Whats the average number of shots you can take before the barrell gets too hot and affects your accuracy? I ask as I bought my first gun ever a T/C Triumph BC with a Redfield Revenge scope and after getting 1 1/2 to 2" groups at 100 yards I wanted to adjust the scope so that they were actually hitting the bullseye not 1 up and to the right as they were. It was at this time after about 18 shots that the accuracy went south. I called it a day and left because I had an idea of what might be happening and didn't want to be chasing my shots around the target.

The temp that day was mid to high 80's, slight 5-10mph breeze and duration between shots was probably 4-5 minutes. Shooting 100grains of triple 7 and T/C 250 grain Super Glide Shockwaves, yellow tips. Barrell was cleaned after every shot.

Your issues were likely heat related.

When the barrel gets too hot, it softens the sabots. The sabots can't tightly grip the rifling and accuracy goes down.

Exactly how many shots depends on outside temp, type of barrel, type of powder, type of sabot, etc.

That has been my experience anyway.

Shooting every 4-5 mins the culprit was unlikely caused by heat. I would suspect the culprit to your poor groupings, provided your scope didn't crap out on you, is fouling in the bore. Were you swabbing between shots - or swabbing at all? For sighting in as a minimum you should have been swabbing your bore clean every third shot. Most of us in here swab after each shot for consistancy. Even if its only a spit patch.

since you cleaned after every shot , I would also agree heat and unless you were looking at the clock, that 4-5 minutes might have been 2-3 as for me it seems like forever waiting for the next shot.Might just want to double check to make sure the scope is secure too...

Seems like your on the right track with your shock waves.
Steve

My rule of thumb is if the barrel feels as warm as the water I shower in it's too hot for good accuracy with sabots. Hot barrels don't seem to affect patched balls much, if at all.

The rule of thumb I have always used is if its to hot to keep your hand on the barrel let it cool down.

When I do go out and shoot, I shoot twice, clean then let the barrel cool to the touch, in the summer time that would usually result in a 3-4 hour range session. I think if you would have waited just another 5-10 min after your wipe down, you would have been good.

Thanks for assistance guys. I'm headed out in the morning to finish getting the Triumph dialed in. I'll post up about how things turn out.

If a barrel is warm outside it's HOT inside!

Sabots are EASILY melted/softened by a barrel shot only 2-3xs quickly in 80+ degree temps. Place the gun in the shade and only fire it once each 10-15 mins. Better yet, place it inside your idling truck with the A/C on.