Barrel Temp - How Hot is Too Hot

[pdufren]

How hot do you guys let your barrels get before letting them cool down?  I just started shooting a VLP in 22-250 and it seems to get really hot after 10-15 shots.  How far/fast can I push it without doing permanent damage? 

[Armed in Utah]

Something has to give...38-40 grs of powder burning down a 224 bore size...slow it down some...place an ice cold wet rag/sock over the top of the barrel...I even keep my cleaning solvents 'on ice' in the summer during dog shoots...stand the rifle safely upright with bolt open...air will suck through barrel like a chimney...have a spare rifle to shoot...a 223......... :laugh:

[Hammer]

Don't worry about getting a barrel too hot.

If you ruin one, Northlander will sell you another.

.

[outlawkyote]

  10-15 shots?
  You prolly already have done damage. I try to stop befor 7 shots when the weather is nice but when its hot, I never go past 5.

[Carvera]

I try to stop befor 7 shots when the weather is nice but when its hot, I never go past 5.

What rifle are you shooting? You are way nicer to your barrels than I ever will be, to me that doesn't seem like that much shooting at all to be worried about?

With that rate of stoppage, you would need at least 5-6 rifles on an active prairie dog town. Seems like you would be doing more "watching" than actual "shooting".

[Hammer]

A serious prairie dog hunter wouldn't leave the house with less than a dozen rifles and 5,000 rounds of ammo.

If he was going to stay a second day...

[MDHOGGER]

I use a funnel with a piece of vinyl tubing stuck on the end. Then pour about a quart of ice water down the barrel until the barrel is cool on the outside. Follow up with a bore snake to get out any water, though most of it will evaporate anyway. Then you ready to go at it again.

[Eric in NC]

If you can't put your hand on the barrel it is too hot - that being said I violate the rule all the time for competition or shooting varmints.

That is why they make replacement barrels and other guns (bring several to the range and a couple out when shooting varmints - nothing you can do about competition).

I REALLY disagree with the quick cool down methods mentioned (ice water etc.) - good way to get a check or crazing in the bore (my opinion only of course).

[outlawkyote]

I try to stop befor 7 shots when the weather is nice but when its hot, I never go past 5.

What rifle are you shooting? You are way nicer to your barrels than I ever will be, to me that doesn't seem like that much shooting at all to be worried about?

With that rate of stoppage, you would need at least 5-6 rifles on an active prairie dog town. Seems like you would be doing more "watching" than actual "shooting".

 

The last time I went for an extended PD hunt (specificly PDs) I had 8 rifles in my truck with Everything from 22lr to 300win mag. The 22-243's would be hot after only 4 shots while the 223's would extend the shooting to about 10 shots but, the cartridge in question here is the 22-250. My 22-250 would only go 5-7 shots depending on how cool it was able to get between rifle rotations. I dont ice my barrels, I just set them on bipods under the truck (out of the sun) till they cool naturally.
  Ive been in some towns that I had to rely on my 22lr to extend my shooting time because all the other rifles were too hot to shoot.
  With the AC running in the truck, I can get more shooting time by keeping the hot rifles inside the vehicle. Considering the cost of fuel, Im going to have to start packing more rifles next trip.

[CJ in WY]

Here @ 5000' the sun can easily take a barrel to 200 degrees and it don't take long to get there with a blued barrel! Like Owtlaw and Armed I try to have a few guns along and rely on the 22lr as much as possible. Standing them barrel up with the bolt open in the shade seams to cool them the fastest but laying them on the bi-pod so the wind blowes into the chamber works too.I've tried the wet sock over the barrels and it work but tends to make a mess, have tried CO2 to cool them too but to me it cools them to fast. Cleaning them is another good way to slow down the round count and prolong the barrel life.Every 50 rounds is my personal goal but not always what I do.
Keeping them from being too hot to touch is very safe but there really isn't a good way to tell other than round count...To me 10-15 is too many if you are shooting with any speed at all. Had a rookie along doggin a few years ago that had a 22-250. We advised him to bring more than one gun and to keep his round count below 20 shots/hour. He didn't listen in either case and that brand new Sako went from one fine shootin gun to not being able to hit the mounds in one foolish afternoon!
If I've got a great shooting gun I'll make sure it doesn't get overshot but my average shooting units get abused on a regular basis...Surprizingly they seam to take it alright-sure the total life of the barrel is diminished but that gives me an excuse to re-barrel to something that does shoot great.
How hot is too hot??? There are way too many variable to answer that definitely but if you got a great shooter play it safe and use the too hot to touch rule(in the shade). If your looking to re-barrel anyway have at it, it might surprise you how many rounds a hot barrel can take if cleaned properly?

[MDHOGGER]

Alot of good info on the subject. One of the members is a metallurgist that has developed heat resistant alloys. See what he says about using water to cool barrels.

[pdufren]

Alot of good info on the subject. One of the members is a metallurgist that has developed heat resistant alloys. See what he says about using water to cool barrels.

Where can I find Go Go Varmint?

[MDHOGGER]

Check out at www.varminthunters/forum.com

[MrFurious]

Alot of good info on the subject. One of the members is a metallurgist that has developed heat resistant alloys. See what he says about using water to cool barrels.

Yeah, those heat resistant alloys are known as unobtanium.  lol