Shooting in cold weather

[JoeH]

It looks like you'll have proper conditions for testing for months to come.

[Seismic Sam]

My 50GI loads go from 880 FPS to 820 FPS with 8 grains of Herco when the temperature goes from 75 to 25, and that's the +P load. If you had a light target load with only 4 grains of powder, then it's very likely that with lower temperatures you are having failure to ignite problems. Check the Hodgdon website for their line of powders that have better stability at low and high temperatures, and put more powder in your loads.

[Keith]

Some lubes can turn into a gel in cold weather and really slow the action down. It really hasn't been cold yet, though. But, if you add into the equation, your dirty gun and light loads???????

[someone1980]

Some lubes can turn into a gel in cold weather and really slow the action down. It really hasn't been cold yet, though. But, if you add into the equation, your dirty gun and light loads???????

I heard some of the IPSC shooters talking a while ago how they went to a match where it was snowing. Their pistols were not working, so they lubed them up more. Only made it worse. But that is a race gun with a race gun load.

I had problems last winter when it got below 0 and kept my ammo outside.

But like the man said, it hasn't been all that cold out.

[hammAR]

So why don't you try two short experiments:

1) Split a box (50) rounds in two. Put one half in the freezer for an hour or two before shooting. The other half, and the weapon, keep warm. Go shoot and observe.

2) Split a box (50) rounds in two. Put one half, and the weapon, in the freezer for an hour or two before shooting. The other half keep warm. Go shoot and observe.

Don't change anything else other than above, and let us know.......

.

[Pat]

Very interesting...

[someone1980]

Hmm that almost sounds like science.

[Pat]

Science is fed solidly by caffeine, comfy chairs and time...

That something absolutely astounding might crop now and then, just feeds the doughnut mill. But I mean I like we have doughnuts...

[jaysong]

Now, do you put the smart carry in the freezer with the gun or just put the gun in the smart carry after it has been in the freezer???

[farmerj]

Couple thoughts here.

All ammunition is temp sensitive. Go take your hunting rifle you zeroed last July for Deer season and go see where it actually shoots now some 30-50 degrees cooler.

Alliant and IMR are some of the more temp sensitive powders to use.

I personally don't like Alliant powders. Much better luck with Hodgdon. I use Clay's for 9mm and 12 ga and looking to work it up for the 45 ACP as well.

Do you have a factory crimp into it? I have realized with lead, it takes a pretty good crimp to work the same as for copper.


you are loading WITHOUT a manual? at the bottom of the recommended load?

Just curious, but which is more dangerous? a too light load? or a load that pushed the max?




The light load...

The max load will blow the case for sure...

The light load will explode, not even burn. The end result is lots of little parts made out of that pistol in your hand.

What are you using for lube?

I have not found much that works as good as BreakFree CLP. Just wet the finger tip, rub it on the rails....And go to town.

Regardless of temp or time of year, my pistol will function.

That, and $5 will get you coffee at Starbucks...

[Ironbear]

You know temperature is a problem when:

A biathlon competitor comments that velocity would go all to hell if it got cold enough.
http://www.biathlon.net/low_temp.html

Lapua makes a specific biathlon ammunition for cold weather, the "Polar Biathlon".
http://www.vihtavuori-lapua.com/long-rifle-polar-biathlon-p-181.html

Muzzle velocity drops with temperature.
http://www.benchrest.com/forums/showthread.php?t=29198