Barrel temperature gauge for hand load testing?

[DougMH]

Any of you guys use one of these?

http://precisionaccuracycompany.com/barrel-temperature-gauge.html

You know, even with the most sophisticated ammo prep, it seems to me barrel/chamber temperature can make quite a difference in your vertical... for a couple of reasons:

1) The barrel may warp somewhat with temperature changes (especially too hot I think... and could be vertical or lateral).
2) If your round sits in a hot chamber too long (or for an inconsistent amount of time), you'll get varying MVs

I have an Oehler 35p Chronograph arriving today and one of these temperature gauges ordered today. When I start testing sometime after 15 June, I'll let you all know what kind of results I achieve.

Personally, my current method is to chamber just before I shoot. But what happens if you take a couple of extra looks at the windage flags on one shot, but not on another. I'm thinking if I can keep the barrel temperature in a consistent range, it may be better to chamber the round early and let it heat to near chamber temperature. It can't get any hotter than the chamber, right?

 

[MrMajestic]

I use the Temperature Indicating Labels purchased at McMaster Carr. They are like the stick-on labels used for Aquariums and you pick the range desired.

 

[dmickey]

Actually, if you feel the barrel with your hand, you will note that the hottest part is just forward of the chamber.

 

[gunsandgunsmithing]

Here's a quick way to check barrel temps..
http://www.harborfreight.com/non-contact-laser-thermometer-96451.html

 

[DougMH]

Here's a quick way to check barrel temps..
http://www.harborfreight.com/non-contact-laser-thermometer-96451.html

Appreciate the link. I'm hoping the one I linked to (the $24.95 one) I'll be able to mount at least semi-permanently. It goes off automatically after 30 seconds, but if it's mounted right, it should be easy to reach and activate.

 

[jlow]

I use the Temperature Indicating Labels purchased at McMaster Carr. They are like the stick-on labels used for Aquariums and you pick the range desired.

I see the Temperature Indicating Labels from McMaster Carr, the questions are which one (temperature range wise) do you use, and how do you use them? Do you always wait for a certain temp before you start to shooting groups and do you wait each time until the temps stabilize to a specific temp before firing the next round.

 

[Tango51]

Just my questions/input. Isn't the receiver bedded and the barrel free floated?(relative cool and rigid receiver with a free moving and constantly warming barrel during fire) Would the barrel get hotter to a point as to skew accuracy enough, until the receiver catches up on temp? How much does a barrel grow at extreme firing rate, for example 5 shots(or 4 depending on mag capacity) as fast as a bolt gun can cycle vs growth @ 1 shot/20 seconds for 50 rounds?

I would guess that fast fire, for say a magazine(bolt gun 5 rounds), would not affect accuracy, yet somewhere duing a steady 1 round per 20 second rate of fire the temp would cause enough of the free floating barrel to "warp" that it would cause a POI change.

After the receiver temp and barrel temp delta T is reduced, does the accuracy again improve?(because both receiver and barrel are at some equilibrium?)

Interesting subject.