outside temp for sight in?

[johnstonblake]

what's a happy medium as far as the outside temp to sight in a rifle? does the outside temp really have that much affect on the the flight?

it's a hunting rifle, and i'd be hunting in temps anywhere from 80 degrees to 30 degrees.

 

[OFIS]

Re: outside temp for sight in?

In your case, No.

(unless you are hunting beyond 500 yards)

 

[Dirty D]

Re: outside temp for sight in?

I hunt deer and usually take one at dawn after my rifle has been sitting in a case in my truck overnight and not in my heated home. When I sight in my rifle I leave the rifle and ammo in my truck overnight and hit the range at sunup so as to best mimic the conditions that I will be shooting in (temp of rifle and ammo).

 

[Graham]

Re: outside temp for sight in?

It sounds like you have a choice, so sight-in and chrono closest to the temperature that you will be hunting at.

Then have a look for yourself: using JBL, run a dope chart for your load at 30 degrees, 60 degrees and 90 degrees.

Unless you gather data about how ammo temp affects the internal ballistics of your rifle you won't be able to go much further than that, so:

Range;
Wind;
Fine-tuning of external ballistics;

In that order.

 

[johnstonblake]

Re: outside temp for sight in?

I should be able to sight it in for a close to temp as it cools off later in the year. Except for my first hunt of the year. I'm sighting it in this week in hot weather then taking it to alaska for a bear hunt, and it will probably be at least 40 degrees colder. I just hope it doesn't change the zero too much.

 

[Graham]

Re: outside temp for sight in?

It would be prudent to confirm your zero after the trip to Alaska anyway. You can re-zero at that time if necessary.

 

[johnstonblake]

Re: outside temp for sight in?

Good point.