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DallanC Site Admin
Joined: Jan 18, 2005 Posts: 3572 Location: Utah
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Posted: Sun Sep 25, 2005 7:55 pm Post subject: "settling" back in after a cleaning |
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How many rounds do you find it takes for your rifles to "settle back in" to high accuracy after a good cleaning?
In preparing for Wyoming Pronghorn this weekend, I cleaned both mine and my wifes .243's along with my 7STW.
The STW with premium factory ammo had its first shot high and right by 4", 2nd was low and left 2" then the next 4 went into .75".
My .243 with 100grn Nosler Partition handloads went first shot 2" high and left, next two 1" left, both shots touching, next 3 into .25" (wow!)
Wifes .243 never settled down after 12 rounds so i will re-clean it and we'll retest it tomorrow (it usually groups sub moa).
How many rounds do you find it takes for your rifles to "get back into the groove" after a good cleaning?
-DallanC
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Coyote_Hunter_ Member
Joined: Mar 05, 2005 Posts: 208 Location: Franktown, CO
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Posted: Sun Sep 25, 2005 8:01 pm Post subject: Re: "settling" back in after a cleaning |
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Was at the range today with my Ruger .257 Roberts. Ran a Bore Snae through it and it took 3 shots to settle down.
_________________ Coyote Hunter
NRA, GOA, DAD |
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JO422 Member
Joined: Sep 16, 2005 Posts: 33
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Posted: Mon Sep 26, 2005 8:49 am Post subject: Re: "settling" back in after a cleaning |
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It sounds like what you are experienceing is "Cold bore" vs. "warm bore" zero shift. Cold bore zero can be as much as 6 inches off from where a warm bore zero traditionally impacts. This is becasue the rifle barrel warms as you shoot it and this changes the harmonics/POI. Snipers have known about this for years and each sniper knows the cold bore zero as well as the warm bore zero of his rifle.
I have a .308 that only shifts impact by about .5 moa (higher) after the 1st 4 rounds. I also have a .223 that has a cold bore shot that is 3.5 MOA high for the 1st shot and it progressively goes lower to zero as I shoot the next 5 rounds. Both of these rifles are capable of under .5 MOA groups when I do my part. You can see how important it is to know your cold bore zero as well as subsequent shot zeros, especially for the long range hunter/marksman. Each barrel has its own personality.
As far as the .243 goes, it soinds like it might be time to remove copper from the bore if you haven't done this recently.
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DallanC Site Admin
Joined: Jan 18, 2005 Posts: 3572 Location: Utah
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Posted: Mon Sep 26, 2005 9:02 am Post subject: Re: "settling" back in after a cleaning |
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Welcome to the site JO422.
-DallanC
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515034s10ring Super Member
Joined: Sep 08, 2005 Posts: 1153 Location: Working my way back up and around
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Posted: Mon Sep 26, 2005 9:11 am Post subject: Re: "settling" back in after a cleaning |
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I guess i'm a stickler when it comes to this because i clean it after every 3 to 5 shots. But then it also gets into temperature (and things of that nature) because i'm not in a hurry so i let my barrel cool (to shoot cold again) before another shot.
But if i were shooting a battery of rounds, one after the other, then i would have to switch to a different scope setting because my barrel will heat up, and is going to start shooting progressively higher (but in that event, i have never gone more than 15 rounds before a cleaning and letting things cool down) (except in my AR).
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515034s10ring Super Member
Joined: Sep 08, 2005 Posts: 1153 Location: Working my way back up and around
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popgun Member
Joined: Jan 26, 2005 Posts: 735 Location: Mitchell, GA, U.S.A. (2007 pop. 191)
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Posted: Mon Sep 26, 2005 2:45 pm Post subject: Re: "settling" back in after a cleaning |
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calsibley Super Member
Joined: Jan 28, 2005 Posts: 317
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Posted: Sun Oct 16, 2005 6:36 pm Post subject: Re: "settling" back in after a cleaning |
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I usually fire a fouling shot into the ground somewhere down range before shooting for group. It'll warm up the barrel as well as get rid of any oil that might remain in the barrel. Most days it's cool enough in Canada that the barrel won't heat up until the 4th shot, maybe the 3rd., and even then it'll cool back down fairly quickly. Best wishes.
Cal - Montreal
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Blaine Member
Joined: Feb 24, 2005 Posts: 260 Location: Maine
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Posted: Sun Oct 16, 2005 7:26 pm Post subject: Re: "settling" back in after a cleaning |
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My 270 needs only 1 fouling shot before settling down. The first shot is always about 3/4-1" from the main group. Then after about 3 shots (all cold barrel) it will start opening up a little at a time. For example shot 4 might be off by 1/2" and shot 5 will be off by 3/4 - 1". Again, all cold barrel shots.
My 308 Encore only needs 1 fouling shot, and then the next 5 or 6 will go into the same group before starting to open up. I have gotten into the habit now of completely cleaning the barrels of all fouling and then bringing a fouling round to shoot into the ground before I start shooting groups (or hunting).
Blaine
_________________ Shoot straight and above all shoot SMART....and remember God is still in control !!!! |
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SHOOTER458 Member
Joined: Nov 05, 2005 Posts: 27
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Posted: Mon Nov 07, 2005 3:18 pm Post subject: Re: "settling" back in after a cleaning |
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Try shooting 1 shot a day for 10 days on the same target (no Cleaning). The results can be interesting!
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squirrelbait Member
Joined: Sep 23, 2005 Posts: 220 Location: Nottingham, NH
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Posted: Mon Nov 07, 2005 3:58 pm Post subject: Re: "settling" back in after a cleaning |
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Shooter458, that's like saying eat only "1" chip!!!!! How do you do it?
I'm 15 minutes from the range but between work and work at home I just can't get there often enough!
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