How to Keep Your Rifle Barrel Cool

[@millerslaw]

Yeah I'm not putting cold water down a hot barrel. Metal expands and contracts from extreme temperature changes, maybe I'm wrong but I would not risk it myself.

[@millerslaw]

@spikedpsycho I hear ya but machine guns were not made for Precision.

[@wiggsan]

I agree!!

[@oscarbear7498]

It's fine, You going from low temp to a flash of high temp when shooting. Depending on the temperature adding water has a far less temperature change than shooting it. Obviously if it's red hot adding water could cause problems. Compared to using the gun even hotter can't be any worse than letting some water cool off, if the temperature is too great of a change water will just become mist immediately. I think cooling it off is a lesser of 2 evils

[@YouTubePrimer-zm1xi]

Wrap a wet towel around the barrel before you start shooting.

[@Gunners_Mate_Guns]

Really nice to see David on video after all these decades of having read his excellent articles.

A computer fan, a Peltier module, plastic tube, a few hand working result in a cooling system for your barrel (cold air send trought your barrel). A 9v battery can help too ;)

[@The_Painter31]

Wouldn't it just be easier to bring more than one rifle, let one cool while you shoot the other?

[@elvisjerrylee]

I think I will just wait until my barrel cools naturally.

[@xenomorph1317]

Great! Did the water cooling on my barrel and my bullets now almost fly in circles because it deformed. Thanks very much for this information pricks!

[@user-bu2jc8sz2p]

no-one should EVER pour water down a hot barrel. EVER. it will distort your barrel and ruin accuracy.

[@thunderhead870]

same thing I thought

[@freedomloverusa3030]

Yo Mama and what about the old WW2 machine guns with water refrigeration? Is a different method?

[@souljahaden6184]

Yo Mama what about dunk it down into water not pouring it

[@ghostshadow9046]

had a water jacket around the barrel and barrel under the water jacket remained submerged in water, it helped prevent the barrel from getting massively hot as fast and they tried to not keep long continuous fire if they could avoid it, they would still get hot enough to boil the water. and on machine guns they are not really concerned about accuracy.

[@bladesmilitariauk5013]

Well the idea is it's cool maintained from the get go so never heats up quickly. They gradually get hotter if continuous prolonged fire as the flowing water cooling effect isn't great enough to maintain low temp but much better than getting much hotter really quickly which would be the case with no water cooling. Water cooled machine gun are recommended for short regular bursts anyway not long continuous. So basically there will be a threshold that not many people will understand for certain barrels where if you let it get that hot it's not a good idea to cool it really quickly & also depending on the temp your cooing it from the initial water temp needs to be considered too. Very scientific. I would take an educated guess & say that as long as you don't let the barrel get really hot you would benefit & do no harm by dunking it in a bucket of ambient water or even cold or ice water. But you would have to do this after every high cap mag say 50rnds for about 10 seconds because if the temp differential is above a hundred degrees or so (not sure exactly of a safe threshold) then this rapid cooling could cause accuracy & wear issues but nothing dangerous. To cause a catastrophic failure I would imagine it would have to be an extreme scenario where you allow the barrel to glow red hot & then quench it in ice water & continuously fire it again full-auto & repeat the process until failure. This temp differential from rapid cooling of maybe 1000c so could cause all kinds of permanent changes in the barrel (bore expansion/contraction) & brittle barrel & I wouldn't want to be anywhere near what is essentially a pipe bomb waiting to unleashed shrapnel on the operator & anyone nearby.

[@beestoe993]

Setting the barrel vertical makes perfect sense, because hot air rises and with an open action cool air entering will displace the heat naturally.

[@jarrodcollins9692]

Just buy a cheap aquarium battery powered air pump. They come with aerator hose for about 10 to 15 dollars . Feed the hose through chamber into barrel and turn it on. Cools it very quickly

[@Gunners_Mate_Guns]

I made a better solution: rechargeable air mattress pump with automotive tubing attached, then run right into the breech. It really blows the air through quite nicely.

[@DMX-PAT]

just a fantastic solution to diminished accuracy due to heat build up, thanks!!

[@leikegielen3090]

Just bring 2 or more guns to the range, problem solved.

