Firing Rate and Heat Bulletin

[foxguy]

Accurate Shooter Bulletin

Firing Rate and Heat - How to Kill a Barrel in One Afternoon??

Interesting, I shoot F-Class, We typically Shoot 22-25 rounds per Target in succession, although we have 20 mins to complete, we will usually complete in appx 12 - 14 mins. the barrels do get pretty hot. Then we take a shooting break while our shooting partner shoots their 20-25 rounds with us scoring their round. This does give our rifles a cool down period. We will do this 3 times completing the rounds and shooting/scoring 3 F-Class Targets, So, we typically shoot appx 70 shots without cleaning.

After, returning home from the shoot I always try and give the rifle a good cleaning via Bore Tech Eliminator patching, & brass brushing the barrel until the patches come out clean.

I have shoot about a dozen F-Class rounds.

Yes, I have bore scoped my rifle and saw the fire cracking in my barrel. I probably have 1700 rounds thru the barrel (6MM BR). The last time out shooting a F-Class round (600 yds) I shot a 199,200, & 197 w 31 X's.
This is a Savage F-Class rifle, and their barrels are known for copper fouling, Still seems to shoot pretty well.

We really don't have time between rounds for cleaning.

I find this an interesting topic.

 

[ebb]

Seems like with the current state of shortages and expense of components and barrels the powers that be would eliminate some of the rapid-fire shots and help keep this sport going and affordable.

 

[Dgd6mm]

What powder in your 6br to you load?
Do you polish the throat and bore?

 

[K22]

The fire sequence you stated is part of the sport you choose and supposedly enjoy. Therefore, it is part of the cost of this sport and you should accept than.

At least you are shooting for a purpose. A lot of shooters I see at the range shoot 10 or shot sequences in sustained fired without any purpose in mind that I can ascertain.

 

[Chaotik]

With F class, whether using electronic targets or the manual pull in the pits, there is a delay of ~ 8 seconds between shots. In Long Range Benchrest there is no built in delay or waiting period between shots, and often a competitor can complete the entire shooting sequence much quicker during a certain condition. Also, fans to cool the barrel are not allowed on the line in F class, whereas in Benchrest it is.
I have never burned up a barrel in F class, but ruined a barrel in LRBR by shooting too many sighters and record shots too quickly.

 

[foxguy]

What powder in your 6br to you load?
Do you polish the throat and bore?

Varget. I have used Iosso and JB a time or two, just in the first 6-7 inches. Regular bore cleaning products for the rest of the barrel.

 

[gunsandgunsmithing]

I often fire 20+ rounds in under 10 minutes in short range BR for score shooting comps. In fact, I'm usually done in under 5 minutes. My bbl life is about average overall but I've had barrels that last so well that I'm reluctant to even say on here, and still be very competitive. I don't put much, if any value toward bbl life in this regard, but I danzac coat my own bullets because I can go much, much longer before cleaning. I've gone 400 plus rounds before and won the match on multiple occasions. That's why I coat my bullets. Nothing more and nothing less than it allows me to shoot, easily for a single two yardage grand agg and never see a drop off in accuracy. Much of what we read on the internet is just not the way it is in real life...at least not with all barrels anyway. If you THINK it matters, then it does matter, though...so I'm not advocating going 400 rounds between cleaning but just stating what I've seen and done...that has worked well for me, for several years now.

I do believe powders can make a big difference in how often we need to clean, as can pressures. Higher pressures typically burn a lot cleaner but yes, are harder on barrels.

 

[foxguy]

With F class, whether using electronic targets or the manual pull in the pits, there is a delay of ~ 8 seconds between shots. In Long Range Benchrest there is no built in delay or waiting period between shots, and often a competitor can complete the entire shooting sequence much quicker during a certain condition. Also, fans to cool the barrel are not allowed on the line in F class, whereas in Benchrest it is.
I have never burned up a barrel in F class, but ruined a barrel in LRBR by shooting too many sighters and record shots too quickly.

In LRBR how much time do you have to complete your sighter shots and the Shots for Record.
I'm guessing in LRBR you have 5 shots for record?

 

[JFrank]

In LRBR how much time do you have to complete your sighter shots and the Shots for Record.
I'm guessing in LRBR you have 5 shots for record?

IBS long range ( 1000 yard) light gun is 5 record shots while heavy gun is 10 shots for record. The sighter period starts with 6 minutes then goes to 3 minutes.

 

[Chaotik]

IBS long range ( 1000 yard) light gun is 5 record shots while heavy gun is 10 shots for record. The sighter period starts with 6 minutes then goes to 3 minutes.

I would just add that in Freedom Benchrest you have 10 minutes total for sighters and record shots, and you can go back and forth between sighters and record shots within that 10 minute period.

 

[Ned Ludd]

F-Class is hard on barrels due to the long strings of fire, no doubt about it. I'm sure other disciplines are as well. Nonetheless, barrels are consumable items. That's just the way it is, just like 20+ round strings fired in something like 8 to 15 minutes is typical of an F-Class match. Anyone that wants to win is not worrying about saving barrel life while firing. Instead, they are shooting what the conditions give them. Sure, we can do other things such as using certain cleaning regimens to help promote barrel life. But not when shooting for record during the match. I certainly would like it all if my competition barrels were good for 5000+ rounds, but unfortunately they aren't. Regardless, I'm not worrying about barrel life while shooting for record. I'm trying to get the most out of what the conditions give me. No one can ever know whether the conditions might change for the worse during a string. Thus, pausing simply to let the barrel cool while shooting a record string is not an option. Competing means means competing to win, not trying to do merely "ok" and save some barrel life.

 

[jpjulian]

The way to really toast a barrel quick is during the "Rattle Battle" match during the Highpower phase at Camp Perry. Upwards of 30-40 rounds in 50 seconds from 600. I've seen an Army shooter get off 48 rounds in 50 seconds. Granted, most are 5.56/.223 rounds, but the barrels do get toasty. A total of 384 rounds are fired by 6 shooters and most teams are done firing by the time they leave the 500 yard line, so a total of 100 seconds total for 384 shots.

Considering the fact many F-Class competitors are using some form of a magnum class round, I can understand why some put a temperature strip on their barrels.

 

[dusterdave173]

I had a factory Savage BVSS 223 --As a raw rookie I had it shooting half in groups and took it prairie dogging--fired over 1100 rounds in two days using a wet towel on it to keep it from turning into a branding iron--It got smoking hot and stayed that way. Got home--looked--it appeared to be toast--fire cracked like all get out--BUT--after a solid cleaning with some JB and everything else I had on the shelf--and as bad as the throat looked--It returned to half inch groups right away--I don't know how I could have tortured it any harder and yet it retained all of its previous accuracy
and shot as good as it ever did. Sometimes we worry too much. I am also reminded of a member here that has over 15K rounds on a PD 223 and it still wipes them out every time he goes.
I get it that other larger rounds will be different but from my experience a 223 may wind up looking like snot yet still do its job well YMMV--worry less shoot more boys

 

[Texas Solo]

I use a 28" Schilling barrel on my F Class 223. We shoot 30 rounds in 30 minutes, including unlimited sighters.
I try to use all 30 minutes due to barrel heat but after 12 rds my rifle starts shooting low. Shot #30 I'm usually holding in the 9 ring to hit a 10.
Frustrating as hell.