I just moved down to FL from Upstate NY in the end of February. When I got here I could shoot however I like and had no overheating problems. But now we are getting into the mid 90's down here, and I have never shot in temps like this at all. My barrel literally starts to overheat at around 10 rounds. I do regularly and correctly clean the rifle. I was told that due to the velocity of the .17 HMR that I should treat it like a centerfire. I can hear centerfire guys at the range saying that on days like these it only takes about 10 rounds. But I just want to make sure..is this normal??
Gunsmithing Overheating...(Gunsmith Opinions)
- Thread starter SmallBoreSnipers
- Start date
Re: Overheating..Is This Normal??
Sounds strange to me, what are you quantifying as "overheating"? I know PA doesn't get the temps that FL does, but I shot my old 17 in 90+ heat several times last year and only started to run into problems with barrel heat induced mirage until around shot 30+.
Are your groups opening up or is the mirage getting bad?
Sounds strange to me, what are you quantifying as "overheating"? I know PA doesn't get the temps that FL does, but I shot my old 17 in 90+ heat several times last year and only started to run into problems with barrel heat induced mirage until around shot 30+.
Are your groups opening up or is the mirage getting bad?
Re: Overheating..Is This Normal??
My first group is always the best. Then my rounds start creaping lower and lower. I know that's what it does when it gets too hot. I have to wait and let it cool down before I start firing again. After that I'm good again for maybe 10 rounds.
My first group is always the best. Then my rounds start creaping lower and lower. I know that's what it does when it gets too hot. I have to wait and let it cool down before I start firing again. After that I'm good again for maybe 10 rounds.
Re: Overheating..Is This Normal??
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: SmallBoreSniper</div><div class="ubbcode-body">My first group is always the best. Then my rounds start creaping lower and lower. I know that's what it does when it gets too hot. I have to wait and let it cool down before I start firing again. After that I'm good again for maybe 10 rounds. </div></div>
LOL I have had a couple of rifles with barrels hot enough you could cook eggs on them. Maybe its time to pick up a real rifle. Get a nice custom from one of the builders and you will never look back.
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: SmallBoreSniper</div><div class="ubbcode-body">My first group is always the best. Then my rounds start creaping lower and lower. I know that's what it does when it gets too hot. I have to wait and let it cool down before I start firing again. After that I'm good again for maybe 10 rounds. </div></div>
LOL I have had a couple of rifles with barrels hot enough you could cook eggs on them. Maybe its time to pick up a real rifle. Get a nice custom from one of the builders and you will never look back.
Re: Overheating..Is This Normal??
^ I may have just got myself one. You see, I never used the wire brush in my barrel because I always felt that it was a little too harsh. Not to mention that many say putting a rod down a rimfire rifle is basically the worst thing you can do for it. I run the mops through after some break free and they usually come out pretty gray, and what I considered to be dirty. At this point I felt as though I had nothing to lose. So I ran the wire brush through somewhere between 5 - 10 times. I then ran a mop through. It came out COMPLETELY BLACK.
I've heard many people say that running a rod through a rimfire, especially with a wire brush, is just too hard on it, and that they actually like them a little dirty. Is there any truth to this??
^ I may have just got myself one. You see, I never used the wire brush in my barrel because I always felt that it was a little too harsh. Not to mention that many say putting a rod down a rimfire rifle is basically the worst thing you can do for it. I run the mops through after some break free and they usually come out pretty gray, and what I considered to be dirty. At this point I felt as though I had nothing to lose. So I ran the wire brush through somewhere between 5 - 10 times. I then ran a mop through. It came out COMPLETELY BLACK.
I've heard many people say that running a rod through a rimfire, especially with a wire brush, is just too hard on it, and that they actually like them a little dirty. Is there any truth to this??
Re: Overheating..Is This Normal??
You sure it's the rifle that's the problem? Not trying to be insulting, it's a serious question.
eta: How often are you cleaning?
You sure it's the rifle that's the problem? Not trying to be insulting, it's a serious question.
eta: How often are you cleaning?
Re: Overheating..Is This Normal??
Use a rod and some CR10, no need for a brush, or use some wipeout, also no need for a brush.
Use a rod and some CR10, no need for a brush, or use some wipeout, also no need for a brush.
Re: Overheating..Is This Normal??
I go out about once every two weeks and fire anywhere from 25 - 50 rounds. I clean it every time I get home.
I've heard nothing but good about wipeout. May give that a try. I just have concerns about the long haul with the brush.
I go out about once every two weeks and fire anywhere from 25 - 50 rounds. I clean it every time I get home.
I've heard nothing but good about wipeout. May give that a try. I just have concerns about the long haul with the brush.
Re: Overheating..Is This Normal??
ditch the brush, with the 2 products I listed you dont need anything more than a patch and jag.
ditch the brush, with the 2 products I listed you dont need anything more than a patch and jag.
Re: Overheating..Is This Normal??
Cool. I think I'll try the wipeout. I have a crapload of patches and a jag.
Cool. I think I'll try the wipeout. I have a crapload of patches and a jag.
Re: Overheating..Is This Normal??
Stop cleaning so much, imo. I don't know anyone who cleans a rimfire after 25-50 rounds. I'm sure some here will disagree, but give it a try. Let us know when you notice accuracy falling off measurably, and keep the targets for comparison.
Stop cleaning so much, imo. I don't know anyone who cleans a rimfire after 25-50 rounds. I'm sure some here will disagree, but give it a try. Let us know when you notice accuracy falling off measurably, and keep the targets for comparison.
Re: Overheating..Is This Normal??
Used to shoot my 308 at Paul Bunyan, shot 4 strings of 20 in less than an hour - never had any overheating problems.