[@dg1234ify]

1) Use kryptoday techniques by the moonlight. 2) Pump acquiesces down the gas tube. 3) Blow tulip petals downwind as you chant, boom chac-la-ca. 4) Teach your barrel to channel downstream water cooler gossip 5) Gelato takedown sun worshiping acqusition 6) Chamber chillers because you need robotic, anti-human devices to handle your ineptness

[@muzzgit]

Bwahaha fuck I haven't laughed so hard for ages. Thanks mate this was priceless ... :) And be kind to your tulips BOOM CHACA-LACA BOOM

[@sirpanzer9407]

You can also use a bore snake, no need for patches or a rod; also since a bore snake is a couple feet long it get's the barrel dry real quick.

[@garyquail2347]

Sir Panzer that sounds like a very interesting concept I'm going to give that a try.

[@pilsley4737]

Water down the barrel will not hurt it, the temperatures involved are not high enough to be quenching the steel, it's returning the metal back to its desired spring state. I would however recommend pouring the water down the barrel when it is vertical, not horizontal, no damage either way, just uniform cooling of the cylinder.

[@garyquail2347]

Pilsley I do the same thing what I'm shooting muzzleloaders let's say at about 3 rounds of minute then I will do that same procedure that you do but I usually do it with cloth patches and usually that the old gunpowder residue at least 90% of it comes out.

[@timkourbo3196]

If you run a hot pan under cold water after cooking in it, it will warp over time. Me thinks the same thing will happen to barrel. Perhaps slower but nevertheless. Cool air on the other hand makes more sense.

[@mikelong9638]

I've come to the conclusion that letting a gun barrel lie in direct sunlight not only heats it, but even worse, heats it unevenly, mostly on the side, much like a board warping.

[@ronws2007]

Slight problem with vertical resting. Many ranges do not allow that. If the rifle is out of the case or bag, it must be pointed down range at all times. Period, paragraph, end of book, forever, amen. But I like the idea of letting the hot air rise to get out of there. Too bad these ranges don't have fans. However, at times, I use an indoor range and it helps somewhat, having climate control. It also helps that I have a barrel that is accurate when hot.

[@repairfreak]

I’m also with the group that says just don’t get the barrel crazy hot to begin with and just let it cool down naturally. Depending on the composition of the barrel if carbon steel esp and temperature, it would seem like you could actually harden your barrel and make it brittle with water quenching. I’m not an expert but do know a thing or two about a thing or two, therefore if I’m going to error, I’m going to choose to error on the side of safety. But you do you, and I’ll do me. 😁👍

[@rosswilliams5740]

Err you dummy. "Err on the side of caution".

[@repairfreak]

@@rosswilliams5740 You’re funny, have a great day🤣😂

[@rosswilliams5740]

@@repairfreak you too

[@CyclicMac]

I like the idea but the water can warp ur barrel 😬

[@garyquail2347]

That's a very interesting tip but here's a tip that I do that is fire one shot every two minutes after shooting 10 minutes after a five shot grouping then I will put the rifle on the rack for a minute then after that I will put the rifle on the bench and then run a couple of patches the first patch will be soaked in 90% isopropyl alcohol then the two patches will thoroughly clean and dry the barrel then after that I will put the rifle back on the rifle rack let it thoroughly cool down even more and then grab another rifle and do the procedure over again.

[@derekgray2866]

Was this released on April fools?

[@bait_caster_kam2936]

I have a 6.5 creed moor and I got 6.5 mm patches and a copper brush and I have to force them to get them in any tips in what to do?

[@ThingsYouMightLike]

If you're curious about barrel temperature, you should check out Cavemanllc.net. Thermal barrel indicators.

[@erikmyers2490]

If there's a body of water nearby just throw it in and be sure to embed it into the sand so it stays submerged for maximum cooling efficiency, go have 3 beers and retrieve.

[@mk84ldb]

Go big or go home. When I go to the range, I take a plastic 55 gallon drum with me and fill it up with water. Barrel gets hot, no problem. Just dunk the whole rifle into the water, just like quenching. I watch a lot of Forged in Fire episodes.

[@Ouwkackemann]

Pouring cold water through a heated up barrel, is that really a good idea? I know engine oil pans which cracked in ralleys when the cars had to drive through rivers. Dip darn hot metall into cool water and you shock it as much as you can, maybe it will be destroyed. I would never do that.

[@cornballmcgoo7174]

Dude those broke from a different effect the Stress in the metal what happened to those pans is like when you trap boiling water in a bottle seal it and spray the bottle with water the fluid in the seal bottle decreases in volume and pressure because of the sudden cooling and collapse because of the relative high pressure on the outside of the seal

[@osys11]

Rust and warp your barrel in 30 seconds

[@DMX-PAT]

were you joking when you said something can happen resulting in going to the hospital if you fail to use 3 cleaning patches...?

