Overheating

SmallBoreSnipers

Gunny Sergeant
Full Member
Minuteman
Aug 15, 2009
1,204
1
44
Troy, NY
What do you guys think of this? (please respond here)

http://snipershide.com/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=1888527#Post1888527

I was at the range today and it was about 95 and humid as hell. I heard people today (like I've heard them before in this weather) saying they needed to cool their barrels down after about 10 rounds. Basically they'd shoot one 5 - 10 shot group, and then wait out the rest of the hot session to cool their barrels (about 15 - 20 minutes). One group per hot session.

I talked to a really good gunsmith here today and he told me that that's exactly what he would expect from a .17 HMR in this type of weather. He went on to say that the .17 is a very hot caliber. Right up there with a .223, .224. Especially with my heavy barrel. He said the humidity down here in FL is what really kills it. Basically down here you get 6 months of cool firing (a LOT more fun), and 6 months of hot shooting.

My rifle seems to be pretty sensitive to heat. In February I can shoot 50 rounds before heat issues. In May about 25 - 30. and now in the summer around 10.

Any input at all??
 
Re: Overheating

Are you trying to shoot BR?

I haven't shot 17HMR in a while, but I've never paid much attention to heat.....

If you are getting major POI shifts or groups opening up to the degree where you are shanking shots, then it would sound to me like something is very amiss in your setup. I'd start by making sure your stock isn't fucking your barrel, and that there aren't any other weird stresses going on.
 
Re: Overheating

What do you mean BR? I'm getting..what did they call it..verticle something. My POI starts shifting lower and lower as the barrel gets hotter. Do you mean that perhaps the barrel is too loose in the stock?