Barrel Mirage discussion

[David Dundas]

All

I wanted to open a discussion on barrel mirage and how it affects you in really still conditions and how you get around it if at all.
I have seen people use long tunes on the end of their scope and even saw a photo of someone who had the barrel covered with some sort of cardboard tube.
Would barells benefit if they had some sort of carbon fibre covering, or if you simply put a sock of some sort over your barrel. Do you think the mirage comes from the barrel or from heat escaping from the muzzel or both?
What are your experiences?

Regards


David Dundas

[Les Fraser]

Hi Dave interesting question yes barrel mirage does have an effect on you elevation when you are sighting through a scope. The best method i have seen was a luever out of a blind with velcro tabs to keep it in place, a great idea i have seen it on lots of top shooters outfits so they must work.

For me personally i don't use anything on the barrel, i know it probably doesn't matter but once a get a rifle shooting the best it can that is how the rifle will stay. All things to do with accuracy come from harmonics so if your rifle is fitted with a mirage band and shoots the lights out with it then shoot it that way all the time.

Also it has been my experience that with the size of the barrels we shoot in the fly that mirage is not a great threat unless you are running your shoots hot and quick.

Les