##Cooling Method for barrels##

[rsplante]

I have seen benchrest shooters at the range using air mattress pumps to blow cooling air through their barrels between shots. Thinking of load development and also cooling the barrel between rounds of competition, I followed suit. It works ok, other than the heckling I get from Range Officers. (The high pitched whine sounds like a vaccuum cleaner) But, being an engineer, and wanting to build a better mousetrap, I attempted to improve on this idea.

I took a 2 gallon Igloo type cooler and put a ten foot coil of copper tubing inside with fittings exiting the side. I then filled the cooler with ice water and it worked like a charm to provide cool air. Only one problem, a big one, it was condensing humidity out of the air and producing liquid water in the air stream. Not ideal for a gun barrel to say the least.

I considered the idea of some sort of inline air dryer; however, that would reduce an already limited air flow. Maybe I just need a more powerful blower; but that means a larger battery, higher cost, etc. I don't want this to turn into a $300 project (unless absolutely necessary.)

Then I heard somewhere that there were indeed commercial barrel coolers "out there." I have heard of rumors such as using a stream of gaseous nitrogen that has recently been liquid (VERY cold), I have heard of using CO2. I have so far been unsuccessful in finding any advanced barrel coolers for sale anywhere. Does anyone know of someone selling one?

 

[KUSA]

Lay a wet/damp towel on the barrel. Its cheap and it works.

Sent from my Galaxy S3 using Tapatalk 2.

 

[Just Macca]

Make like a WW2 machine gunner and urinate on it...?

 

[oldfatguy]

Wouldn't a cool barrel make every shot close to being a cold bore shot? Using a timer to wait 2 minutes between shots works for me.

OFG

 

[memyselfi]

FWIW , I've seen a guy at the local range using "canned air" ( computer or electronics cleaner ). He fired a string of 5 shots then sprayed the bore. No clue on effects.

 

[pawprint2]

I don't think you need to worry about the condensation, as the tube is much hotter than the ambient air temp, not to mention water[that from the condensation, not adding water], even very small amounts, it one of natures best 'coolers'. The ambient air is humid, has water present, even if you don't blow through the tube. My question isn't about accuracy-as much as it is about tube life. In your research have practitioners of 'barrel cooling' experienced longer tube life? And if so, how much are they reporting?

 

[Sniper Uncle]

If you were going to use water like you say, you want to be sure it is either condensation or distilled water, as tap water many places has chlorine in it, and will promote rust very quickly. Condensation from the air is essentially distilled water, so not so big a worry there.

 

[el gordo2]

I do most of my shooting at my own private range and have a lot of conveinences and shoot indoors and out. There I use a small electric blower or CO2 to cool barrels down if needed between strings. I can also use a air conditioned environment to place to them in while rotating through a session.


Don't know if something is available now but the little CO2 cartridges for airguns or small paintball CO2 tanks might be able to be adapted to work in barrel cooling. That would be inexspensive and portable to use.

 

[bjay]

I just remov bolt let it sit 10min after every 5shot.. ive seen so much guys making it more complicated

 

[[email protected]]

Don't laugh it works awesome! AC adapted mattress pump I had at my house, connected with a sock to AC in car (gets rid of moisture) by paper clamps, sprayer hose connected to bore guide! I shoot at my ranch so im always like 3 feet from my car so it works really well.

 

[Sniper Uncle]

I should say that would work well..... I wish i could have my car closer to the shooting station!

 

[rsplante]

Wouldn't a cool barrel make every shot close to being a cold bore shot? Using a timer to wait 2 minutes between shots works for me.

OFG

That might work for my practice shooting, or even load development (though somewhat inconvenient, last ladder test I shot 60 shots), but it wouldn't help much with competition. we shoot 20 rounds and then have about 10 minutes before repeating twice more. In Houston, ambient temp. can easily be 100 degF. That, even when moving through a barrel, doesn't do a whole lot for cooling.

 

[rsplante]

I don't think you need to worry about the condensation, as the tube is much hotter than the ambient air temp, not to mention water[that from the condensation, not adding water], even very small amounts, it one of natures best 'coolers'. The ambient air is humid, has water present, even if you don't blow through the tube. My question isn't about accuracy-as much as it is about tube life. In your research have practitioners of 'barrel cooling' experienced longer tube life? And if so, how much are they reporting?

