How far off could cold bore be?

[Doc7]

Hello,

To help me with my quest for my first deer season a coworker lent me a Marlin 336 30-30. It is of 1986 vintage and has been locked in a safe since 1994 when he bought it from a friend down on his luck for 100 dollars.

I installed a Vortex Viper 3-9 on it and took it to the range today. My first centerfire, it took me a few shots to get used to shooting it (other experience is in handguns, 22 LR rifle and shotgun as I am an avid squirrel hunter) and figure out where my POI was. After adjusting, shooting, adjusting between groups (range went cold every 20 mins or so for a target replace/check) I ended up firing around 20 shots today. I have it sighted it 1.5" high at 100 yd, getting 1.75" groups.

Shooting 5 shot groups I am not sure the barrel ever got "hot" but I am also not sure how close to "cold" it was either. It never got above warm , and it was 50 degrees with a strong breeze today.

Think It is zeroed for hunting or do I need to confirm again? It is 80 mins each way to the range so I hope not.

Thanks for any advice.

 

[Doc7]

Oh:



The patches are the first dry and wet patches I ran through the bore when I got it.

 

[Legionnaire]

You should be fine. I can't imagine a cold bore shot will be off POA by more than an inch or so at 100 yards.

 

[rodensouth]

If those patches were after your range trip, I would recommend a shot or two to get it settled back where it was at the range.

Cold bore shots on my rifles are just as described above, inch or less away from warm barrel.

After cleaning however, I have seen the first shot be 5-6 inches off. After sighting in for season, I don't wipe the bore again until after it is over. Unless, I got caught in the rain, then a lightly oiled patch down the bore, and I still shoot one round into the dirt as soon as the rain stops before hunting.

There are much more experienced hunters here that may say different, but that has been my experience.

Good luck!

 

[CarJunkieLS1]

My 6.5x55 Swedish on a clean cold bore is 2 inches higher than a cold fouled bore. A warm bore shoots basically the same as the fouled cold bore does. I check zero on a cold and clean bore everytime I'm shooting. I ALWAYS hunt with a clean cold bore. All my shots are 200 yards or less and all my rifles shoot MOA or better at 100yds.

 

[Doc7]

The patches were from the bore when I first got the rifle.

I will find time to get to the range one more time before the season I think so I will clean it out really well and then go back to range, fire a couple foulers and then fine tune my cold bore POA.

 

[shooter1niner]

I check zero and hunt with a fouled bore. Clean well when the season is over.