Barrel heat and grouping

[ArchieHicks]

Evening,

This weekend I’ve gone out and bought my first centre fire rifle, a .243 bergara b14 crest (steel barrelled). I took it out Saturday afternoon to zero it and began dialling it in starting at 50 yards and once I was happy moving out to 100, for the first 5 shots cleaning after every round as recommended by begara to break the barrel in. Once I got out to 100 I got it to within about a 50p after 5 or so shots leaving a few minutes between rounds before it started to open up quite drastically (shooting around 3 inch groups), the barrel was hot but not as much to the point you couldn’t still hold it. I know when zeroing a stalking rifle it ideally wants to be ambient temperature as to be the same as it would be when you take your first shot in the field but I was running out of daylight so wanted to get on. In short my question for everybody is - is this normal and can any harm be done to the barrel by allowing it to get hot? I know a hot barrel will affect a grouping to a degree but changing the group size from sub moa to 3+ inches seems slightly extreme. Any help, inputs or recommendations is appreciated.

 

[Tim.243]

Evening,

This weekend I’ve gone out and bought my first centre fire rifle, a .243 bergara b14 crest (steel barrelled). I took it out Saturday afternoon to zero it and began dialling it in starting at 50 yards and once I was happy moving out to 100, for the first 5 shots cleaning after every round as recommended by begara to break the barrel in. Once I got out to 100 I got it to within about a 50p after 5 or so shots leaving a few minutes between rounds before it started to open up quite drastically (shooting around 3 inch groups), the barrel was hot but not as much to the point you couldn’t still hold it. I know when zeroing a stalking rifle it ideally wants to be ambient temperature as to be the same as it would be when you take your first shot in the field but I was running out of daylight so wanted to get on. In short my question for everybody is - is this normal and can any harm be done to the barrel by allowing it to get hot? I know a hot barrel will affect a grouping to a degree but changing the group size from sub moa to 3+ inches seems slightly extreme. Any help, inputs or recommendations is appreciated.

Scope or mounts coming lose as it is a new set up....
Check ALL the screws and fixing bolts

 

[VSS]

If you got to within a 50p size group at 100 yards, it doesn't sound like you've got much to worry about!
Just leave it now, and try again another day with a cold barrel. If that's also good, then go stalking.
If it's not good, do as @Tim.243 says above.

 

[ArchieHicks]

Scope or mounts coming lose as it is a new set up....
Check ALL the screws and fixing bolts

Would you recommend using loctite on the rail and scope fixings on a centefire?

 

[VSS]

Would you recommend using loctite on the rail and scope fixings on a centefire?

Clear nail varnish.

 

[Smellydog]

You should not need anything on the screws. If something is very wrong!
Describe the large group.
Scattered everywhere or are they walking in a particular direction?

 

[Tim.243]

Would you recommend using loctite on the rail and scope fixings on a centefire?

I used a med loctite on my .270 and had 1 come lose in 7 years so just re did that one then in rotation on the rail.
Used to use nail varnish on the dive computers when I did a battery change so if it came back you could see it someone had been poking!

 

[coldboremiracle]

the barrel was hot but not as much to the point you couldn’t still hold it.

This has been my experience with SOME carbon barrels but not all. I also have a Crest Carbon but in 308, and it too starts to open up a little bit once the barrel starts heating up. My son shot a deer with it yesterday, as it is perfectly consistent when shooting just a few rounds.

 

[Smellydog]

Completely barking up the wrong tree.
The guy had a group and within a few shots it's shot the sight loose!

 

[Klenchblaize]

This type of thread never ends well as to comment meaningfully you really need the rifle (setup) in front of you.

K

 

[ArchieHicks]

You should not need anything on the screws. If something is very wrong!
Describe the large group.
Scattered everywhere or are they walking in a particular direction?

Going off memory they generally wandered left if that provides any more insight

 

[ArchieHicks]

This type of thread never ends well as to comment meaningfully you really need the rifle (setup) in front of you.

K

I can imagine, general consensus thus far is to check none of my mounts have worked themselves loose and give it another go cold and see how it goes.

 

[WalkedUp]

A little tip is that it is best take a few pictures each time you shoot, scribble notes on. Really useful when you are looking back or diagnosing issues. Then, after years of shooting and photographing, when you finally have a clover leaf group you can post the same picture each time any one starts a thread about accuracy or just shooting in general

 

[VSS]

A little tip is that it is best take a few pictures each time you shoot, scribble notes on. Really useful when you are looking back or diagnosing issues. Then, after years of shooting and photographing, when you finally have a clover leaf group you can post the same picture each time any one starts a thread about accuracy or just shooting in general

Or cut out all the crap and poke holes in the paper with a soft lead pencil. Looks quite convincing if done well. Just keep one or two such doctored targets handy for photo opportunities.

 

[WalkedUp]

Or cut out all the crap and poke holes in the paper with a soft lead pencil. Looks quite convincing if done well. Just keep one or two such doctored targets handy for photo opportunities.

More evidence that you know your own tricks best

 

[User00056]

Or cut out all the crap and poke holes in the paper with a soft lead pencil. Looks quite convincing if done well. Just keep one or two such doctored targets handy for photo opportunities.

Someone once alluded to someone covering flyers with a strategically-placed thumb S'pose it would work with two or three if your thumb's big enough

 

[Tim.243]

This type of thread never ends well as to comment meaningfully you really need the rifle (setup) in front of you.

K

Granted, but given scopes and mounts are fitted by someone also people frequently ask what type of socks to buy then checking the item you look through connected to the other item that one is shooting any hardship will soon be forgotten if the scope was lose

 

[Jagged77]

Couple of things in answer. Long shot strings should not affect the group size, unless of course the mirage from the barrel and mod is obscuring your view through the scope. If you’re not at that stage and can hold the barrel then it’s not even warm. All good.
If you were shooting nice tight groups and it’s opened up, then either something’s come loose or the scope is broken. If using a mod always check for tightness every couple of rounds. Work through everything methodically and check for interference between the stock and the barrel too.

 

[Bo Diddley]

I had a frustrating afternoon a couple of years ago when the moderator was very fractionally loose... it fried my brain tbf.

 

[VSS]

Completely barking up the wrong tree.
The guy had a group and within a few shots it's shot the sight loose!

I don't think so.
If you read the OP, it seems he was getting along fine until, realising he was running out of daylight, he started to rush things. I should think his trigger control, cheek weld and follow through all went to pot for that last string of shots, resulting in a poor group.