I'll have to ask them about tube life. I wasn't thinking about that since LaRue claims a 10K barrel life; however, I know that the benchresters usually change barrels every season. I actually wasn't worried about corrosion since it is a stainless barrel, I was more worried about any obstruction. Having experienced a Kaboom first hand (I blew up a Glock 22 doing fire lapping without backing off on the charge, OOPS) tends to make one a little gunshy, pardon the pun.

 

[slm9s]

I used the mattress pump w/ 1 foot of surgical tubing and it worked on a 338BAR I was doing load testing for before elk season once. You DO get a few questions from the other shooters, but most seem to think its a good idea. If the pump was supported above a pool of ice water in a cooler it would work even better if it was hot outside. But, if the ambient temp is less than 70 degrees, I'm not sure its worth the effort. And around here, that means its not worth the effort except in July.

 

[oldfatguy]

That might work for my practice shooting, or even load development (though somewhat inconvenient, last ladder test I shot 60 shots), but it wouldn't help much with competition. we shoot 20 rounds and then have about 10 minutes before repeating twice more. In Houston, ambient temp. can easily be 100 degF. That, even when moving through a barrel, doesn't do a whole lot for cooling.

The 2 minutes between shots is how I shoot OCW work ups. Usually ~30 rounds so the time isn't bad.

Comps are different. We shoot 30 rounds in 16 to 20 minutes and the barrel does get pretty hot. I see where you'd want a more aggressive cooling method if you were going to shoot another string or two.

OFG

 

[wchartz]

I keep a Thermos of ice water, a six ounce squirt bottle, bore guide, cleaning rod and patches handy. If I want to shoot a lot of rounds quickly I usually shoot 10 then squirt about 6 oz. of ice water down the bore using the bore guide, then run three dry patches down the barrel. Vary the amount of water according to the temperature of the barrel and the weight of the barrel. Don't get the barrel much if any below ambient temperature. I have done this many times on various barrels without negative effects. The first shot out of the cooled barrel is almost always in the group in a production barrel and always in the group with a custom barrel.

 

[Rob01]

Wow! Just WOW on this thread. Just shoot the rifle. I would never put anything down my bore at a match especially water. People worry way too much about barrel cooling. Barrels are meant to be shot. Wait a few minutes between shots if you want but I wouldn't shoot or pour anything down the bore. We have shot 20 rounds in 60 seconds at matches and then packed up and head to another stage. Don't worry about cooling the barrels.

 

[RTK]

rob01, if you shot that sequence with something like a 220 swift or 22-250AI running stout loads here in kalifornia on a 100* day your throat would no longer be in the same place. I know first hand.......Sometimes you find a really good little squirrel population that needs thinning.
I "doubt" water would hurt because you are shooting right after and it would probably evaporate in short order after running a patch through, but I have never tried it so.........................

 

[wchartz]

I would not fool with water down the barrel at a match. I do this at my range when I want to test a lot of loads in a short period of time. Heat and pressure are the enemies of barrel life. I can control the heat. If you don't like this method then don't do it. It works for me and I have had no negative effects in ten years of doing it on many barrels.

 

[KNIGHT11B4]

Shoot it and when it is shot out... replace it.

If your this worried about barrel life and heat effects, you are in the wrong hobby or at a minimum you need to change calibers to something that has the velocity of the speed of smell.

 

[Creature]

A fan. The wet rag thing sounded like it would work. Could probably even put some ice in it. I just wait a few minutes. If I'm shooting at a bunch of prairie dogs and need to shoot a lot I just bring multiple rifles and cycle through them.

I'm not putting ANYTHING down the barrel when I'm trying to shoot consistently. Maybe I'm too superstitious but I've always found it easier to be more consistent with a fouled bore than with a clean bore.

 

[Temp9]

Wow! Just WOW on this thread. Just shoot the rifle. I would never put anything down my bore at a match especially water. People worry way too much about barrel cooling. Barrels are meant to be shot. Wait a few minutes between shots if you want but I wouldn't shoot or pour anything down the bore. We have shot 20 rounds in 60 seconds at matches and then packed up and head to another stage. Don't worry about cooling the barrels.

