For the same reasons, we fitted a scout scope so that the scope did not significantly protrude forward of the receiver. We also had on hand a standard Leupold VX-III scope, a standard factory plastic stock, and a laminated wood low-profile factory stock. The reason for these was that we wanted to compare our tested barrel heating results to the barrel heating in a real gun in a standard varmint hunting configuration. However, we discovered that it was essentially impossible to get good data in the confines with these stocks and this cope installed.
We hope to soon complete a study in this regard through application of a strain gauge and seven thermistors on at least two barrels and with an interface to a computer so that we can monitor barrel heating in real time as the bullet passes through the bore.We had painted each barrel flat black because this improves accuracy of the temperature-sensing gun that we used. This gun displays temperature in 0.2-degree C increments but repeatability accuracy is closer to 0.5-degrees C. However, with the large number of samples taken, generally, such errors will tend to cancel. Generally, I swept the sensing cone of the gun across the barrel slowly enough so that I was able to read and report highest displayed temperature but fast enough so that barrel cooling was not significant during the reading interval. As indicated in the timing table, I took readings at a five-second cadence, starting over the chamber and working toward the muzzle. After taking the 24-inch location reading, we paused until one-minute had passed since the first chamber reading and repeated the readings, starting at the chamber. For most of the tests, we continued this sequence until we had seven readings per location, which was certainly sufficient