how many is too many

[slug1977]

firing a .243 ,how many rounds without a cool down break is too many ,gophers are out and I dont want to rebarrel my rifle too soon.

 

[ErikT]

Generally for varminting, I will take a break once the barrel gets too hot to touch. Once it's cooled for ten minutes or so, it's good to go again.

 

[Coho]

Same here, if I can wrap my hand around the barrel & hold it there for 3 seconds, I'll shoot a couple more. If I can't - cool down time.

(on a side note - I'm looking forward to seeing how my heavy barrel .308 will handle heat for the same # of rounds)

Generally for varminting, I will take a break once the barrel gets too hot to touch. Once it's cooled for ten minutes or so, it's good to go again.

 

[Rembo]

Although I've used it, IMHO the 243 is way overkill for hi volume gopher whacking....get yourself a 223....

I did blow up lots of gophers years ago with a 700 BDL Varmint 243 and 58gr VMax's....they blow up very well.

 

[hometownhero]

I would pick up a smaller gun like 223 or even the new 17 hornet when they get here.

 

[SHELL SHUCKER]

Gee whiz, why fry out a nice coyote and deer gun on gophers?
A good accurate .22LR is all that's needed for them suckers!
Fook me, when my buddy and I went on our big gopher mission back
in the early 90's, we burned up over 27,000 rounds of .22LR along
with a smatering of other calibers from .17 Rem. to .45-70 just
for giggles.
Save you're guns and your wallets and use the good old .22LR for
gopher removal.

 

[slug1977]

I do use a 22 most of the time
,but, sometimes I just like seeing how far I can reach out there and touch one.

 

[finstr]

I use a 243for all groundhogs, coyotes,etc. Never had the barrel ever get that hot, ever. Prarie dogs are a totally different thing however. For those a 17 cal, say 17hmr works great without the heat.