Summer Shooting

[Josmund]

First, It's my understanding that a hot barrel is bad for accuracy. Can anyone explain why this is the case?

Second, do you shoot in the summer? I live in KS and it won't be cool now until October. Furthermore, my range is only open from noon till
6 pm.

Last week I was shooting a Rene with PRB with mixed results. It was around 90. By the time I would think a little, swap and reload the barrel was still warm / hot.

Can I draw any solid conclusions from these sessions? Any advice for the summer shooter?

I'd hate to shelf them for the summer. The thought of playing golf is not that appealing and my wife needs me out of the house doing something.

[Omega45]

If using sabots the barrel heat from shooting on a hot summer day can really cause havoc, especially if using BH209 and not swabbing. I was putting my GM54-120 in the truck with the AC on last summer to cool it down. If you must shoot in the summer go early and give the barrel plenty of time to cool down between shots. Its been in the 90's the last few days here. Definitely too hot to shoot IMO.

[lemoyne]

I live in Arkansas and the summers are hot here, Omega is correct about the heat affecting the sabots. You can not just keep shooting as the barrel heats, some times I have to wait as much as 6 minutes between shots. My solution is to take several guns and to shoot one shot in each so the have a chance to cool. Of course that means several targets must be posted and keep track of but it seems the best solution for me for now.

[ronlaughlin]

Yup, like them fellas wrote, one does what one has to do. What lemoyne suggested is how i manage through the summer.

[50calty]

Also I have noticed that if I sight in a gun during the summer I have do a final tweeking to it during Sept when it starts to cool down. Just try to shoot in the morning. Your range doesn't open till noon which could be a probably. Maybe look for a different range or if you have State or BLM land. I know in MT you can shoot on State or BLM. Get a range finder and set up a range that you can set up.

[cayugad]

You can shoot in the heat. Just pay attention to the barrel. Grab it sometimes and if it is hot, it will let you know. I also shoot numerous rifles during the summer giving the others time to rest and cool down. I know one person that takes a cooler full of ice (and beverages) and towels. After he shoots he wraps that barrel in an ice cold towel to help cool it faster. He claims it does work. I've never done that extreme, but I will set them in the shade.

This is not such a severe problem when shooting roundball, although even they get effected. But sabots definitely show signs of barrel heating. Just make sure that before hunting season, you check the rifle and it might need a little adjustment. These guys as usual are right on the money with their advice.

[Muley Hunter]

You have to slow down, and let the barrel cool.

I don't get the heat some of you do though.

[TNHagies]

I shoot very little in the heat of summer. I hate the heat and it's just not fun for me.

When I do shoot in the heat and I'm shooting for groups, I take multiple guns to kill time in between shots for the load I'm testing. The TN heat is brutal in the summer and sometimes I have to wait 15-20 mins between shots.

In my personal experience, I believe my guns do not shoot as well in the summer and I know I don't.

I try and do all of my testing in Jan and Feb after all the hunting seasons end. That way I don't die from the heat and I get a more accurate reading of what the gun/load will do in hunting weather.

[Semisane]

There's only one way to shoot in this heat.

[MountainDevil54]

better use a little extra sun block!