[@jcarry5214]

Water obstructing the bore won't move out of the way, the pressure will go someplace, possibly backwards. Even with a small puddle in the barrel.

[@TRUTHBMXracing]

Melting point for most stainless steel is around 2600*!

[@jadoncramer6512]

Not sure about the water method, but he did not say "wait until your barrel is super hot to put water in it" I think he meant to keep it cool after one or two shots, keeping it at a much lower temp by cooling in between each shot would not do anything in most cases. that could work. Allowing it to get hot and then cooling it rapidly would obviously be a disaster.

[@jesusmarin95]

What is over heated ? Like a 3 or 4 shots ?

[@youtubecensorship646]

Yeah, the whole discussion should start right there : what is too much ?

[@capnbly]

My first reaction to this method was the effect of sudden EXTREME temperature change to the steel( even at 1000F). Maybe very warm water would be better at first then follow with cold water??

[@oscarbear7498]

It's already going through extream Temperature change by shooting it, adding water just absorbs the heat , if the steel is too hot it will immediately become steam. Adding warm water from cold to protect it won't make a difference, you want it cold so when it comes out its still liquid and not steam. Idk I think terminal shock can't happen if the gun can still be handled, if it's glowing red hot okay, yeah that's a Hugh Temperature change

[@TexasTrained]

Do you not think that cool eater or even room temperature or ambient degree water will affect the integrity of the barrel.Almost to micro fractures.?

[@robertmills4101]

I’ve always found heating my barrel to 30,000 degrees works best save on ammo that way to

[@skalvenner]

If you run water through a hot barrel, unless it is at high pressure and fills the barrel completely then youre only cooling the bottom side which could warp your barrel. Bad advice imo

[@gtfactory5396]

absolutely moronic to say that a barrel reaches 3000 degrees! steel melts at 2700. and ... lead melts at abt 600 - so at 3000 your bullet would spurt out as a little glob of metal.

[@ghostshadow9046]

look at Iraqveteran8888 his meltdown videos, he melts a couple barrels.

[@7th_CAV_Trooper]

I just read that gun powder burns at ~5000F. So when he says it get's up to 3000 degrees "in there" I don't think he means the temperature of the steel, but of the gasses. 3000F gasses will transfer some heat to the barrel.

[@TexasHoosier3118]

So what causes throat erosion?

[@wiggsan]

Great info! Thanks!

[@tomickes409]

??? what about instead of water an inexpensive motor oil?

[@markwalker1615]

No bore guide ?

[@mdlindsey]

1. don't get it hot 2. leave it vertical, not horizontal 3. don't leave it in the sun Saved you several minutes.

[@raymondross123]

I can’t imagine rapidly cooling super hot steel is good for the life of the barrel. Also you just look stupid doing it, maybe you shouldn’t let your barrel get that hot??? If ya have to cool your barrel just stick it in the YETI cooler for a few

[@huntvarmints]

Not me!!!

[@muffemod]

MY NIGGA :D

[@seankiser9674]

Tip a can of keyboard cleaner upside down and shoot the juice in the super cold cleaned and oiled. Takes like a second.

[@DonziGT230]

3000 degrees, no way. But if it's anywhere near that hot and you hit it with ice water several bad things can happen. I would use compressed air down the bore to speed cooling without going to the extreme of water.

[@josephtalarico1749]

3000+ degrees is true but only for maybe a second or so.... id say 500 deg F and outside around 100-200deg F thousands of psi and a metal slug moving at 2000+ miles per hour in a metal tube makes some serious friction

[@DonziGT230]

Not even for a second or two, that would destroy the metals involved.

[@brandyjackson6990]

Hey folks I think the idea here is to keep the barrel from overheating not to quench it once it is very hot.

[@7th_CAV_Trooper]

Better read up on gun powder.

[@masterofthought6395]

Wanted to add a quick warning for anyone using canned air absolutely do not hold the bottle upside down or you’ll be spraying it with a liquid that’s at or nearing cryo temperatures. This only applies to the store bought stuff obviously regular old compressed air from an air tank will have no such risk I recommend getting a propane tank spending 8$ on fittings to turn it into an air tank and filling it up with an air compressor go to the gas station with quarters if you don’t own a compressor easy to carry no power needed it’s free and holds a decent amount of air for the job your doing with it.

