Don’t Fry Your Barrels – Monitor Barrel Heat With Temp Strips

July 27, 2022August is fast approaching, and we are nearing the peak heat of summer. Many areas are already experiencing extremely hot temperatures. It is important to avoid barrels getting too hot. This can be more common in summer. Overheating barrels can cause barrel life to be less accurate. How can you monitor the temperature of your barrel? Although you can check if the barrel feels warm to the touch, this method is not very accurate. There is a better way — using temperature-sensitive strips. McMaster.com, an industrial supply house, offers stick-on temp strips with values starting at 86 F. To 140? F. A pack containing ten (10) horizontal strips (item 59535K13), costs $13.16. This is a cheap way to insure your barrels with insurance — just $1.32 per strip. Keep your barrels below 120 degrees F for the best results. Click on the horizontal label to select item 59535K13. I don’t shoot barrels that reach 122 degrees [.]”. Here are photos of McMaster-Carr temperature strips on Nomad47’s customized Savage. Bad things can happen when your barrel heats up. First, some barrels can shift or “walk”, depending on how hot the barrel is. The barrel can heat up and cause the groups to open up. Third, high temperatures can cause pressure issues by transferring heat from the barrel to the loaded cartridge. There is evidence to show that hot barrels tend to wear out quicker. This is a real concern for varmint shooters, who can shoot hundreds of rounds per day. Many varminters use multiple guns to avoid burning their barrels. Neconos.com sells BAR-L Temperature Strips that visually display the temperature of a barrel from 86 to 140 degrees. These strips can be thought of as thermometers that monitor the barrel’s heating.
Place a strip on the barrel’s side and the temperature will be indicated by a change in color from black to green. A “general purpose” strip can also be used to indicate the temperature of the barrel (see bottom row). In the middle is the Benchrest model strip (86°F to 140°F). These Bar-L temp strips are $12.70 each or $25.00 for a 3 pack.
NOTE: These can be permanently attached to the barrel using the heavy-duty clear plastic tape provided with the BAR -L Temp strip. Similar Posts