Varminter hunters using mirage shield

[K9TXS]

Interesting
What does the military use for wrap ?

Not really sure. My son's a pilot in the 101st Airborne and he sent me a photo not too long ago showing a group of soldiers in his helicopter as they were leaving. I could only see a couple of the long guns and one had something that looked like burlap. The other one had nothing but a paint job.

 

[chuckshooter]

When shooting Pdogs this July with 5spd, it was so hot our guns would not cool down, it didn't take long before everyone in the group was dipping a towel in the ice chest and cooling our barrels. 5spd had his spray bottle next to his bench, so he could keep his wrap wet. you have to do something and this worked, as far as a change in point of impact, hard to tell when shooting at dogs.

 

[chuckshooter]

I did set a new distance record, 5spd do you remember the distance?

 

[K9TXS]

When shooting Pdogs this July with 5spd, it was so hot our guns would not cool down, it didn't take long before everyone in the group was dipping a towel in the ice chest and cooling our barrels. 5spd had his spray bottle next to his bench, so he could keep his wrap wet. you have to do something and this worked, as far as a change in point of impact, hard to tell when shooting at dogs.

I agree. I'm shooting a 20 vartarg and I think for PD and Sage Rats it will be great. In the next week or so I plan on do some test as mentioned earlier. I think the results will be good.

 

[5spd]

I did set a new distance record, 5spd do you remember the distance?

It just hit me.....than was just to darn funny. Gimmie that gun one is attacking us at 13 yards.

 

[CT10ring]

You are varmint shooting. Not hunting. Don't use a heat shield. Bring 2-3 rifles. toss a wet towel on the bbl. It's not going to rust. Shoot thru the mirage. and open the action, set it upright. wrap a towel on the bbl, then pick up rifle #2. then #3. Don't overthink it. sir. . that is - throw a damp piece of fabric on your barrel.

 

[CT10ring]

I use a barrel wrap I made, I keep it wet with a spray bottle for mirage and heat. I shoot many thousands of Pdogs yearly and have yet to see a better way for what/how I shoot them. Ive run 30-40 round strings and have not had the barrel HOT, warm sure, but that wetness draws heat fast and no issues with mirage due to barrel heat ever.
OK here it is. Just a cotton t-shirt, doubled up, sewed, then folded over and gave a bottom sew, double your sewing so it dont tear, split it at your forend, sew edges and its done. Worried about looks...who cares it just works!
Its split right at the forearm and then slids under the scope, Velcro strip to strap it around the chamber, wet down and go shooting. Make sure you have a spray bottle and wet it when you start to see it dry out. I use up a gallon of water per day of p-doggong if its hot & sunny.

yes. ditto, nailed it.

 

[AckleymanII]

We kept things simple. New or used 200 yard benchrest targets, cut in 3" strips, using masking tape or duct tape, make to length as you want. Curl a piece of tape to stick to the barrel and mirage shield. Later on, we used double stick velcro on the mirage shields....never left home with out them, along with simple wind flags. Shooting p.dogs and chucks with out a wind flag was like shooting in the blind.

Wind flag= 42" x1/4" steel rod-drilled to accept bicycle spoke-bend end 90*, 1/2" yarn-24" length= very effective wind dope.

We have cooled barrels by using water down the bore since 1987, no bad results on SS and chrome moly barrels.

 

[AckleymanII]

I like 3-3.5" wide

 

[CT10ring]

never used a mirage shield. or a wind flag.
Just a bipod, +TAB rear bags.
When my barrel gets hot, I drop damp towel on it, or blow over it.
yup, works.
Then rifle 2. then 3.
mirage, grass waving, and more tell all needed. Spot your misses. Well, for me. Good fun, however done. . "Keep it simple", my motto. Since I am... holding off 5' is 1/2 the challenge.

 

[K9TXS]

We have cooled barrels by using water down the bore since 1987, no bad results on SS and chrome moly barrels.

I agree. I use to shoot a 45-70 and used black powder. After about 5 shots, a soaking wet patch went down the bore, sometimes another. It was followed up by maybe 3 dry patches. If the last patch came out showed or felt the least bit damp, one last patch would follow.

I just haven't used this method yet on my newer rifles, but will soon.

 

[fantastic]

I've been doing some checking online and have found some interesting information on the shields.

Here's an interesting one from AccurateShooter, August 2014. Not sure how accurate the photo in the article is, but is interesting.

Thanks a lot for this.