[@PileofBrass]

This guy is off his rocker. Water down the bore ? Negative.

[@isaiahchoate]

You can do the same with an air-cooled engine. Just have to use ice water!

[@rifflenut1484]

I am going to get a fan that works off of batteries.

[@doubled473]

That rear scope ring is barely holding on there.

[@jimgray6166]

Yeah I'm just going to say no to water in the hot barrel

[@RomyArms]

Never put water down your barrel!

[@dougrogillio2223]

Petzal is still in the 60's.

[@Southernguitar74]

I didn't realize his IQ was that high. I would have to see proof of his IQ being over 40.

[@APACHE529CREWCHIEF]

Sounds like a bad idea

[@NoGoBu]

I'll make a note 🤔 Mike Hammer

[@mikebaird1110]

3000 degrees , he must be pouring liquid steel to make new barrels. wow

[@PhilipRonsivalli]

Water down a hot barrel? I wouldn't do it

[@jeffm7669]

I was wondering what happened to Epic Beard Man

[@darbybyebee2851]

I keep my ammo in an ice filled cooler.... no barrel heat issues

[@tomickes409]

LOL

[@jmcb5215]

Ur barrel isn't getting 3000 degrees...the melting point of steel is 2550 or so

[@7th_CAV_Trooper]

He didn't say the barrel was 3000 degrees. He said it can be as hot as 3000 degrees "in there." If gun powder burns at ~5000 degrees, then the gasses are going to be at least 3000F.

[@jmcb5215]

Which it's not.

[@davidrivero7943]

Just buy a second rifle , or third...? & NO water.

[@wetwriterrr]

And I thought you just pissed on your barrel...a little more tricky to pee down the inside.

[@darrylhussey1752]

3000 degrees and put ice water down the barrel think u will do more damage than letting it cool on its own I would never do that it would cause cracks in the barrel and chamber just don't shoot the gun that hot

[@albirasistendragen]

is this dude serious

[@navyvet87zavala95]

Bring marshmallows and Melt them from the barrel heat then make s'mores and shove them down the barrel. Problem solved.

[@peterkolovos3079]

The old Buffalo hunters used to piss down their barrels to cool them off, but then again, they weren't shooting magnum rounds. The water thing is a bad idea, especially in a smoking hot barrel. Remember, this is just a gun writers opinion from a monthly hunting rag. I stopped reading all of these hunting and gun rags years ago. It's the same regurgitated pablum year in, year out! Most are written for Nicky-New-Guy to sell the advertiser's product. Shooting Times, Guns & Ammo, and Guns Magazine are THE worst of the lot! They are written for rank amateurs.

[@TakeDeadAim]

Just bring a cooler and shoot off of bags of ice...less work.

[@FierceMouse]

Just hose of the entire gun with wd40, let it drip dry and wipe off access. Cool barrel and clean in one shwoop (jk, dont do this)

[@MrMacktrucksforlife]

This is fucking hilarious why would you put water in a barrel HAHAHA

[@xringhammer1871]

How can I shoot a Palma match with unlimited sighters and 15 record shots at 800 yards in 90 plus degrees in 22 minutes with no accuracy loss? I don't believe this guy actually shoots.

[@juliusjames5577]

Don’t shoot it. That easy

[@DS-gd1xw]

Yeah no,

[@marbo40k35]

3000 degrees lol.

[@JuiceOg0311]

Oh no, don’t use water or warm water. Let the barrel air cool don’t water cool. If you don’t want to believe me take a metallurgy class. BIG NO NO

[@pdoggy10inch]

yu just wurped you barrel dude

[@rogerpodactor2755]

pdoggy10inch what's wurped?

[@JB.1371]

jerry lillman the inside of the barrel

[@DS-gd1xw]

Worst idea ever! Shoot slower then your barrel won't get that hot.

[@marcusinfestus1333]

What a pain in the di.... *sigh* it works...

[@donnawells2442]

That old man has probably forgot more about guns than you "whippersnappers" ever knew. With age comes wisdom.

[@gabemando7823]

And dementia

[@2003evodave]

Water! NO NO NO !!!!!

[@7th_CAV_Trooper]

What's your beef with water?

[@jcarry5214]

Lotsa shit talkers on here. Must have found all the outta work gun writing professionals.

[@ajmgokhan]

What

[@zx7rou812]

If you're taking advice from F&S, you have more problems than just the nonsense in this video...

[@junluo7970]

such a big joke