Finally, some sense! Shoot the barrel to your heart's desire, and rebarrel or set back when it's done. Obviously, no need to abuse the barrel unnecessarily, but no need to set up cooling systems either.

 

[Rob01]

rob01, if you shot that sequence with something like a 220 swift or 22-250AI running stout loads here in kalifornia on a 100* day your throat would no longer be in the same place. I know first hand.......Sometimes you find a really good little squirrel population that needs thinning.
I "doubt" water would hurt because you are shooting right after and it would probably evaporate in short order after running a patch through, but I have never tried it so.........................

It was shot in 105 degree TX weather with a .243. Throat didn't go anywhere. Could it if you shot it over and over? Sure but I have been shooting precision rifles for 20 years and matches for 10 never found the need to cool a barrel by pouring anything down it or wrapping anything around it.

Wchartz, all the power to you. Just giving my opinion and experiences as others have. I am just saying I wouldn't do it.

 

[RTK]

I have to admit it was my fault, I knew better but got a little overly excited and ran about 20-30 rounds one after the other through my 22-250AI when a pack of rabid squirrels were attacking. They were pretty stout loads to boot. As time has gone by I no longer try to eek out every last bit of speed from my guns.

 

[P7id10t]

I have seen benchrest shooters at the range using air mattress pumps to blow cooling air through their barrels between shots. Thinking of load development and also cooling the barrel between rounds of competition, I followed suit. It works ok, other than the heckling I get from Range Officers. (The high pitched whine sounds like a vaccuum cleaner) But, being an engineer, and wanting to build a better mousetrap, I attempted to improve on this idea.

I took a 2 gallon Igloo type cooler and put a ten foot coil of copper tubing inside with fittings exiting the side. I then filled the cooler with ice water and it worked like a charm to provide cool air. Only one problem, a big one, it was condensing humidity out of the air and producing liquid water in the air stream. Not ideal for a gun barrel to say the least.

I considered the idea of some sort of inline air dryer; however, that would reduce an already limited air flow. Maybe I just need a more powerful blower; but that means a larger battery, higher cost, etc. I don't want this to turn into a $300 project (unless absolutely necessary.)

Then I heard somewhere that there were indeed commercial barrel coolers "out there." I have heard of rumors such as using a stream of gaseous nitrogen that has recently been liquid (VERY cold), I have heard of using CO2. I have so far been unsuccessful in finding any advanced barrel coolers for sale anywhere. Does anyone know of someone selling one?

Don't remember your Thermo, eh? The condensate you worry about will be in the copper tubing. If it's too much, like you shoot in LA or MS, then use a condensate trap which should be easy to add to the copper tubing. Once inside your barrel, any moisture will be partial pressure due to the high dew point you'll have inside.

I'm glad I've never seen one of those at the range. If I were to do it, I would just use ambient air and definitely NOT cold shot or canned CO2. Too much thermal differential can give you a thermal shock to your barrel which can induce warpage. It's how I used to bend tubes of 4 x 8 x 3/8" wall steel for machinery: induce heat, quench, repeat. You're not heating to 1400°F, but all it takes is 0°0.5' of warpage to ruin your accuracy.

 

[Pinecone]

If the barrel is warm, no condensation in the barrel, as the air will heat up and the RH will go down.

In fact, if you cool the air in ice water bath, the air will be close to 100% RH at the point it leaves the ice water. From there to the breech, the air will warm some, so RH will go down also.

 

[captcoop]

My buddy uses ice water on a towel between strings . Works good

 

[rsplante]

... Too much thermal differential can give you a thermal shock to your barrel which can induce warpage...

I hear you! No, I definately don't want to do that, but I feel comfortable with the relatively low temperature differentials I'm dealing with. I haven't checked, but the starting barrel temp is probably well below 160 degF and even the cool air I am producing is probably in the 40-50 degF range, so probably a 100 degF temp diff max.

As for those that question the need for barrel cooling, maybe you are right; however, as my scores degrade by the third round of 20, several of the top competitors (including a 2X 600-59X shooter) told me that it is the change in barrel temp that is biting me in the butt. That may or may not be my problem; but, on my load development, there is absolutely no hesitancy in my mind as to the need to remove barrel temp as a variable (to the extent possible).