Help me through my reloading journey! advice please!

[wallz]

Well, there you have it, 50 rounds that you will shoot in one sitting, be it with a lot of cooling time in between.


This is the fan I ended up getting. https://www.amazon.ca/dskaoo-Electr...cordless+air+matress+pump,aps,140&sr=8-6&th=1

With the crazy price of components I usually do a single charge, plus 0.3 grains starting in the mid range area ladder test that I shoot at 200 m. I record all the hits on the phone through a spotting scope, and then analyze this data at home and decide which powder weight to concentrate on.

Then load 3 of each load right around the best groupings from the first test. Usually 3-4 sets of 3. Then work on my seating depth, again usually in 3 shot groups longer and shorter than the set length that was used for previous testing.

Then usually load up 5-10 and verify on one last group. You can do all this without a chrony as well.

 

[OkayShooter]

Well, there you have it, 50 rounds that you will shoot in one sitting, be it with a lot of cooling time in between.


This is the fan I ended up getting. https://www.amazon.ca/dskaoo-Electric-Inflatables-Mattress-Portable/dp/B0BXWWS74X/ref=sr_1_6?crid=7ZCSUCP6JNUA&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.rauegK9iFGpkMF4tVW16qpw17FW5le9-HZYJLehdxMaLIeBwfAfw-Fedl7CF3rM5fjHdXa7LMEArU6zK-eDP13pp5WlmfXws3X7x8CalB_8onBOxAsZGMkMmExmX3uo28s8-pRtIsIXYH4wtHlgzEh_0oG8ltV2UBnZWcLTjmBPE1yiP14_lAMcO9k35SBFRhEJRfk_395IsHVn-PTHzo02pl-WUKZbRzF81WErIUsWqBpdAmveAqUJz_z7PfFAcaP9iMD-GOJc7nb816U7SIVf_3wm5-Tu5Or40s4L-0_Q.s9ty7_rlTtcOyphBLxT9--LiWw9j1lG6RuAkVaFaObk&dib_tag=se&keywords=cordless+air+mattress+pump&qid=1726858725&sprefix=cordless+air+matress+pump,aps,140&sr=8-6&th=1

With the crazy price of components I usually do a single charge, plus 0.3 grains starting in the mid range area ladder test that I shoot at 200 m. I record all the hits on the phone through a spotting scope, and then analyze this data at home and decide which powder weight to concentrate on.

Then load 3 of each load right around the best groupings from the first test. Usually 3-4 sets of 3. Then work on my seating depth, again usually in 3 shot groups longer and shorter than the set length that was used for previous testing.

Then usually load up 5-10 and verify on one last group. You can do all this without a chrony as well.

I was going to recommend that one too. Can just get some rechargeable batteries. Wouldnt be hard to rig up a chamber flag cooler with hose.

 

[bearhunter]

I would be lucky to shoot 50 in a day, nevermind one sitting LOL

I am trying to develop a load for my Weatherby Vanguard S2. Stupid thing has such a light barrel that it heats up REAL quick. The 3rd shot is iffy on if it will group with the first 2 or not due to how hot the barrel gets. So I shoot a group of 3, then wait 15 mins for the barrel to cool down, then rinse and repeat.

I kinda wish it had a slightly heavier barrel to allow for me to consistently shoot that 3rd shot without heat becoming a factor.

The fastest way to cool down a barrel is with water.

I have a long spout plastic funnel which I have heated the spout and bent it so it will fit into the chamber mouth. This funnel is available at Canadian Tire and is for small motors with shrouds, so you can fill the oil, without a lot of hassle. Cheap, under $5.

I carry a 4 liter jug of water with me to the range and depending on the rifle, when the barrel gets hot, take the rifle outside or if it's better just have a bucket with a sponge on the bottom to place the muzzle on, take out the bolt, insert the funnel spout into the chamber and pour a cup of water down the bore.

You want to be careful not to overfill, or you will have a cleanup job ahead of you when you get home.

I like having the sponge for the muzzle, because it holds the water in the bore longer so it can absorb more heat.

Usually, depending on the barrel two cups of water is plenty.

With heavier, match type or varmint weight barrels it may take three or even four cups of water to cool back to ambient temperature.

I swab the bore when I'm finished with a couple of cotton patches to clean out any water droplets left behind.

Other methods just take too long.

