Thread: Accuracy impact of a cold bore

Hi team, I cleaned my 308 out a few months ago and am planning a hunt in a couple of weeks before which I may not have a chance to go to the range to foul it. What actual effect does this have? can it throw the bullet left or right or just an inch or so low as I've read? I won't be shooting more than 200m at any rate. Thanks in advance.

Sorry title should say clean bore!

Varies from rifle to rifle, some are largely immune, some vary acutely. A couple of rounds into the dirt at the start of your trip should at least put your mind at ease, even if they don’t scare the game or help with accuracy.

how clean did you get it ?

Originally Posted by longshot

Varies from rifle to rifle, some are largely immune, some vary acutely. A couple of rounds into the dirt at the start of your trip should at least put your mind at ease, even if they don’t scare the game or help with accuracy.

Yeah not too keen to do that as could be near stock in lambing season. It's a Tikka T3 stainless if that makes any difference

Originally Posted by gimp

how clean did you get it ?

Reasonably. Ran some hoppes through it and patches until it was mostly white. 6-7 patches

Originally Posted by hamishg

Reasonably. Ran some hoppes through it and patches until it was mostly white. 6-7 patches

Just Hoppes oil too not the solvent

It sure can and is more common than we would like to admit.

Cold bore shots or clean bore shots is a big thing - hence the huge "cold bore shot" thing.

There are different ways to address it, but the most common practice is to test and determine what your rifle will do whith that first shot. And then to take it into considerstion for the 1st shot only.

I've had an expensive custom build that would always impact 1" left and .75" high on a cold bore shot.

I learned to dail 4 clicks Right x 3 clicks down from whatever the ballistic calculator told me to dail.


But only for the 1st shot.

There are other ways but way more technical

It'll almost certainly make practically no difference that would cause you to miss a deer inside 200 metres. Aim for the shoulder.

Originally Posted by gimp

It'll almost certainly make practically no difference that would cause you to miss a deer inside 200 metres. Aim for the shoulder.

That's where I'm landing. 200m would be pretty unlikely and only with a solid rest. More likely to be under 100m. An inch I can live with. If it were 6 inches it'd be different

Next time you have an opportunity, test it yourself on the range.

Originally Posted by gimp

Next time you have an opportunity, test it yourself on the range.

I'll try get out to the farm to soot it up and check zero anyway. Been awhile since I've shot anyway

I may take the 30-30 with peep sights for a bush walk instead anyway

Yes it does make a difference, but the difference is largely negligible. At the end of the day you're not target shooting in controlled conditions so more likely your shooting and the wind will cause more effect on accuracy.

How does one differentiate between natural spread and the effect of a cold barrel, if any?

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