Effects of elevation on reloads

[Mlgrace]

Hey, I have sold my home in central Texas and am soon to permanently move to my home town which happens to sit at about 7000’. I have a substantial amount of hunting ammo reloaded for my favorite caliber, 7mm-08. My new playground extends to over 11000’. please explain to me how elevation might change my load accuracy. gracias

 

[F Class John]

Not sure what your previous elevation was but I’ll assume pretty low based on the question. My two cents, very little to no accuracy change but your come-ups will vary dramatically. From 150ft to 4000 I lose about 2moa, you’ll lose more.

 

[Rope2horns]

I agree with John.....if it was a good load at home, it will be a good load where you're going.

 

[Big Mc]

Hey, I have sold my home in central Texas and am soon to permanently move to my home town which happens to sit at about 7000’. I have a substantial amount of hunting ammo reloaded for my favorite caliber, 7mm-08. My new playground extends to over 11000’. please explain to me how elevation might change my load accuracy. gracias

Most likely the only thing that will change is your POI. I live in South Texas, and when we go to Colorado I must re-sight my gun. We hunt at 6000 feet. I hope that will help you. Tommy Mc Group size NEVER changes.

 

[powderbrake]

Here is where a ballistics program on your smartphone will help. Once you load the info from your sight in , you can see what the changes in your scope clicks are for a new elevation.

 

[FeMan]

I agree that you are not likely to see much if any change in accuracy. The atmospheric standard for temperature change is 3 degrees per thousand feet. Temps will be colder and your burn rate will change. It may or may not affect tune but it will drop MV somewhat. I always calibrate my loads and MV for temps and input them into my Kestrel. I live at sea level and shoot/hunt all over. I find that as long as I have the inputs right, I'm still solid at 1k plus.

 

[Mlgrace]

Good info. Thanks guys. I will be looking at POI changes.

 

[6MT]

Hey, I have sold my home in central Texas and am soon to permanently move to my home town which happens to sit at about 7000’. I have a substantial amount of hunting ammo reloaded for my favorite caliber, 7mm-08. My new playground extends to over 11000’. please explain to me how elevation might change my load accuracy. gracias

The rate of decay is the only thing that will change. Thus, your point of impact (vertically) will change. By “rate of decay”, I mean the rate at which gravity affects the rate at which the bullet drops. Higher elevation....thinner (less dense) air.

It’s a simplistic explanation, I know.

 

[bozo699]

Mlgrace,
I went on a antelope hunt last week. I live at 1260 feet and Gillette Wyoming was 4551. I have property that is quite high so I went for a drive to check my load. @ 5785 I set out a steel target I had about a 5 mph full value right to left wind that I did not adjust for I used my applied ballistic phone app dialed my scope and this was my results......yes it was off but still minute of antelope. Best of luck at your new location.
Wayne

 

[Mlgrace]

Thanks buds, this move is long overdue. I am from the Arizona white mountains but a career in the military and then at DOD took me away for most of a lifetime. I am extremely fortunate to be able to move home. I shoot a lot now and will continue when I get fully moved there. Maybe it is all nothing to worry about. I have never shot a deer or an elk at over 200 yards or so anyway and to be honest I have no intention to start now.

 

[Ackman]

Ballistic coefficient increases with elevation, and temperature.

 

[rammac]

Up to 5 or 600 yards you don't really have to worry about the difference. Basically the higher the altitude the less drop you'll see.