Barrel fans, do they work?

C

Chips26

Private
Minuteman
Jun 11, 2019
68
33
#1
So right now I'm shooting a Howa .243 in a bravo chassis and a form 1 Ti suppressor. Unfortunately it's the stock Sporter barrel and on a hot day I can get 3 shots at most from cold before the heat starts to walk it. Same goes true after it's warm but then it starts to walk at 2 shots. When its hot its definitely too hot to touch.
I've tried the wet towel on the barrel but didn't see much difference.
It still groups well when it's hot for the 2-3 shots but POI is all over the place with the groups.
 
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#2
These work better, are 1/5th the price, and don't annoy the shit out of everyone

eb6050e1-087f-415d-8637-a0b278014e4b_1.d1e77f10b67bfcf44fc27962bb1fdc1d.jpeg
 
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#3
I say this because it happened to me, but it may be you and not the hot barrel. Get someone else that can shoot consistent 1/2 inch groups to make sure you're not the variable. After a few rounds your body becomes aware of the recoil and you'll start to move the gun while you squeeze the trigger.
 
#4
sleeplz said:
I say this because it happened to me, but it may be you and not the hot barrel. Get someone else that can shoot consistent 1/2 inch groups to make sure you're not the variable. After a few rounds your body becomes aware of the recoil and you'll start to move the gun while you squeeze the trigger.
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It needs a good 20 minutes to get cold again. I've tried different wait times between strings and also had my buddy shoot it. He had the same problem. I've also noticed shooting it in winter itll do 5 shots before it goes to shit, and the wait time was lower.

Then again I may be asking too much of it, being a hot, fast load in a sporter barrel.
 
#7
Just started using a magnetospeed riflekuhl and had it out for some load dev a couple weeks ago. It definitely seemed to help between strings by reducing the wait time. I removed the filter to get more air flow, some guys think that will put more debris in, but if it’s windy and your bolt is open it’s going to get junk in there, I leave the plastic piece in so no little pebbles can make it through
 
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#8
One way to cool that barrel quickly, remove the can, and place some clear rubber tubing that's connected to a funnel. Place the tubing in your chamber, as far as you can, until it hits the lands. Point the gun to the ground, the muzzle pointing down. Then pour some cool water into the funnel. that will cool that barrel so freaking fast, it is amazing. Then run several dry patches to remove any excess water... Now you will have a clean barrel each time, which may or may not hurt your accuracy.

I do this on hot days when I need to do some ammo testing. It works really well
 
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#9
The magnetospeed barrel kuler ( I think that’s how they spell it) works great. The sound is annoying though. It sounds like a drone buzzing around my rifle. 5 minutes and the barrel is cool enough to touch.

It doubles up as a chamber flag, so I’ll run it when the range is cold.
 
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#11
Bought a Rifle Kuhl last week, used it first time yesterday....

I was shooting 5 round groups load testing.

Ran the fan for timed 5 minutes between groups.

It gave me some small amount of comfort thinking barrel conditions were consistent between groups.

Did it really though?

I dont know, but as Varmint is as thin as my barrels get, it probably doesnt matter.

For $50 though Ive pissed more money away on less useful things.
 
#12
How hot is hot?

I run a Deviant tactical and a bartlein m24 in 6.5, and shoot quite rapidly at range sessions, practicing match scenarios. In the CA heat I have measured 150 degrees F on the barrel with a cheap ir gauge after the strings. I have seen no accuracy degradation, and with back to back 10 round strings it does not get beyond 130-150.
 
#14
Seems the review of those fan does not work that well or meet the expectation.

I just use one of this kind of USB fan, plug to a power bank to cool down the action/barrel, only cost me less than $3

 
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#16
seansmd said:
How hot is hot?

