sighting in rifle

When you zero a rifle, how many shots do you take before you let the barrel cool down. After 8 - 10 shots that barrel is HOT. Is it necessary to let cool down?

(Savage model 111 in 25-06)

THanks

It shouldn't take more than 3-4 to sight one in. Make sure the scope is boresighted, take one shot, move the appropriate amount, take confirming shot and maybe one more, profit.

And in better answer to your question, I typically won't fire more than three from a thin-barreled hunting rifle before letting it cool substantially. The most important shot in hunting in the cold-bore shot. if you fire 10 rounds in 4 minutes and it's now 'on', you can almost guarantee it won't be 'on' when you fire one from a cold barrel.

The most important shot in hunting is the first shot. So when sighting in, I want the first round, and hopefully the next 2 or 3 rounds to go to my EXACT point of aim. I will make sure the barrel is cool for those shot. If it takes you many shots to get on paper and dialed in near your aiming point, stop and let the barrel cool. Then make that first shot count and make an adjustment if needed.

But when it's 85 to 100 degrees out, the barrel will get hot and take a long time to cool down. Sometimes I have taken a cooler filled with ice water and soaked a towel in the ice cold water, and wrapped it around the barrel to help aid in cooling. Most of these barrels are Cerakoted or stainless, so you may not want to do that with a blued hunting barrel. But it cools a barrel fast.

Yep, typically I boresight thru the empty barrel. Then shoot one round at 25 yards and adjust as necessary. Next round down range is at 100 yards. Adjust accordingly and shoot two shots to confirm. All done.

Shot strings, and cool time are dictated by the cartridge, the barrel thickness, and the barrel length. If your 25-06 is a sporter weight barrel, I would not run more than 3 consecutive shots through it before letting it cool. Shots 4+ will likely give you false data. Conversely, a very heavy barreled .223 can run 10 rounds, mag change and 10 rounds again.


With any rifle, very good ammo that agrees with the rifle, I will zero in two shots. Bore sight, fire one, dial the correction, fire the next. Often it is over with right there. But it takes a very good rifle, very good ammo, a scope that properly tracks, and a shooter that did not make any mistakes.

The question is probably most applicable when taking target practice.

Some follow the general rule that if you can't hold your fingers against the barrel because it's too hot, it's time to let it cool down.

Taking a break to let your barrel cool can also improve your shooting skills because it causes you to start over from the beginning in your pre-shot setup. Everything you do to get ready to take a shot is as important as taking the shot itself. IMO, your nerves are better controlled when you make handling and shouldering a rifle a part of your practice regime. Without it and simply picking up your rifle while sitting in your deer stand can be enough to trigger the "buck fever" jitters once a big buck walks out from the brush.

Also letting the barrel cool is a lot more forgiving on barrel and throat life.

To me it depends if you are sighting in using a gun vise or sighting in shooting off sand bags (or something similar). If out of a vise, one shot should tell you what change you need to make. Otherwise I take three shots and make any adjustments. If out of a vise you probably aren't going to shoot enough to heat the barrel up where it affects POI. Like others have said, if it is too hot to touch let it cool some.

Russ79 mentioned it and I will double down on it. A gun vise (I use a Caldwell sled with weights ) can be your best friend when sighting in. It takes the guess work out of it. Bore site, then put it in a vise and a few shots later, you should be good! I also shoot 3 round groups to establish a POI for adjustment references. Old Army habit! But as stated above, don't be in a hurry and let the barrel have time to cool! Good luck!

Gun vise like Caldwell can change your POI.

You are adding pressures and harmonics that aren’t present when you are not using them.

25-06 is technically over bore, I wouldn’t shoot over a 3 shoot string with out ample cool off. I had spiral fluting bull barrel and would still get fliers with my 25-06 if I didn’t let it cool. My 257wby I normally try to give it 3-5 min in between, “if”, I’m trying to shoot an impressive group. If just checking zero or fouling barrel never more then two shots.

Yup. They are the debil. (Mama Bouchet voice)

My experience has always been that when leaded, they raise the POI a couple of inches with practically no change in windage.

Also, remove the lead and use the gun vise simply to help the shooter create a steady and accurate aim and the POI difference is non-existent.

I hate to say it but if you feel you need a sled to get accurate shots down range you need more time behind your rifle. I really don’t mean to be an [censored] but if you don’t have confidence in sighting in your rifle how can you have confidence taking a shot on game?