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cold weather shooting

Danny36

Private
Full Member
Minuteman
May 21, 2012
23
0
39
Ohio
Sitting here at work I was thinking about how I've read that temperature effects your shot. But in what way? I've tried searching for it already. Say I was zeroed in at 70 degrees today its 5 degrees what kind of changes would be present? Shooting a Remington.700 sps tactical with 168 gr federal gold medal match ammo
 
Re: cold weather shooting

Except that you won't know how the ammunition temperature affects the muzzle velocity.

Go out and try it: Set up your chronograph. Put five rounds in your pocket and heat them up to your body temperature. Leave five rounds on the bench and let them cool down to five degrees. Shoot both groups of ammo. Record the results.
 
Re: cold weather shooting

That's pretty much what I was looking.for. I had an idea that being colder the powder would burn slower giving less muzzle velocity. But I'm still pretty green and tend to over think stuff so I figured I'd ask. Thanks for the responses! Now if anyone has tips on how to speed time up so I get outta work and to the range faster.....
 
Re: cold weather shooting

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Danny36</div><div class="ubbcode-body">That's pretty much what I was looking.for. I had an idea that being colder the powder would burn slower giving less muzzle velocity. But I'm still pretty green and tend to over think stuff so I figured I'd ask. Thanks for the responses! Now if anyone has tips on how to speed time up so I get outta work and to the range faster.....</div></div>

Work faster....
 
Re: cold weather shooting

Remember if you do the work of two somebody gets laid off. Friends of the boss never get laid off. You must be young it's too cold here in Ne. for this old man to enjoy laying on the ground.
smile.gif
 
Re: cold weather shooting

Couple little things we've noticed. Bring the rifles from a warm environment (house, pickup cab, etc...) into the cold, and you'll get mirage even on a grey overcast day. It's the just heat coming off the barrel as it aclimates to ambiant. We're going from 80 degrees to 10 degrees, and the it takes a bit for things to aclimate.

Have also noticed that as the ammo cold soaks, along with your rifle, it is good for a 1/4 to 1/2 MOA difference in come up at distance. We purposely chrono in the cold so that our numbers that go into the ballistic calc are close to the conditions that we shoot in.

Like others said, chrono your rifle/ammo combo, then cold soak it and chrono again. Note the difference and put it in your "tool box".
 
Re: cold weather shooting

I recall a post by kraigWY stating he has experienced about 1 MOA of vertical shift per 15-20 deg F change.
 
Re: cold weather shooting

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: hondo1312</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I recall a post by kraigWY stating he has experienced about 1 MOA of vertical shift per 15-20 deg F change. </div></div>

Depends on the cartridge and load. Match 30-06 I believe it. It was loaded pretty light. Top loaded 6x47, 6XC, or 6mm Creed not quite as bad. Noticeable, but not as bad.
 
Re: cold weather shooting

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Stranded</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Remember if you do the work of two somebody gets laid off. Friends of the boss never get laid off. You must be young it's too cold here in Ne. for this old man to enjoy laying on the ground.
smile.gif
</div></div>

Yes sir! Still a pup at 28 but got too old physically to do mma anymore so I picked up long range shooting. Always been a shooter since I was little but never took it out far. I'm really liking the challenge though!
 
Re: cold weather shooting

/<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: hondo1312</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I recall a post by kraigWY stating he has experienced about 1 MOA of vertical shift per 15-20 deg F change. </div></div>

This makes sense I was about 3 1/2 inches low from my.point of aim. This was with rounds I warmed up in my pocket. The ones I left sit out were lower than that. So my next question is knowing about how it'll react would you guys change your zero or hold over for that?
 
Re: cold weather shooting

Temp can effect internal and external ballistics. Learn the difference of what each will do to the shot solution. Good luck
 
Re: cold weather shooting

Besides the velocity change when the temp are different, have any of you experience your groups open up?
 
Re: cold weather shooting

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: TacticalHunter</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Besides the velocity change when the temp are different, have any of you experience your groups open up? </div></div>

Mine did but I figured maybe it had to do with shivering my ass off haha
 
Re: cold weather shooting

Think about cold temps in the same way you would think about load development. As the temp drops, so does the MV, similar to decreasing charge weight for a given projectile. As the MV drops, the barrel harmonics will change. As the barrel harmonics change, group size can change. How much is of course, dependent on the decrease in muzzle velocity and would be above and beyond other effects of the cold such as D/A.
 
Re: cold weather shooting

Yep, living in Alaska we can have some very cold temperatures. I have notice a change in vertical poi shooting steel at distance however I have not checked groups from a proven load say done in warmer temps.