when finding loads how long do you wait for the barrel to cool am having problems with getting 5 shot groups smaller than 1.5 inch first 2 are touching but the follow ups start to stray i keep seeing tight groups on here and am wondering how long between shots thanks for the help.

Wait for cold weather and see if things change. Otherwise wait until the barrel feels cool. Five shots with a magnum right now is smoking hot -- can't put your hands on the barrel. Five with a .22 LR is nothing. Which cartridge??

.308 started with 43 grains of varget upto 46 no behind a 150 nosler ballistic tip groups got tighter but when shooting after 2nd shot they start straying course it has been hot and barrel does get hot

If the groups start opening up after two shots I would suspect that there is a bedding problem. A 308 should be able to hold accuracy for 5 shots.

It depends on air temp & how heavy the barrel. AS little as 30sec on cold days w/ heavy bbl isn't too fast. On hot days, thin bbl, I don't even try 5shot groups. & will wait 2-3min. between shots & let the bbl. cool completely between groups (I often brign two rifles on hot days).

is 88 degrees here now just shot 1" 100yd 5 shot group but sure seems they should be tighter is humid tho over the weekend was around 94 degree outside rifle is a remington 700 sps stainless not a heavy barrel also has synthetic stock

I wait 1 minute by a watch between shots. That's with the rifle in the shade. If the rifle isn't in the shade, I'll put a white towel over the barrel during the resting period. Between test groups, I let the rifle cool for 5 or 10 minutes and maybe clean it or push a couple of dry patches thru the bore.
Never let the rifle get so hot that you cannot pick the rifle up by the barrel and hold it.

Remember one thing with a hunting rifle IT'S WHERE THE FIRST SHOT OUT OF A COLD BARREL GOES THAT COUNTS maybe the 2nd in some cases.

All my hunters are dailed in during cool or warm weather to try and match the season when i'm hunting.

you are right the 1st shot is the only 1 that matters usually just trying to find the best load . i will try to shade the barrel and time my rest times i know i tend to rush that

Warm to cool.

Stillbeeman- I noted your comment about placing a white towel over the barrel. Some years ago I read a magazine article about pouring water down the barrel to cool it. Little to aggressive & cumbersome for my taste.

Do you wet the towel? What do you all think about using a towel soaked in ice water placed on barrel on hot days. During the summer, here in the Sacramento Valley, temps in the 90's & 100's are the norm. So, I shoot as early as possible, but our range does not open until 8:00AM. It usually is heating up by 9:00AM & I quit, or switch to .22 or handgun.

In my case, it's my own range and the bench is kinda half-assed covered but in the afternoon the rifle is half in the sun. I usually have a couple of towels on the bench to rest my elbow on, wipe sweat,etc and I just toss one over the barrel. I make sure the actual bore is open so the heat can flow out though.
I've read about pouring water down the barrel and blowing CO2 and rubbing ice along the barrel but I've never tried it.
Especially since my range is right ourside my shop, I'll switch off to another rifle(s). I usually have a couple that I'm trying to develope loads for and then I like to keep my hand in for shooting the boomers so I may pull a couple of them out and practice field position shooting to kill some time between groups. One of the few advantages of being an old retired fart.

quote:

Originally posted by rick boggs:
when finding loads how long do you wait for the barrel to cool am having problems with getting 5 shot groups smaller than 1.5 inch first 2 are touching but the follow ups start to stray i keep seeing tight groups on here and am wondering how long between shots thanks for the help.

I rarely shoot 5 shot groups. And, when it's a hot day, I let the barrel cool a few minutes between shots. Then, when I'm done shooting that 3 shot group, I stand that rifle up in the shade to cool, and shoot another rifle.
Five shot groups will always be larger than 3 shot groups by the factor of 1.33. If I want to know what a 5 shot group would have been, I multiply the size of the 3 shot group by 1.33. All I'm looking for in group shooting is what loads shoots best. I never have needed to shot the 5 shots to find my most accuradte loading.

my 3 shot groups are 1 " @ 100 yds first shot is always 1" low and to the left now then both the next 2 are in the 10 ring on the yellow jacket 25 pistol 100 rifle targets the first 3 are pretty good tryin to make them better but the odd thing is 4 and 5 will be an oblonged hole where both bullets entered why are those 2 so tight but the rest not 4 and 5 will be high and to the right.

I may have missed it but has anyone suggested starting repeatabilty shooting only after the barrel is fouled? roger

quote:

Originally posted by bartsche:
I may have missed it but has anyone suggested starting repeatabilty shooting only after the barrel is fouled? roger

Good point, I always fire fouling shot or two before searching for groups, unless the rifle was left dirty from the last outing.

1. Actually, unless there is a barrel bedding problem or a barrel warping problem, you should be able to shoot a lot more than 5 shots out of a 308 Winchester without groups wandering because of barrel heating.

2. I also usually don't shoot anything but 3 shot groups. One shot obviously has very little significance and neither does a 2 shot group. I would admit that a 5 shot group has more statistical significance than a 3 shot group but how about two 3 shot groups? Once I find a load I think is good I'll typically shoot several 3 shot groups which I believe gives me more useful information that a fewer number of 5 shot groups.

3. Some guns will shoot differently out of a very clean barrel. If you just take the majority of the fouling out with Prolix and not get into removing every bit of copper fouling with other cleaners, the great majority of the time there will be no difference in place of impact with a clean vs a fouled barrel.

If you leave a coat of oil in the barrel after cleaning and don't remove it before shooting, the first 2 or 3 shots will pretty much always be off and it's not good for the barrel.

i always fire 1 fouling shot . but am starting to fire 3 shot groups thinking of backing off powder a bit from 46 grains of varget with nosler ballistic 150 in rem brass seemed tighter with 45 grains but been so long and notebook got ruined so i kinda have to start fresh.

found my problem got the gun and scope for christmas from wife . for some reason scope mount had oil under it so i cleaned retorqed no is shooting .5 inch groups feel like a moron for not checking that before. thanks for all your help

I know I am now preaching to the choir but when you get a new rifle, even a new to you rifle, first thing to do is take it apart. Make sure there isn't any errant wood chips under the action, things that are supposed to be tight are, things that are supposed to be loose are, and so forth. Then put it back together, cleaning as you go. A little lock tite or finger nail polish on the scope screws don't hurt neither. .

A hot barrel can change pressure points or put more pressure on pressure points. I believe most Remington's are designed with a pressure point near the end of the stock. I know mine is. I always let mine cool significantly. It takes me a long time to test 4 different loads if the weather is really hot.