Do you test your guns for cold bore shots ?

gorky

gorky

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Was just reading a post on rimfirecentral that got me thinking about my hunting rigs. Like most, I bench my guns, dial in the scopes, and leave content. I practice as time allows, shooting for groups at varying distances. But I cannot honestly say that I track my cold bore shots from session to session, even though these cold bore shots at the range will probably be indicative of my cold bore shots in the field. At least I have brought attention to this deficiency in my shooting and still have lots of time to rectify it before next season.

What kind of experiences do you guys have with your rifles ? Can you tell a difference with your rifles from cold bore to five rounds in ? What is your scope dialed to if there is a difference ?
 
gorky said:
Was just reading a post on rimfirecentral that got me thinking about my hunting rigs. Like most, I bench my guns, dial in the scopes, and leave content. I practice as time allows, shooting for groups at varying distances. But I cannot honestly say that I track my cold bore shots from session to session, even though these cold bore shots at the range will probably be indicative of my cold bore shots in the field. At least I have brought attention to this deficiency in my shooting and still have lots of time to rectify it before next season.

What kind of experiences do you guys have with your rifles ? Can you tell a difference with your rifles from cold bore to five rounds in ? What is your scope dialed to if there is a difference ?
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I usually fire at least one shot to foul the bore before doing any group shots.
 
I do the same thing as 303carbine. If its a hunting rifle i will take one shot after it has time to cool down just to make sure the POI hasn't changed. After all you don't have time to take 2 warm up shots in the field before you make the kill shot.
 
I dial in hunitng rifles with a cold barrel, same as the guys above. My 22's I sight in hot because they are usually hot all day long gopher hunting. I just have to remember that mine shoot a little low when they are cold (10/22's).
 
Gerich said:
I dial in hunitng rifles with a cold barrel, same as the guys above. My 22's I sight in hot because they are usually hot all day long gopher hunting. I just have to remember that mine shoot a little low when they are cold (10/22's).
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I noticed that as well with my 10/22 but then I started shootinf diffrent ammo and it puts the cold shots on target switch to cheaper ammo when warm and still dead on..
 
Well, part of accuracy testing and learning your rifle is to find out if it shoots different from a cold bbl, clean bbl, heavily fouled bbl, hot bbl, raining, winter. Guys will reload to the N'th degree looking for bench accuracy when all round accuracy is more important.

Since the gun range is close to town I will stop in many times through the season and fire one round. That round is THE most important "group" your hunting gun is going to make. I know I have done my rifle tuning job right and I know the gun is working right when I see that single hole exactly 3" high dead center at 100 yards every time.
 
Republic of Alberta said:
Since the gun range is close to town I will stop in many times through the season and fire one round. That round is THE most important "group" your hunting gun is going to make. I know I have done my rifle tuning job right and I know the gun is working right when I see that single hole exactly 3" high dead center at 100 yards every time.
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One of the best examples of sound reasoning I have read on this board!
 
Republic of Alberta said:
I will stop in many times through the season and fire one round. That round is THE most important "group" your hunting gun is going to make. I know I have done my rifle tuning job right and I know the gun is working right when I see that single hole exactly 3" high dead center at 100 yards every time.
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X2!! Eagleye.
 
You bet! once you have to learn your barrel the difference can be next to nothing or fairly dramatic even at 100 yards.

I have some barrels that print the same hole cold, hot clean or slightly fouled, others that need 5-6 foulers to return the POA if cleaned.

Most of my stuff will hold close after a few foulers. But you need to check up on what it does at different temps.
 
Calum said:
Why wouldn't you test it "cold"?

As this is probably going to be it's condition when you spot the Deer. :D
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x2

I also do my load testing from a cold (& mostly clean) barrel. I want to know how a group performs from a cold barrel - as it will be in a hunting situation.
 
I tried to estimate the difference between cold and clean barrel and the same barrel after several shots but failed: it shoots the same way within 1 MOA. The rifle is A-bolt 30-06.
 
I tested my deer hunting rifle, a Tikka T3 in 308 one more time just before hunting season started. Let the gun and ammo sit out on the bench for half an hour while i plinked with a 22. Fired a cold shot, waited half and hour, fired another cold shot. No change from summer's POI. I was very happy with the result and am glad I tested the rifle cold just to give me confidence for that one shot that counts on the hunt. If there was a problem, I'd want to know about it.
 
republic of alberta said:
well, part of accuracy testing and learning your rifle is to find out if it shoots different from a cold bbl, clean bbl, heavily fouled bbl, hot bbl, raining, winter. Guys will reload to the n'th degree looking for bench accuracy when all round accuracy is more important.

Since the gun range is close to town i will stop in many times through the season and fire one round. That round is the most important "group" your hunting gun is going to make. I know i have done my rifle tuning job right and i know the gun is working right when i see that single hole exactly 3" high dead center at 100 yards every time.
Click to expand...

x3.......
 
For a hunting rifle, the cold bore shot is the most important one of all. Once I have a load that I know is working well, I only test cold bore shots, and 2 rapid shots. Multi-shot groups are fun for paper.
 
I make on average, something like 3 to 5 trips to the range before hunting season with
the 3 or 4 rifles I might use - to fire what I coinsider to be the most important ...
the one shot group !

I want to move that one cold shot to my preferred sight in spot ... and have it repeatable on subsequent cold shot attempts, at least twice. While there, I will see (and note) where the second & third shots wind-up, but it's that dead centre ( whether 1-1/2 " high or 2" high, or whatever sight-in ) first "cold shot" that's the important one.
 
I test gun, and ammo, this is after the load work , and sighting , all is good.
With those 2 or 4 shots I know the scope is ok, and the load is ok. I do not clean the bore for the season.
In addition, if able , keep at same temp for the hunting season , I keep mine in a cold room for food, when back from the hunt.
Now the exception, if it rains lots, then its a total strip , metal from wood , repeat the test portion when able.
 
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