minimize heat buildup in the action and barrel as well as reduce the cool down interval between strings?

What have people tried that:

Works?

Doesn't Work.

Forget fluted barrels. They only cost money.


The best is:

- a thicker barrel is better than a thinner barrel
- a battery ventilator prevent mirage from barrel heat
- less powder - less heat = Smaller calibers with less powder

Untrue. I have both fluted and non fluted tubes in the same caliber for the same gun. When things get hot I guarantee that the fluted bbl is dissipating heat much faster. The FIRST thing I notice is that I may be able to keep shooting without a mirage shade with the non fluted tube....there is no way in hell I can continue with the fluted BBL....the sight picture is TOTALY distorted. Much more heat comming off of the tube. They just cool faster.

Now, if you are starting off with the same contour BBL and have one that is fluted, it also heats up faster due to having less material....but in my opinion, at the end of the day, the fluted tube will be cooler faster with the same number of shots.

My .02, of course.

 

[Lesloan]

Never tried it, but how about a CO2 fire extinguisher? Many years ago, I was in a National Guard Armored Recon unit. Some of the tank crews used the fire extinguishers to cool down their beer. Everything was great (or so they thought) till one crew had a fire & had to beat it out with their fatigue jackets. ;D

 

[DaveWhite]

there is a fire suppressant (Cold Fire) available in spray cans which could do the trick. The MSDS indicates that it is non-toxic, but I would want to flush it out of the barrel and get some oil on those surfaces asap... might be a handy can to have in the range bag, I keep one on my kitchen counter as an alternative fire extinguisher...

I have been meaning to try it as a way to instant cool beer cans, but at $12 per can, ice is a better choice if there is time...

Check out the video on this, very cool... .

http://coldfire.biz/Cold-Fire-Spray-Cans.htm

 

[nonliberal]

I simple way I use at home is a wash cloth with either Denatured or rubbing alcohol. It evaporates much faster than water which promotes faster cooling, it also does not condensate like water. You can use it on the outside or even on the inside of the barrel between cleanings. Super cheap, easy, and effective.