Barrel temps and accuracy

R

redlightrich

New member
Hello all, I was wondering, at what point will heat ( from firing the gun) start to diminish the accuracy?
I realize that when stone cold, accuracy can be off, but after a shot or two, it comes back to normal.

Some days, when I am shooting a lot, and it is sunny out and the sun beats on my pistol while I am reloading mags, I can't help but wonder. I am sure at some point the bore needs to cool down, but in real world use, how hot is too hot?

I usually load 2 mags at a time, shoot, repeat. Every once in a while, I rotate 3 or 4 mags, but 2 is my normal.

Can I make the barrel hot enough for accuracy to diminish, if using it like stated above?

I don't torture test it, but sometimes, I will put 30 or 40 rounds down range pretty quick.

Does anyone have any evidence of accuracy lost due to heat? Maybe I am a bit OCD and in regular use, nothing will change?

Thank you

Rich
 
Ambient air temp isn't a problem. The problem is when the barrel gets hot it either pushes against the stock and moves the POI or the barrel actually warps due to it having been "straightened" when manufactured and the heat makes it want to return to it's original shape. Sitting in the sun won't do much if anything to the POI. You need to realize that to a human twenty degrees is pretty noticeable. To a piece of steel it is pretty meaningless. Now when you start firing the gun, the barrel temp can raise well over a hundred degrees in a hurry and cause problems. Some guns with well bedded barrels or premium barrels (not mechanically straightened after manufacture) won't have any problem with temp. Some will just go crazy due to the movement in either the barrel or barrel to stock interface. I've never owned a handgun where it made any difference and I've owned some competition guns that got pretty warm during shooting and retained their accuracy with no problem. I suppose it's possible a handgun may be effected, but nothing like a rifle will be.
 
I doubt you could tell a difference with a pistol.
I don't know for sure because I don't lay my pistol down in the sun. It is either in a holster or on a bench in the shade.

You can know for sure, though.
Run the test, shoot the gun cold, warm, hot; then score the targets.
 
As mentioned, the ambient temperature compared to the temperature of a barrel after shootings is pretty insignificant.
 
Thanks for the replies. I haven't been having problems, I just wanted to know if I should expect some at some point.

Its good to hear that a pistol can get pretty warm without any real negative effects.

I don't try to make my pistols bake in the sun, but depending on how many shooters are at my range, I sometimes get stuck in full sunlight, and the range officers want to see "active" firearms visibly with the flag in the bore when not being handled. Unfortunately, my range/club does not allow carrying or drawing from a holster. I am not complaining as my club is as close to shooters Nirvana as you will find in NJ.

Again, thank you all for the replies

Rich
 
redlightrich said:
Thanks for the replies. I haven't been having problems, I just wanted to know if I should expect some at some point.

Its good to hear that a pistol can get pretty warm without any real negative effects.

I don't try to make my pistols bake in the sun, but depending on how many shooters are at my range, I sometimes get stuck in full sunlight, and the range officers want to see "active" firearms visibly with the flag in the bore when not being handled. Unfortunately, my range/club does not allow carrying or drawing from a holster. I am not complaining as my club is as close to shooters Nirvana as you will find in NJ.

Again, thank you all for the replies

Rich
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Temp of barrel is a rifle issue, a few shots within a minute and its too hot to touch depending on cartridge. I guess that's why, when given, accuracy is only stated for about three shots.

I haven't noticed much with a pistol especially with my light loads. The quickness of my shots is limited by the range rules, how I feel and my wallet.:o
 
Maybe I am a bit OCD and in regular use, nothing will change?
Click to expand...

Maybe....

There are lots and lots of different factors that make rifle shooting different from handgun shooting.

ONE of them is the standard for accuracy. Most handguns are NOT as accurate, mechanically as most rifles. Exceptions do exist. Most people cannot shoot a handgun as accurately as a rifle. Exceptions do exist.

A 1 inch group at 100yds is considered an accurate rifle. Twice that size at one quarter the distance (25yds) is considered an accurate handgun.

I've been around handguns for some time, never heard of anyone noticing any practical change in accuracy from heat of firing.

Now, ammunition "baking in the sun" CAN have an effect on pressure, Don't leave your ammo on the dashboard of your truck in 110 degree heat for hours...or its likely you will have ...issues.
 
Temp of barrel is a rifle issue, a few shots within a minute and its too hot to touch depending on cartridge. I guess that's why, when given, accuracy is only stated for about three shots.
Click to expand...
The reason why guys report accuracy for three shots is because their gun doesn't shoot that well for five shots regardless of the amount of time between shots. Statistically, the more shots tells a better story about accuracy. I don't even bother with measuring three shots. Five is a better indicator of actual capability and ten's even better yet. Even with three shots, wait for the barrel to cool between shots.
 
Not Semi auto, but ...........

Had a 357 mag Colt Trooper revolver char and crack the forcing cone from rapid fire on a 90 plus degree day. No loss of accuracy was noted. Load was 125 gr jacketed bullets , using Unique at maximum. Dont remember the amount of powder, as it was in the 1960s .
 
Again I would question if 90 degrees ambient is relevant when you're talking light 357 magnum bullets loaded hot.


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I am by no means an expert on this subject but I will tell you what I have observed. The brand of ammo makes no difference in the observation but I have noticed that a couple of my all steel 1911's seem to become a little more accurate after the first magazine is fired. Not sure if it is because the gun is warming up or I am getting warmed up or both.

Also, with regard to ambient temperature, one must remember that the ambient temperature indeed affects the density of the air; the higher the temperature the less density the air has. It will not make a significant difference shooting a pistol or a rifle over a couple of hundred yards. However, it is noticeable in artillery. The amount of powder charge has to be altered with the temperature of the air, i.e. air density.
 
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