The Cold Bore Shot

[Ghost]

Okay, let me make sure that I have a decent understanding of this subject.

Cold Bore = Cleaned barrel and basically the very first shot of the day.

Fouled Barrel = Anything after the first shot.

I have read that a lot of shooters recomend that firing a fouling shoot before continuing on with the shot sequence. This helps the cold barrel to heat up and stabilize the barrel.

Discussion

In a hunting situation

I would feel safe to say that 50 to 60 % of all hunters will climb in their stand with a clean and obvioulsly a cold barrel. Now the second group, or the remaining 40 to 50 % are going to have a fouled barrel and again with a cold barrel as well.

How do both groups of shooters plan for their first shot? To me, the most obvious course of action is to chart the first cold bore shot before continuing with the rest of the groups at a range. But, how amny average hunters have the time to do this? I would say over half do not.

On average, what are the characteristics of a bullet fired from a cold barrel?

On average, what are the characteristics of a bullet fired from cold/fouled barrel.

I realize that both senerios are going to have some difference. But how much I would say depends on the barrel/gun and the stage of life at which it may be in at that time.

On average, at what distance do most shooters begin to see a difference in the bullets trajectory under a cold / clean bore senario?


I know that all of us here are gearing up for rifle season and I believe that we could all learn from this. I know I could and allready have learned a great deal.

[Kt29]

Cold bore set up is always another arguable but fun subject. Like alot of things, I believe it has a lot to do with the individual rifle. When I set up my rifles for hunting season, I use the cleaned and fouled bore scenario. As a rule of thumb, I use two fouling shots. Once the bore is fouled, I won't shoot it again till my next trip out to the range or shooting area. My next trip to the range I will shoot one round and note its Point of impact. If its not where I want it, I will make a scope adjustment. I won't shoot it again till my next trip to the range. Next trip to the range I'll again shoot one round to confirm the cold barrel Point of Impact. I also try to do all this sighting in as close as possible to the outdoor temp. that I will be hunting in. You might say that this is alot of foolin around just to shoot a deer or elk at a distance of 200 yards or less, and I'd say you are right. Where I would and do see the benefit of this method of zeroing in ones rifle is when you may be in a fairly longrange shooting situation,
200 yards and out. Besides, going out to shoot is always fun anytime.

[Ghost]

I just started putting my gun to bed fouled after reading a few topics on the cold bore subject. I am just getting started with this test and my second trip to the range will be the first cold/fouled barrel shot.

Another question. How do you feel about the practice of swabbing once or twice before putting your rifle to bed? By that I mean, not cleaning the gun but just a simple pass or two of a barrel swab.

I have, until recentlly, been one of those guys that always cleaned th barrel of the gun to a brillant shine after every trip to the range or feild. I have read and been told on more than one occasion that some shooters will not clean their barrel until they see that the accuracy of the gun is beginning to suffer. I have also been told that the more you clean the gun the more apt a shooter will damage the crown or throat. I agree with this to a point, if one is not very carefull in cleaning the barrel or not using the proper tools i.e. bore gude and or a coated cleaning rod damge can be done. I take great pains in making sure that my patch never leave the end of the barrel. I take it just to the end before pulling it back, as to not run any risk of getting into the crown with the jag or rod.

[Kt29]

Some of the reasoning behind fouling a cleaned barrel, is that in most cases a cleaned barrel is also a lubricated barrel, and the first bullet out of a lubricated barrel maybe several inches or more off it POI at a hundred yards. Supposedly this new lubricant called Prolix that I'm using on my firearms will not have the lubricating effect on the first bullet out of a cleaned barrel. Haven't really done on any testing on this, but will sometime this winter. Always fun to do a little testing.

[grizz1]

I find your conversation very interesting and one I know practically nothing about.
I do hunt with a friend from N.C. who is a 1000 yard shooter, he is the absolute opposite of me when caring for his rifle, but I know he seems to always want to shoot a deer or for a score on a fouled barrel. I think he charts his cold fouled barrel and wants to hunt on two fired shots, not sure. His abilities put me to shame, having said that, I'm probably your average deer hunter that should not be attempting those long range shots, we simply don't know what our rifle will do at 300 yards, we know what the experts say it's capable of, but as a hunter I'm not capable of getting everything out of my rifle that is possible.

[Head Hunter]

Snipers and most recon (scouts) Have there guns zeroed as fould and cold bore. You have clean, fould, cold, and hot bore, each are different. I would recommend a fould/cold bore zero. But recommend learning how your gun shoots in all situations. The more data you have on your firearm the better off you will be.

[Ghost]

Thanks guys. I am working up data on a fouled/cold bore right now. Since, all my shoots on deer are just that. Did a run at the range and got the .308 on paper. Did not have much time to play but the gun shows great ability, propably greater than my ability.

[Kt29]

Nov 4, 2009 14:56:14 GMT -5 Ghost said:

Thanks guys. I am working up data on a fouled/cold bore right now. Since, all my shoots on deer are just that. Did a run at the range and got the .308 on paper. Did not have much time to play but the gun shows great ability, propably greater than my ability.

Nice to see that you finally were able to get that 308 out to the range.
My buddy and I went to the range today to do a little barrel fouling in our rifles. They are now packed and ready to go for this Fridays opening of deer season.

[moordeer]

I shoot the fouled /cold bore. Also try to check the rifle or rifles that I plan on hunting with in temps as close to when I will be hunting in. POI in the summer vs late fall early winter will be different. Is it of enuff to where I would miss a deer at average yardage? Most likly not. I just want it as close to real hunting condition as possible.