Hot-hot-hot

[Franco2shoot]

After this weekends trip to the range it occurred to me this morning that in actual use the barrels of military rifles like my 91/30 Mosin-Nagant must have become as hot as a branding iron during battles.

I was tweeking in the crosshairs on the recently installed scope, and as such, would fire 3 shots taking time to evaluate each shot. Overall I was slow and deliberate but even so, I found that the barrel became almost too hot to touch after 9 to 12 shots. I can only imagine a soldier jamming in stripper clip after stripper clip and slinging lead down range.

What I would like to know is just how does a redhot barrel change the POI? Does it ever settle down to be alway high or always low, what about left right?

KKKKFL

 

[Vaarok]

Depends how the stock presses on the barrel, and on the barrel itself. A large part of the reason for shimming the action from the stock, plus it helps with cooling to have a tiny airspace.

This is why military arms have handguards and sporting guns don't, and why I really love my German Commission rifle.

 

[Bart Noir]

Yeah, they can get hot. My brother and I kept up a pretty good rate of fire with a .303 Lee Enfield one day and had the wood so hot there was oil coming out of it.

That long military handguard saved his skin when he fixed bayonet and charged the target stand.

Bart Noir

 

[Vern Humphrey]

I have seen .50 cal machinegun barrels that got so hot they drooped. In a few cases, so badly that the AP bullets tore through the side of the heat-softened barrels.

Now, admittedly, we were doing a lot of shooting, and it was pretty important that we do it and keep doing it.

 

[Harry Paget Flashman]

It might have been a blessing in the Russian Winter.

 

[Franco2shoot]

Pictures

Second try at posting pictures

Hope this works
KKKKFL

 

[jesse485]

Yeah, they can get hot. My brother and I kept up a pretty good rate of fire with a .303 Lee Enfield one day and had the wood so hot there was oil coming out of it.

That long military handguard saved his skin when he fixed bayonet and charged the target stand.

That's excess cosmoline coming out of the stock. I have done that before with my SKS. Them commie rifles tend to get nice and toasty.

 

[Bazooka Joe71]

Yeah those suckers get REALLY hot if you "rapid" fire too many rounds, I learned the hard way.

Now, I usually just shoot 4 or 5 clips worth at a time and give her a breather before I'm back at it.

That's excess cosmoline coming out of the stock. I have done that before with my SKS. Them commie rifles tend to get nice and toasty.

Yep, at that point I feel like I at least have accomplished something.

 

[Franco2shoot]

Do you notice the pattern going Higher or Lower as the barrel heats up?
Thanks
KKKKFL

 

[Bazooka Joe71]

Do you notice the pattern going Higher or Lower as the barrel heats up?

I haven't noticed myself, but that is because my M44(the only Mosin I rapid fire) is primarily an off hand gong ringer...I'd just get frustrated trying to get tight groups with it.