Author Topic: Heading to the range soon.  (Read 234 times)

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Offline rockymtn eagle

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Heading to the range soon.
« on: September 01, 2006, 07:14:59 PM »
Have a batch of rounds that I just reloaded. What's your shooting procedure at the range? I've heard the first shot is always a flyer and to wait for the barrel to cool between shots. 

Offline Grumulkin

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Re: Heading to the range soon.
« Reply #1 on: September 02, 2006, 03:13:41 AM »
If there is oil residue in the barrel, the first shot will probably be a flyer.  To minimize this tendency, wipe the barrel out with bore cleaner before you go.

Some, not all, barrels will give tighter groups when the barrel is a little fouled or warm.

As for letting the barrel cool; it depends.  For a very over bore cartridge like the 7mm STW, 220 Swift, etc. with heavy loads, if you want to maximize barrel life you should probably let the barrel cool between strings.  For more common cartridges like 30/06, 44 Rem. Mag., etc. it doesn't matter that much.

Offline The Sodbuster

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Re: Heading to the range soon.
« Reply #2 on: September 02, 2006, 03:21:00 AM »
I always shoot a "fouler" shot through a clean barrel before I start shooting groups to evaluate a load.  For load evaluation I try and wait 60 seconds between shots.  I usually bring 2 rifles, so after shooting a few rounds through one I can move on to a different rifle.  That way each rifle gets a little time to cool between shot strings.

For general shooting practice, I switch rifles between strings, but don't necessarily wait a minute between shots.  Sometimes the point is to get off shots in rapid succession.