$11 barrel cooler.

[Xdm40rajuy]

In the load development process, there is nothing worse than waiting for your barrel to cool. For all of you who roll your own, here is a simple yet effective way to cool down your barrel. Now after I am going through my load development, it only takes a little more than 5 minutes to cool my barrel. Which speeds up my load development process. I went to Walmart and bought a air mattress pump for $10, then went to Lowes and purchased 2 feet of 5/8 i.d. tubing.
I simply inserted the tube inside of the nozzle that goes in the pump. Put the hose over the barrel and turn it on. That's it.

 

[contender]

Neat idea!
"Welcome to the Forum!"
Now, what about a handgun version? :D

 

[Xdm40rajuy]

Neat idea!
"Welcome to the Forum!"
Now, what about a handgun version? :D

Thanks contender. I haven't thought about a gun version, but I'm sure this tubing will fit over my 9mm barrel :D

 

[Dan in MI]

I used to dip my SBH bbl in a tube of rubbing alcohol to cool back in my IHMSA days.

 

[CLAYPOOL]

Layne Simpson within the last few months just had a write up on using water and hose, with a funnel to cool rifle barrels. He stated that it had NOT damaged any barrels and he had been using that method for years.

 

[Paul B]

I did just that a couple of years ago. Shooting here in the summer when it can easily reach 110+ degrees makes waiting for a barrel to cool not much fun. If the barrel is just in the sun without firing it gets just as hot to the touch as if you's shot it. Shade is scarce and not much help. Tried the mattress pump and after about five minutes at 113 degrees (that day) it turned toes up and died. It might work if you're in a much cooler climate but here in Tucson that idea didn't fly. :( FWIW, it was a brand new pump.
I see you're going from the muzzle end. Heat rises so maybe you might get quicker results putting the tube into the breech.
Paul B.

 

[Sharps40]

I just shoot a different gun or even watch my grandkids shoot theirs. Barrels cool off and no batteries to buy!

 

[Twoboxer]

Thanks for this! The D-cell version is perfect for conversion to USB power . . . just cut one connector off a USB cable, strip the cover back, strip the red (+5VDC) wire and the black (ground), and attach/solder in place of the batteries.

The rechargeable battery pack I use with my LabRadar has a second USB power output that will drive the pump.

This should be faster than the small USB fan I've been using. Thanks again.

 

[lolbell]

Canned air like used to clean computers works well also