FACTUAL HOT BARREL TALK

[BOB LEE SWAGGER]

Yes I've searched here and and across the internet. I found a bunch of "too hot to touch, too hot to fire" + temperature strips (never with an actual #). I shot my straight 6BR single shot 1.25" barrel in 90 degree heat yesterday maybe 10-15 seconds between shots in groups of five. Never too hot to hold closer to muzzle end but uncomfortable for more than 10-15 seconds closer to the bolt.

Any real proof/facts to share? Laurie, Alex, Ben, Donovan, Boyd, Jay, +++?

 

[watercam]

If you are referring to Benchrest I have no idea. That said
High Power/F-Class shooters habitually shoot 22+ shot strings in less than 22 minutes (15 or so minutes seems to be an average) with barrels way too hot to touch and still hammer. Depending upon caliber barrels usually last from 1200 (6.5-284) to 3000+ (.308) to 4000+ rounds (.223).

 

[BenPerfected]

I used to put a temperature strip on every barrel. I liked to keep the max temp between 120-140 degrees. Today, I seldom shoot enough rounds in a sitting to exceed 140. Without much proof, keeping the temp in a range may be more important that absolute temp. When prairie dog hunting we soaked wet towels in the cooler. The cooler was for mostly....water?
Ben

 

[pirate ammo]

If your at a match and got X amount of time how can you worry about barrel temps...

The cooler was for mostly....water

YEA,,WATER

 

[BenPerfected]

At a match, good way to manage barrel temps is the Barrel Cool

The Original BarrelCool
Your Barrel's New Best Friend
A chamber flag with an integrated fan to cool your barrel. Cuts cooling time in half compared to regular convection, and the Caution Yellow paintjob complies with approved chamber flag color standards.

Keep your barrel cool, and your shots on target. Great for cold bore mapping, competition shooting, or any day at the range.
Manufactured in the USA.

 

[MikeT49]

Some info on using your hands as temperature measuring devices: Back when I was a Nuc EM in Uncle Sam's Canoe Club we were trained to use our hands for checking motors, pump's, etc for overheating. If you couldn't hold your hand on a motor even for a nano second then it was 160F or above. If you could only hold your hand on it for several seconds, then it was below 160F but above 140F. If it felt freaking hot but you could keep your hands on indefinitely, it was below 140F. We of course had to verify it with hockem pucky and popsicle thermometers. Turns out it was very useful. Now, if you have fingers like pickles and calluses a 1/4" thick, might not work so good. If you want to calibrate your hands, then fill a tall glass with water and add a thermometer. Nuc it in in the micro. Check with your hands as temp increases. Viola!
On another topic. I have been running the BarrelCool devices for a year or so. I have some useful information on using them. Don't want to hijack this thread, but I can post it here if it's OK with the OP.
Edit: The hands are good for quick and dirty swag at the temperature. I actually have installed temp strips, no guessing. New member here. I'm actually a virgin on this forum stuff, never joined a forum. Excuse me if I am a smidge ignorant. Ignorance can be cured, stupidity not so much. When I figure it out how to start a new thread, I will start one on the BarrelCool device and say hello. Also, hopefully someone chimes in on this thread with info on actual temperature information.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Extreme heat causes way more damage than big groups