cold weather shooting

[Col. Batguano]

I think we actually hit -70 that day (`94 wasn't it?). The news people all wanted to take pictures of the thermometer, which was in a low area of a swamp, and when they turned on their camera lights, the radiant energy raised the temperature on the thermometer.

The thoughtfulness of the 4th estate rivals only the collective wisdom of Congress at times.

 

[GaCop]

I've experienced accuracy changes when shooting my Zouave in colder weather. Shooting on days the temp was in the upper 50's or lower 60's, my groups were 2" at 70 yards. A couple of weeks later I shot on a day it was 28 degrees and my groups went all to hell opening up between 4" and 6". All shooting was done from a Caldwell "The Rock" rest and a rear bunny ear bag.

Tom

 

[Richard J.]

Ashville,Pa. It is the mountains above Altoona. Clearfield creek and Rices creek come thru the town. It sets in the very bottom of a valley. And yes it gets this cold.

 

[Richard J.]

Also the top of the mountains up near Kinsu dam are that cold in BP season a lot of the time. Sorry I forgot to add that to the other post.

 

[Richard J.]

Where you from in Central Pa. I worked with a karstetter in Altoona.

 

[Pigman]

I have been told, and it makes sense, that accuracy changes in cold weather not because of the cold but because of thicker clothing worn by the shooter. A heaver jacket may only move the distance from your eye to the rear sight by a 1/2 inch or less but it changes your shooting stance.

Foster From Flint

 

[Little Wattsy]

I have been told, and it makes sense, that accuracy changes in cold weather not because of the cold but because of thicker clothing worn by the shooter. A heaver jacket may only move the distance from your eye to the rear sight by a 1/2 inch or less but it changes your shooting stance.

Foster From Flint

That sounds the most feesable to me...

 

[Billnpatti]

I would agree that the difference between winter clothing and summer clothing will make a significant difference in how you shoulder your rifle and, consequently, where it shoots. However, one must remember that cold powder has been show to burn at a slightly different rate than warm powder. This will effect the pressures that are generated and result in a different POI. The greater the distance, the more noticible this change in POI will become. Having said this, the difference caused by changes in the temperature of the powder will, most likely, be the least of your worries unless you sight in your rifle in the tropics and then hunt in the Arctic or vise versa. These temperature changes will also affect your barrel dimensions. The colder the barrel gets, the larger the bore will get. We are talking ten thousandths of an inch to only hundred thousandths of an inch in bore diameter. With enough difference between the ambient sighting temperature and the hunting temperature, this could cause differences in the accuracy and POI.

 

[Col. Batguano]

With the colder weather, you might need a thicker patch.

 

[Billnpatti]

You are absolutely correct. With a sufficient change in temperature, a thicker patch could be the best correction. If you have them, and the temerature change is sufficient, a slightly larger ball could also be a possible solution. Of course, a change in ball weight would have to be taken into account. In either case, you may possibly need something larger in your cold bore if the difference in ambient temperature is large enough between your sight-in and hunting.

 

[pab1]

I have shot a few times around -20F. With wind chill (the wind never stops at the range I go to) I'm sure it was colder than what the thermometer showed. My accuracy was not quite as good as in warmer weather but I think that was due to me being cold and wearing extra layers of clothing. I use bear grease on my patches and while they were stiffer, they still loaded fine and looked fine after being shot. I did notice that if there was any moisture on my hand it would get a little sticky on my brass ramrod. Not as bad as Flick with the flagpole on A Christmas Story, just a little sticky.

 

[Billnpatti]

I actually experienced -20 deg. one time. Once was enough. That occurred in Canada. I did enjoy the cold weather in Indiana but now, I'll stick with Texas temperatures.

 

[Leatherbark]

I remember hunting at -23 in West Virginia back in I believe 1989. My friends CVA using 90 grains of Pyrodex RS and Buffalo bullets would go "Ploop" and spit out the bullet at bb gun velocities at the end of the day. We were both flabbergasted. Good thing the deer werent moving. MY TC Hawken with 90 grains of 2f Black went Kaboooom just like normal. But then again it was a can of Pyrodex from back when it was first made. Late 70's and this guy stored it in his basement so it might have been his fault along with those cardboard cans they used back then.

