Re: Temperature Stable Powder Test!!
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: 1SMALLJOHNSON</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Yes, the test showed what could happen when you condition rounds in a cooler. I'll grant you, perhaps a matter of symantics. My only point is that conditioning rounds in a cooler, then shooting them at a target will NOT provide you REAL WORLD scope adjustments for different enviornmental conditions. That's all.
I just don't want some poor guy who's investing 5 grand into an Elk hunt to think he can put his rounds in a cooler to find out where his bullet will impact when it's 32 degrees outside. External ballistics doesn't work that way. Caveat emptor. See my point? </div></div>
I agree that it doesn't mimic real work conditions in many cases. Because of the way most people transport their ammunition, it usually does not see a significant temperature swing if it's shortly after arriving at the range.
Most hunters don't use scopes with exposed turrets, so precise ballistic trajectories is really a moot point to begin with for that type of shooter. They're often shooting at relatively close distances and using hold-overs. I would agree that for them, it is really futile to worry about temperature stability. However, for those who do adjust their turrets, measure atmospheric conditions and compute the new trajectory (I sure as heck would for a long shot), velocity change does make a difference. Yes, the trajectory does change with atmospheric conditions. However, if your velocity is also changing, then you have just introduced another variable to deal with. Atmospheric conditions can easily be measured with a kestrel, the internal temperature of the rounds cannot.
Even if you know your loads velocity change with temperature from a test like that, once you step out of your nice heated vehicle, its going to take several hours for the internal temperature of your rounds to reach steady-state with the outside temperature. How long it takes is going to depend on the thermal resistance of whatever the rounds are sitting in. During that time, you will not know what that internal temperature is and what your velocity is if its changing a lot with temperature. I would much rather eliminate that variable as much as possible, personally.
Many people who are target shooting are always shooting at relatively close temperatures, and have sighter shots, so it also isn't a big deal for them. But, for people shooting year round in places that have big temperature swings, why not use a stable powder when there are excellent options available? Especially if you are going to take the time to measure conditions and compute a trajectory. It only makes sense to eliminate the velocity change as a variable as much as possible.
