Some Long Range Shooting Questions

[wallz]

I have not ever been to any competitions, but may eventually when I get more comfortable. I put together a long range set up earlier this year, and have now developed a load for it, and I am currently in the process of setting up the tuner on it. I did the load development with the tuner installed, so as not to change much to when I finally start adjusting the tuner. Was never a goal to compete, but just have some fun.

I set up a rifle combo just because I wanted to have some fun at longer ranges, have a bit more accuracy practice at longer ranges to see what I am capable of, and so I can save on my hunting rifle barrel use.

Currently set up with a 26" stainless heavy contour IBI barrel, spiral fluted. .920 at muzzle end. Shooting 6.5 CM.

When shooting a long range set up, how many shots between barrel cool down is the norm?
Obviously barrel heat will shift point of impact some, but can the string be longer for this type of set up than you would typically see on a hunting rifle and to tune/load for a bit more heat on the barrel? So adjust the load for mild barrel heat, not really cold bore shooting as you would typically see hunting.

 

[DANS40X]

OP,
Action is from which manufacturer?

Have you shot for group w/o the tuner?
(eliminate the variables from the start)

Depending on barrel/bore concentricity/timing,barrel tennon to receiver fit-
All bets are off on what/how said barrel will perform once fired repeatedly & cadence.

Shoot it rapid fire to ascertain when it starts wandering-4,5,6 shot?

Creedmoor's are nothing more that a blown out 22-250Rem Ack Imp run to 60K psi.

 

[rugbydave]

You don't need to let a heavier contour barrel like that cool as much as you would a hunting weight barrel. "Standard" PRS stages are 8-12 rounds in 90-120s and you wouldn't expect any poi shift at that kind of cadence. A heavier barrel generally takes a while to heat up. Aftermarket barrels also tend to be less prone to poi shifts when hot than factory barrels. I've shot matches where you shoot 40ish rounds inside 30-40 minutes with no poi shifts. Test it and see for yourself

 

[wallz]

OP,
Action is from which manufacturer?

Have you shot for group w/o the tuner?
(eliminate the variables from the start)

Depending on barrel/bore concentricity/timing,barrel tennon to receiver fit-
All bets are off on what/how said barrel will perform once fired repeatedly & cadence.

Shoot it rapid fire to ascertain when it starts wandering-4,5,6 shot?

Creedmoor's are nothing more that a blown out 22-250Rem Ack Imp run to 60K psi.

Oooooh, I have no concern with the combo I have, just more how much one generally shoots before a cool down period. Screwed onto a cadex CDX-R7 action with a jewel trigger at 1lb, 8 oz, sitting in an XLR chassis with weights. This is a prefit barrel, so put together at home, by yours truly. Its amazing how the tech has caught up to what is possible.

1st 3 shots last night were almost one hole, then I pulled the last two out. Guess I got excited.

Next nice group was about 6 settings of tuner later, with tight clover 4 shots, and pulled 5th shot. This was about 25th shot, in decent succession, with no cool down, so I know it can group. 100m testing for now. Ive stretched it out to 1300M on other occasions, and have let two new shooters get wet behind the ears using it to let them shoot out to 1000M.

Its more of how many shots before cool down kinda question? I know the barrel was too hot to hold at that point, but still laying the groups.


rugbydave, oooh I'm testing. Was only 50 rounds last night. Thats the info I was after. Thanks.
Was itching to use a new Annie I've had for over a month waiting to buy a scope for. Scope came in yesterday, but I goofed and rushed off to the range without my mags for the Annie.

I should have more loaded up for a sat morning run again. Re test at the two previous good settings, then play out again to see distance groups. Best new toy Ive had in a while. Will have to fudge a barrel speed and test to distance for the AB program. No chrony yet, but this has worked thus far for me, for now.

 

[BCBRAD]

Don't worry to much about barrel heat except for increased throat erosion. If the barrel and other mechanical aspects are stress free and bedded properly or torqued into the chassis properly the rifle should shoot consistantly over a wide temperature range.

I shoot a few competitions in the area and these are generally 3 or 5 and 10 shot groups depending on the class. With the light hunter class 3 shot, sporter will need 5 shots as does heavy barrel and 10 shots for unlimited all at 1038 yds or 500m if on the 500m range.

Time allowed is usually 1 minute a shot or 5 minutes for 5 rounds etc. Depending on conditions a competitor may shoot 5 or 10 rounds as fast as possible to take advantage of atmospheric conditions.

I usually shoot all rounds in half or less time allowed, sometimes this is toward the end of the time period waiting for conditions to improve.

 

[wallz]

Thanks BCBRAD.

Yea, I have thought about the extra throat erosion, but for the price of these barrels I will just replace when the time comes, and that might come sooner running it a bit hotter. I'll have to line up another one on the next IBI sale and be ready with a replacement. I'm sure I'll get a few K's from this one. I'll have bigger concerns with finding primers by then anyways.

I might have to look at building a portable barrel fan from one of the computer fans I have and cool things faster. Print an adapter to have the fan sit in the action blowing out.

 

[iron cat]

MDT and IBI did a short video a while back where they put 1,000 rounds through an IBI barrel non stop. rapid fire.They were cooking bacon on the barrel , it was that hot! For all intent and purpose that barrel was shot out.
Ryan then took the barrel, and cleaned it down to bare metal and proceeded to fire a bunch of groups ( five shots IIRC) that were averaged 1.5 MOA @ 100 yards.
Now, if you take into account the fact that most competitions have a great deal of wind on any particular day, and involve ranges past 100 meters and out to 1,000 or more meters and involve as many as 15 rounds in a single match , it becomes apparent that being able to make accurate wind calls and be able to consistently shoot well are far more important than a rifle that will shoot better than 1 MOA or less.
Cat