Warm yes, fry an egg maybe, but accuracy never dropped...
Sounds like it's time to rebed the stock?
Used to shoot my 308 at Paul Bunyan, shot 4 strings of 20 in less than an hour - never had any overheating problems.
Warm yes, fry an egg maybe, but accuracy never dropped...
Sounds like it's time to rebed the stock?
Re: Overheating..Is This Normal??
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Red_SC</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Stop cleaning so much, imo. I don't know anyone who cleans a rimfire after 25-50 rounds. I'm sure some here will disagree, but give it a try. Let us know when you notice accuracy falling off measurably, and keep the targets for comparison.</div></div>
+1
I don't clean my rimfires until the actions feel gritty or they get so carb'd up I get fail to feed/fire. Even then I don't like cleaning the barrels, but usually do while I have the dust knocked off the cleaning supplies.
Doesn't sound like a cleanliness problem to me, especially after only 10 rounds. Doesn't sound like an overheating problem either. I would think cleaning after 10 rounds does more harm than good even if it doesn't show that on paper.
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Red_SC</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Stop cleaning so much, imo. I don't know anyone who cleans a rimfire after 25-50 rounds. I'm sure some here will disagree, but give it a try. Let us know when you notice accuracy falling off measurably, and keep the targets for comparison.</div></div>
+1
I don't clean my rimfires until the actions feel gritty or they get so carb'd up I get fail to feed/fire. Even then I don't like cleaning the barrels, but usually do while I have the dust knocked off the cleaning supplies.
Doesn't sound like a cleanliness problem to me, especially after only 10 rounds. Doesn't sound like an overheating problem either. I would think cleaning after 10 rounds does more harm than good even if it doesn't show that on paper.
Re: Overheating..Is This Normal??
I'm thinking that its taking you 10 rounds to foul the bore (where it wants to be). If the shots ar droping but still making tinny groops, try not cleanning it for a few hundred and see if the POI is still low every time. If so, Thats where it wants to be. Leave it alone at that point untile the groups start opening up.
I'm thinking that its taking you 10 rounds to foul the bore (where it wants to be). If the shots ar droping but still making tinny groops, try not cleanning it for a few hundred and see if the POI is still low every time. If so, Thats where it wants to be. Leave it alone at that point untile the groups start opening up.
Re: Overheating..Is This Normal??
Clean your barrel real well, then send it out for Croygenic treatment. I sounds like there is stress in the steel and the barrel is warping a tad as it heats up. Under cooler conditions I would guess the barrel doesn't get to the point it starts drifting its POI.
Clean your barrel real well, then send it out for Croygenic treatment. I sounds like there is stress in the steel and the barrel is warping a tad as it heats up. Under cooler conditions I would guess the barrel doesn't get to the point it starts drifting its POI.
Re: Overheating..Is This Normal??
Ok. I'll let it get pretty dirty and see how it goes.
Just wondering..how much is a decent Croygenic treatment, and how is it done?
Ok. I'll let it get pretty dirty and see how it goes.
Just wondering..how much is a decent Croygenic treatment, and how is it done?
Re: Overheating..Is This Normal??
You don't need cryo, but here's the process and prices:
http://www.diversifiedcryogenics.com/gunbarrels.html
You don't need cryo, but here's the process and prices:
http://www.diversifiedcryogenics.com/gunbarrels.html
Re: Overheating..Is This Normal??
I brought my rifle in to a local gunsmith who's lived here in FL his whole life. We discussed the problem I'm having with overheating in hot weather. This is what he had to say....
He told me that that's exactly what he would expect from a .17 HMR in this type of weather. He went on to say that the .17 is a very hot caliber. Right up there with a .223, .224. Especially with my heavy barrel. He said the humidity down here in FL is what really kills it compared to hot and dry places like Arizona or New Mexico. Basically down here you get 6 months of cool firing (a LOT more fun), and 6 months of hot shooting.
Any comments or opinions on his advice??
I brought my rifle in to a local gunsmith who's lived here in FL his whole life. We discussed the problem I'm having with overheating in hot weather. This is what he had to say....
He told me that that's exactly what he would expect from a .17 HMR in this type of weather. He went on to say that the .17 is a very hot caliber. Right up there with a .223, .224. Especially with my heavy barrel. He said the humidity down here in FL is what really kills it compared to hot and dry places like Arizona or New Mexico. Basically down here you get 6 months of cool firing (a LOT more fun), and 6 months of hot shooting.
Any comments or opinions on his advice??
Re: Overheating..Is This Normal??
Who was the smith? There are not many around here that are worth their salt. He considers a .17HMR and .223rem to be hot calibers?
I routinely fire long (30-60 rnd) strings with my RF rifles and never get POI drift.
Check your stock for contact with the barrel.
Check your action screws for proper torque.
Bed the receiver if you haven't, check that the bedding is stress/damage/debris free if you have.
If you can hold onto the barrel, it's not that hot.
Cryogenic treatment is about as effective as blessing your rifle in my experience (yes, I was dumb enough to pay for it, before I knew about the things I suggested above).
If you still have problems, PM me and I'll take a look at it.
Who was the smith? There are not many around here that are worth their salt. He considers a .17HMR and .223rem to be hot calibers?
I routinely fire long (30-60 rnd) strings with my RF rifles and never get POI drift.
Check your stock for contact with the barrel.
Check your action screws for proper torque.
Bed the receiver if you haven't, check that the bedding is stress/damage/debris free if you have.
If you can hold onto the barrel, it's not that hot.
Cryogenic treatment is about as effective as blessing your rifle in my experience (yes, I was dumb enough to pay for it, before I knew about the things I suggested above).
If you still have problems, PM me and I'll take a look at it.
