Archeryrob
Undecided on a great many things
I need some schooling on the process. I think I was doing okay and barrel heating started causing issues. I did not want to do this when it was cold and windy, but now I think I should have. I think the barrel was heating, stopping floating from swelling or just heat and being off. How long between shots or ladder steps? I am doing 4 rounds per step and I made a lot of steps as I am doing my first ladder with cast and seeing how fast and consistent I can get from them before it looses accuracy and I have to stop on speed. Rounds are wheel weights, water quenched and powder coated. This is a Bergara B-14 in 30-06 and using 4198 with a 175 grain spire tipped round, gas checked.
Started at 33 grains and 2171. Shoot 4 and stopped to change targets. walk out and back maybe 5 minutes between steps. The 5th step was 35.5 grains 2304 and first three rounds group and 4th shoots low, No fouling, but barrel is hot. Drive off to buddies house for water break/let gun cool.
Start again 36 grain 2329, 36.5 - 2354, 37 - 2378 and 4th one drifts some, 37.5 - 2403 and 4th pull right more and lastly 38 grain barrel allowed to rest some, shot one tight, follow by 2 pulled right. Let gun cool again and shot three on tight and shot 4 following three even farther off. Seeming the more rounds shoot the longer rest/cooling times need to be.
So it seemed velocity in cast rounds wasn't mattering but barrel heating was destroying accuracy. The longer the shooting went on the worse it got, but the cartridges were getting hotter with going up steps on the ladder too. So I am assuming I need a lot longer rest times between shots/ladder steps or a better way to cool the barrel back down. I think I could probably shoot one ladder step of 4 in sequence, but its going to need a long rest or cold air on the barrel.
What wisdom can you give on rest times and cooling the barrel down?
Started at 33 grains and 2171. Shoot 4 and stopped to change targets. walk out and back maybe 5 minutes between steps. The 5th step was 35.5 grains 2304 and first three rounds group and 4th shoots low, No fouling, but barrel is hot. Drive off to buddies house for water break/let gun cool.
Start again 36 grain 2329, 36.5 - 2354, 37 - 2378 and 4th one drifts some, 37.5 - 2403 and 4th pull right more and lastly 38 grain barrel allowed to rest some, shot one tight, follow by 2 pulled right. Let gun cool again and shot three on tight and shot 4 following three even farther off. Seeming the more rounds shoot the longer rest/cooling times need to be.
So it seemed velocity in cast rounds wasn't mattering but barrel heating was destroying accuracy. The longer the shooting went on the worse it got, but the cartridges were getting hotter with going up steps on the ladder too. So I am assuming I need a lot longer rest times between shots/ladder steps or a better way to cool the barrel back down. I think I could probably shoot one ladder step of 4 in sequence, but its going to need a long rest or cold air on the barrel.
What wisdom can you give on rest times and cooling the barrel down?