Cold bore shots?

[Texas solo]

I'm wondering how the masses here set up their rifles....to include or not include the cold bore shot(s)? I have about a 1" difference between cold/warm shots. I know it's no big deal in a Coyote rifle @100yds, but maybe that first shot will be @ 300yds.

Theory #1) I'll always be shooting game on a cold bore, so the first shot is most important. Good theory if I only plan on shooting one Coyote per hunt.

Theory #2) I'll probably shoot more than once, so why not sight in with a warm barrel? Clean rifle at range and fire off a fouling shot before leaving? (this leads to another question)

Theory #3) I like to shoot a lot, and nothing gets me a stiffy like the .299" group I shot yesterday (well, almost nothing else) That kind of group is impossible including the "fouling" shots. I probably shoot 50 rounds at the range for every shot I take hunting.

So assuming that everyone sees a difference between warm/cold....fouled/non fouled bores, what do you do??

Is my 1" (@ 100yds.) difference due to a cold/warm bore, or a fouled/non fouled bore?

FYI....I see the same situation with either my Rem R15 or my Savage bolt gun. Shooting hand loads with AA2230, Win brass, Nosler 55gr BT. OAL is mag length, and FPS is 3100. Both rifles will shoot under 1/2MOA with this load....if I do my part. Is there something in my load that I can change to lessen the effect of cold/warm - fouled/non fouled discrepancy?

Thanks for any insight the neighborhood ballistic experts can offer up.

 

[Ro_Bird]

Re: Cold bore shots?

Both my M24, SR25 and SPR all tend to shoot low, Anywheres from 1 to 3 MOA for clean and cold bore. Each rifle is different and yours will be too but it always seem to take a few rounds for my guns to foul up and start grouping again, about 10rnds(m24)to 15rnds(SR25/SPR).

Now as for just cold bore shots, none of my rifles seem to give any deviation that’s worth worrying about. I think cold shooter is more of an issue for me but there some guns out there that do have a cold bore deviation.

Just log it your data book so you'll remember or just don’t clean your rifles, that what I do.

 

[Matt.Cross]

Re: Cold bore shots?

Ancient Chinese Proverb say:

There are no cold bore shots, only cold shooters.


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This PSA brought to you by a student of the Snipers Hide Online Training section.

 

[Texas solo]

Re: Cold bore shots?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: RoBird</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
just don’t clean your rifles, that what I do.
</div></div>

I'm leaning toward it being a clean/fouled bore thing. I've only gotten serious with these rifles in the last few months, and here in South Texas, there are no "cold" bores. Triple digit heat and no rain for 3 months has it's effects. So by "cold", I meant about 100+ degrees ambient temp.

I have considered leaving the bore fouled, but it drives me nuts. I'm going to the range Friday with a cold/clean bore. I'll document each shot. Then, leave the bore fouled and go next week, repeating the documentation. This should be fun, not to mention valuable knowledge to have. I wonder how many rounds it will take to start grouping again?????

Thanks for the reply.

 

[Timo Turl]

Re: Cold bore shots?

watch and learn

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3UZ-mApuUoM

 

[Ro_Bird]

Re: Cold bore shots?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: TJ.</div><div class="ubbcode-body">watch and learn

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3UZ-mApuUoM </div></div>

Yeah this video pretty much nails my experience with the cold vs. hot bore. I think 98% of the time is just cold shooter. But clean vs. fouled is a different story.

 

[KNIGHT11B4]

Re: Cold bore shots?

Clean vs fouled can have an effect on the rifle. Which is another reason that you should not clean until accuracy degrades.

Follow how your rifle acts in your log/dope book, hell, thats what they are made for. Log shots, note when accuracy degrades. Then you know know what it expect from your rifle.

Different rifles (barrels) can react differently to being cleaned vs fouled. With my current Bartlein barrel / GA build I can cant honestly notice a difference worth worrying about in my clean bore shot.

Now cold shooter is an entirely different story. The good news is that with proper execution of fundamentals (takes practice)... it does not have to be a part of your shooting.

...IMO of course.

 

[BCP]

Re: Cold bore shots?

I would say that if your clean/cold shot is within an inch @ 100 then you're good. If you're worried about it then shoot it at the range until it's shooting the way you want and then take it hunting without cleaning it. Once accuracy starts going down give it a thorough cleaning and start over.

 

[battlestick]

Re: Cold bore shots?

I go hunting with a dirty/cold bore, never a clean/cold bore.

Make note of your dirty/cold bore shots. Make that adjustment on your scope when you go hunting.