Working a load up in cold weather.

[stretch257]

I am tired of sitting in the house and it -4 outside and I want to burn powder. Too many loads to try and too little time when its warm.
Would it be possible to work loads up for summer conditions by warming bullets before shooting groups? Or putting a large heater in a shed and getting it hot like 100 and put the barrel end out a small window?

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Check humidity and density altitude

 

[K22]

I am tired of sitting in the house and it -4 outside and I want to burn powder. Too many loads to try and too little time when its warm.
Would it be possible to work loads up for summer conditions by warming bullets before shooting groups? Or putting a large heater in a shed and getting it hot like 100 and put the barrel end out a small window?

I believe one of the issue is that the air density is higher in cold weather vs. warm weather thus point of impact will change. I know from personal experience that even with the so called temperature tolerate powders, my point of impact will change approximately 3/4" from the dead of winter, in the 20's to the height of summer, in the 90's. I don't think this is such a big deal as long as you are aware of the change. I shoot and hunt all year around, predators in the winter and ghogs in the summer.

 

[chkunz]

You can control internal ballistics as you describe by keeping the gun and ammo at some desired temperature and shooting out a window. No need to over do the room temperature, just be sure that all is stable at the desired temperature. Mostly be sure that the mean bulk temperature of the powder is stable at the desired temperature and you know what that is. Outside the window you take what nature gives you for external ballistics and that may be ok depending on what your objectives are.

 

[stretch257]

I like working up hunting loads in the cold. Thats when I do most of my hunting. Dont care about point of impact so much My scopes all are the fancy models i can adjust.
I had a issue a couple years ago with a new powder that was supposed to be temp stable. I was well under max and the sun baking my shells or the 100 degree day got me. Thats why so hot. Maybe an easy bake oven to warm shells?

 

[dmoran]

"Or putting a large heater in a shed and getting it hot like 100 and put the barrel end out a small window?"

Be prepared to see some extremely heavy and tricky mirage in the scope, from the warm air / cold air mixing at the window.
Or so was my experiences when I had a go at it a couple times, a few moons back.
Donovan

 

[Dans40X]

Ambient temperatures spoken-
Load any of the so called temperature insensitive powders of choice.

70 degrees work up, shot at 0 degrees you'll loose 100+fps velocity.
70 degrees work up,shot at -20 degrees you'll loose 200+ fps velocity.
70 degrees work up,shot at -40 degrees you'll loose 350+ fps velocity.
70 degrees work up,shot at -58 degrees-chronograph batteries gave up the ghost & LCD screen froze.....solid in less than 5 minutes.

As mentioned-
shooting from a warm/heated building thru a window will be a mirage nightmare.

A warm firearm w/a scope of more that 4power introduced into -10+ degree temps will appear at first glance that you are in the desert at 100+ degrees.Now fire a shot & watch the heat play with your mind once again!

Any caliber of hunting ammo that I carry in the field when the cosmos calls for -10 degree temps and below, a duplex load to help light the magnum powder column are used.

 

[Toolbreaker]

Try putting your ammo in a small cooler before you go out. A cooler is a warmer when it's cooler than the cooler .

 

[Dusty Stevens]

How much cooler can a cooler be when its cooler than the cooler outside temps?

 

[billlarson]

I am tired of sitting in the house and it -4 outside and I want to burn powder. Too many loads to try and too little time when its warm.
Would it be possible to work loads up for summer conditions by warming bullets before shooting groups? Or putting a large heater in a shed and getting it hot like 100 and put the barrel end out a small window?

I`m in the same boat......... -8 here.......... BUT.... years ago. I learned it is a waste of time... don`t waste your time.....

 

[billlarson]

Here's my thoughts...what's wrong with working up a cold weather load...gives u some thing to do. You can practice your trigger, learn more about loads while doing it and practice honing your wind reading skills. Have fun doing it. When warmer weather starts to show up, adjust ur load as the seasons change. Next year when your sitting around bored with cabin fever and it's -4 out, you will have a load to grab and go play and practice...if you solely want to just work up a load for summer shooting only and don't want to waste barrel life in the meantime....pick up a different winter time hobbie. Personally for me, any day out shooting is a day of fun and experience.

so....fredhorace......... you go out and practice in -4*F.... I`d like to see it.......how long before you can`t feel your trigger finger ......????.... by the time you set-up windflags/front rest/targets/gun/ammo and seat..... you will have lost feeling in them....????.... and this is productive....???? .......C`mon buddy.....
bill

 

[stretch257]

I wish I lived in a warmer climate but since I cant move a farm. I will just have to settle with shooting out of the garage window. I am lucky in that respect my shooting range is at my house. I still have to get cold to go put up the target and check it. My problem is my range is cut down to 100 when the crops are up all summer. I just have to heat my garage or mower shed till I find a chunk of change to build and heat a shop. I dont think my wife would like me shooting off the kitchen table.

 

[Hntndad]

My vaginitis prevents me from shooting in any temperature that is less then 1/2 my age.

 

[fredhorace77]

My vaginitis prevents me from shooting in any temperature that is less then 1/2 my age.

Haha, you won the Internet.!!!