I run a Deviant tactical and a bartlein m24 in 6.5, and shoot quite rapidly at range sessions, practicing match scenarios. In the CA heat I have measured 150 degrees F on the barrel with a cheap ir gauge after the strings. I have seen no accuracy degradation, and with back to back 10 round strings it does not get beyond 130-150.
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Too hot to touch. I'd get a new barrel but if I go that route I'll just build a more range friendly rifle in a different caliber.
 
#17
Chips26 said:
Too hot to touch. I'd get a new barrel but if I go that route I'll just build a more range friendly rifle in a different caliber.
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As an engineer I bristle at stuff like that, I worked for a chef when I was a kid that could handle hot pans through a life of conditioning.

But i get it, my barrel has been to hot to touch sitting in the CA dessert sun not bring fired.
 
#18
seansmd said:
As an engineer I bristle at stuff like that, I worked for a chef when I was a kid that could handle hot pans through a life of conditioning.

But i get it, my barrel has been to hot to touch sitting in the CA dessert sun not bring fired.
Click to expand...

In the heat of summer out in the sun in eastern Washington barrels get hot just getting in position.

I used to drape them with wet rags.
 
#20
three years with electronic ear muffs and not a problem one with it have not tried the barrel fans yet have seen a few people with them and they say they like them not sure why I would not , and at 50.00 . For maybe helping the life of my barrel , that is not that much to pay if it works not that i am cracking off shots one after another in rapid succession . I usually try and enjoy the day and take my time . have also tried a wet towel cheap and it sort of worked it just kept trying to get high .
 
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#26
just browsing said:
The Kestrel says Riflekuhl and Chamber Chiller put out almost exactly the same amount of air...

And even if they didn’t, the noise wouldn’t be worth the difference.
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Most Kestrels only measure speed, not volume of airflow. I ran them side by side, and the RifleKuhl definitely works better than the Chamber Chiller.
 
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#28
Who bitches about a battery operated fan running when we are running precision rifles with brakes and hearing protection?

I'm not turning off my fan between rounds. The noise level generated by a barrel fan is likely 100 dB lower than a round going off or even a case hitting the ground. I'm not getting the fact that folks are annoyed or compromised by a tiny fan running on a firing line. They work. Don't like it - don't run one. But I'm not turning mine off or leaving it home.

VooDoo
 
#29
Apparently with electronic hearing protection they can cause interference. I've never used one and have never seen one used so I could be wrong.

Some cell phones cause interference in my electronic ears too.
 
#34
Hollywood 6mm said:
It also pushes less air than the Magnetospeed - by a large margin. I've had both, and I can live with the noise. The Magnetospeed is also a lot more compact and durable.
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I've had both as well and decided I liked the chamber chiller better.. Ill agree that the Kuhl feels more durable but I've yet to have a problem with the Chiller.
 
#35
JLP.Payette said:
I've had both as well and decided I liked the chamber chiller better.. Ill agree that the Kuhl feels more durable but I've yet to have a problem with the Chiller.
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Unfortunately, I managed to break 3 of the Chamber Chillers with 3d printed nozzles in about 9 months. I've had a RifleKuhl since last fall and have yet to have any issues with it.
 
#38
davsco said:
fans and electronic hearing protection do NOT work well together, please, no fans!
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Use some good hearing protection and it won't matter... ;-)

Seriously, though, after shooting with custom-molded plugs for years, I bought a set of Pro Ears Pro Tac Slim Gold(™ ) and tried them. One round was all it took to get me to remove them and go back to the custom-molded plugs. It was seriously "holy shit" loud, and I really don't understand how anyone could use them as their primary hearing protection.
 
#40
newguy2k3v2 said:
Crazy glue works ok as long as you don't glue yourself to yourself or the chiller. I'd be perfectly happy with it if the nozzle wasnt so fragile. I'll probably pick up a riflekuhl at some point
Click to expand...

I tried that, and it didn't last long. I think he's got someone injection molding the nozzles now, which should help with durability, but even then they're significantly larger than a RK, need more for power (either 4x AAs or a USB battery pack), and don't push as much air.
 
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