I used to use an old galvanized funnel, made up for Lee Enfield armorers, which they used to pour boiling water down the bores of rifles after cleaning them with ammonia type cleaners to flush the bores. I quit using that a few years ago, because I was worried it might damage a chamber. I never did see any damage, but?????

I've seen people use fans, and even compressors to cool barrels, they're just too darn slow.

There is a good write up about cooling barrels quickly in the last Rifle magazine.

Not many folks do it, but it's definitely a good idea and saves throat wear supposedly.

Shooting long strings is not advisable for most rifles.

Rifles used for hunting are always shot with a cold barrel when shooting at game animals.

The first shot from a cold barrel is the one you need to become intimately familiar with under all conditions. The second shot is the next most important and the third? is anyone's guess. If you need three shots to bring an animal down, likely it's running away and you've either missed or have a tracking job ahead of you. Most people seldom get a fourth shot, let alone a fifth, or more.

With match rifles, depending on the type of matches you shoot, ten shot strings are necessary for all sorts of good reasons.

 

[OkayShooter]

The fastest way to cool down a barrel is with water.

I have a long spout plastic funnel which I have heated the spout and bent it so it will fit into the chamber mouth. This funnel is available at Canadian Tire and is for small motors with shrouds, so you can fill the oil, without a lot of hassle. Cheap, under $5.

I carry a 4 liter jug of water with me to the range and depending on the rifle, when the barrel gets hot, take the rifle outside or if it's better just have a bucket with a sponge on the bottom to place the muzzle on, take out the bolt, insert the funnel spout into the chamber and pour a cup of water down the bore.

You want to be careful not to overfill, or you will have a cleanup job ahead of you when you get home.

I like having the sponge for the muzzle, because it holds the water in the bore longer so it can absorb more heat.

Usually, depending on the barrel two cups of water is plenty.

With heavier, match type or varmint weight barrels it may take three or even four cups of water to cool back to ambient temperature.

I swab the bore when I'm finished with a couple of cotton patches to clean out any water droplets left behind.

Other methods just take too long.

I used to use an old galvanized funnel, made up for Lee Enfield armorers, which they used to pour boiling water down the bores of rifles after cleaning them with ammonia type cleaners to flush the bores. I quit using that a few years ago, because I was worried it might damage a chamber. I never did see any damage, but?????

I've seen people use fans, and even compressors to cool barrels, they're just too darn slow.

There is a good write up about cooling barrels quickly in the last Rifle magazine.

Not many folks do it, but it's definitely a good idea and saves throat wear supposedly.

Shooting long strings is not advisable for most rifles.

Rifles used for hunting are always shot with a cold barrel when shooting at game animals.

The first shot from a cold barrel is the one you need to become intimately familiar with under all conditions. The second shot is the next most important and the third? is anyone's guess. If you need three shots to bring an animal down, likely it's running away and you've either missed or have a tracking job ahead of you. Most people seldom get a fourth shot, let alone a fifth, or more.

With match rifles, depending on the type of matches you shoot, ten shot strings are necessary for all sorts of good reasons.

Yeah if you got a machine gun, and your spare barrel is pooched. But never in 20 plus years of shooting, someone pouring water down a barrel on the range. Its a mess, it washes away the oil if it gets back into the action, it can lead into rusting, if your bluing isn't perfect.

If not many are doing it, it probably a reason.

The boiling water down the barrel of a Lee is to neutralize the corrosive salts in the primer of older ammo.

 

[bearhunter]

Well, I've been using water to cool barrels for longer than you've been shooting, and it works very well, especially on hot summer days.

It's very handy when shooting a rifle that's going to be hunted with to make sure a new load is going to shoot to point of aim from a "cold" barrel.

Sometimes, especially if I have several rifles, such as this afternoon, to sight in, there is just not enough time in the day to fool around with mickey mouse cooling methods. They work, but not well or fast.

I know why the armorers poured boiling water down the barrels of rifles but that certainly doesn't mean it was the only reason it can be done.

If you want to wait around for a barrel to cool off fine. I often just don't have the time.

Take a read in the last issue of Rifle magazine. I thought it was refreshing to see them acknowledge there are other, often better ways to cool a barrel other than a fan or waiting for the ambient breezes to do it.

As for "oil" in the action? Only if you don't know enough to push the spout of the funnel into the chamber.

As for the mess, have you heard of, wait for it, "BUCKETS"

Also it's prudent to push at least one cotton patch down the bore and check for droplets after.