So both my rifle and my brothers rifle shoot definitely different on the cold bore vs the next 3. Like and inch or 2 roughly at 200yds. Is this normal I guess? If so, that seems like it could pose a problem for hunting out at 500yds let’s say… thoughts? Advice?
The big golden rule is that every rifle and ammo combo behaves differently. So it certainly wouldn’t surprise me to experience what you do. My personal rifles don’t so much shift between cold and the next shot but do shift significantly when they are cleaned.
I’ve listened to podcasts and blogs where competitive shooters and long range hunters will pattern there cold bore shot as well as their cold/ clean bore shot. Put up a target, shoot it once with a cold clean gun, take down the target kind of take the gun home and clean it. Put up that same Target a day or so later and take another cold clean shot at it. Repeat for a 3 or five shot group. Or you could just do it cold bore without doing the cleaning in between.
Never tried that myself though
An inch or two at 200 yards is pretty normal for cold bore shift. I’m working to learn how to mitigate it. More to come in a future video.
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I was thinking about this and I was wondering if this type of sighting process would be best for a hunting rifle since all of my hunting shots are like that- assuming one shot kills which is my goal. But what a pain for a working guy to find time to do this.
Yeah I’ve often thought about doing this myself but being a working man it would be a multi-month endeavor. Especially if I were to get a good group but then need to make a scope adjustment and then shoot again to confirm!
So do you sight in just for the cold bore shot and then for follow up shots it is what it is?
Looking forward to that video. The subject has crossed my mind as well. As someone mentioned, in the hunting application, most of our shots will be through a cold bore. I think if you have decent shot placement you will still not be too far off the vitals. Nevertheless, when we work so hard (and spend a bit of money) to put together a rifle/ammo package that is reliably accurate, the thought of a two-inch shift with the first shot is disconcerting. Can’t wait to hear what you find about mitigation steps.
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A one shot group for a moa rifle should be good enough for a follow up shot. I guess the challenge is then proving you have a one moa rifle. And since it is a one moa rifle at that point based on 3 or 5 shot groups then a cold bore shot should be within one moa of that group. I have now talked myself out of it. 
You either sight the rifle in based upon the cold bore shot group, or, you could just take good measurements and know that your Cold Shot is always such and such an MOA up and such and such an MOA right ( or left and down, etc etc) and make adjustments for that when making the cold shot.
The trick is to find those rare gems that shoot the same no mater if it’s cold or hot. These are the ones you hang onto because only accurate rifles are interesting.
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