Bob

 

[Col. Batguano]

And, the air is thicker. More drag, so it's like going down in altitude. BC is BC, but drop in velocity is a function of how many molecules the bullet runs in to between you and the target. I'm not sure how the metallurgy is affected, but if you look at other shooting sites, you will see quite distinct differences in muzzle velocity at different temperatures.

That's part of the reason the old Kynoch rounds destined for Africa were loaded lighter. Because they would reside in the chambers of the big doubles all day, in the overhead African sun, and get pretty hot, with a resultant increase in pressure when touched off.

The opposite of course for colder climes. Several manufacturers make .22 caliber ammo that is specifically designed for biathlon shooting.

Guys that are really in to bench rest keep voluminous notes about ammo, temperature, humidity, wind etc., and shoot and test a whole bunch of it across broad ranges of conditions, so they can get it right when it comes to a match.

 

[M. De Land]

I noticed that pyrodex was hard to light many years ago while shooting in cold weather here in AK. Black powder fires just fine in the cold with no hesitation. I don't believe metal expansion/shrinkage from the relatively minor difference in temperature (+70,-20) has any effect what so ever.MD

 

[Little Wattsy]

I noticed that pyrodex was hard to light many years ago while shooting in cold weather here in AK. Black powder fires just fine in the cold with no hesitation. I don't believe metal expansion/shrinkage from the relatively minor difference in temperature (+70,-20) has any effect what so ever.MD

Just to keep it real, I shoot in Oregons wet/cold temps; from 70* to -10* ... Avg wunter morning is say 15* (Wallowa Mts in NE corner of the State). I shoot Pyrodex FFg and have NEVER had any ignition issues EVER (since the newbee mistakes of loading an oily barrel).. CCI precussion cap makes BOOM every time!

 

[Col. Batguano]

the reason this stuff is a little harder to light in colder temperatures has to do with the heat dissapation of the ignition source. BP lights at 400 or so degrees, and the substitutes at higher temperatures. If the ignition source is from a percussion cap, the flame has to travel through the nipple, make the turn at the drum, down the drum channel, and in to and heat the main charge to the point it spontaneously combusts. All those places the percussion fire is contacting are sources to rob energy from the source. And it has to elevate the temperature to the flash point. The further the ambient temperature is away from the flash point, the more energy will be needed to get it there.

Do your own science experiment, and see that it is harder to light a match outside in the winter than it is in the house.

 

[M. De Land]

I noticed it in my TC .50 Hawken in cold weather and it was not subtle about it. It routinely hung fire with the stuff and I have had no use for it since.
Never had a hint of trouble in the same gun and conditions with 2F Goex.
I also found it to be more corrosive than BP when both were left for the same length of time after shooting in wet weather.
I would be hard pressed to leave a gun uncleaned for a full day if shot in the AM with either one under these conditions frankly. MD

 

[catman]

I noticed it in my TC .50 Hawken in cold weather and it was not subtle about it. It routinely hung fire with the stuff and I have had no use for it since.
Never had a hint of trouble in the same gun and conditions with 2F Goex.
I also found it to be more corrosive than BP when both were left for the same length of time after shooting in wet weather.
I would be hard pressed to leave a gun uncleaned for a full day if shot in the AM with either one under these conditions frankly. MD

Well said and true..

 

[Billnpatti]

I was going to chime in on the subject of cold temperatures because as you all know, we Texans, while we never lie, can stretch the truth beyond all recognition. But after reading all of the low temperature stories on this thread, I knew I was out of my class and had just better sit back and listen to folks who are much more gifted in the art of tall tales. I tip my hat to all of y'all who had hunted in the next colder temperature than the previous person. :hatsoff: I just know that if this thread goes on long enough, it will come out that someone will have hunted in absolute zero. :rotf: