What distinguishes a "cold bore shot"?

• A. It is fired from a warm barrel
• B. It is the first shot fired from a clean barrel
• C. It is fired during adverse weather conditions
• D. It is a shot taken after multiple practice rounds

Answer: (B)

A "cold bore shot" is defined as the first shot fired from a clean, unshot barrel. This shot is particularly critical because it can demonstrate the true ballistic performance of the rifle and ammunition since the barrel has not yet been heated by previous firings. Factors such as barrel harmonics and zeroing can behave differently when the barrel is cold compared to when it has warmed up from multiple shots.

In practice, understanding the significance of a cold bore shot is crucial for snipers, as it helps in establishing zero and accuracy in various conditions. Such a shot typically shows how the rifle and ammunition perform unfettered by the thermal effects of prior shots, providing a baseline for further shooting.

The other options, though related to shooting context, do not accurately define what a cold bore shot is. Firing from a warm barrel implies multiple shots have been taken, adverse weather conditions affect the overall shooting environment but do not define the bore temperature, and practice rounds pertain to familiarization and not the specific characteristics of a cold bore shot.