Cold weather?

[Espial]

Hi. This might seem like a dumb question. I'm new to the US, never had to deal with cold weather like this in MN, South Africa is pretty warm comparing to these winters.
I sighted my new Rem 700 22-250, about 3 weeks ago, 45f.
Yesterday it was about 15f outside and the shot placements is not that great at 100 yards.
Can cold weather affect the whole combination of shot placements?

Thanks

[T3-OleMan]

Yep. Whats your powder?

Pick an article.

Temperture - Google Search

Good luck....it's all in there.

[Greyfox]

Originally Posted by Espial

Hi. This might seem like a dumb question. I'm new to the US, never had to deal with cold weather like this in MN, South Africa is pretty warm comparing to these winters.
I sighted my new Rem 700 22-250, about 3 weeks ago, 45f.
Yesterday it was about 15f outside and the shot placements is not that great at 100 yards.
Can cold weather affect the whole combination of shot placements?

Thanks

Yes, it absolutely can. Very typical with many factory loads, and reloading powders. This can be minimized, or eliminated with the use of temperature insensitive powders.

[Cold Trigger Finger]

Also the colder it gets, the dryer it tends to be. This is not a problem for synthetic stocks but can and usually does affect wood stocks. Welcome to the U.S.

[Espial]

Thanks for the inputs.

[BMF]

Something else might be to blame also. I doubt at 100yds, with a 22-250, you would see a difference, even if the MV was 50 or even a 100 fps slower. Which I doubt it was even that much because the temp variance was only 30 degrees. I don't know exactly but a 100 fps difference at 100 yds is probably about 1/4 in. Just guessing.

[WildRose]

Originally Posted by Espial

Hi. This might seem like a dumb question. I'm new to the US, never had to deal with cold weather like this in MN, South Africa is pretty warm comparing to these winters.
I sighted my new Rem 700 22-250, about 3 weeks ago, 45f.
Yesterday it was about 15f outside and the shot placements is not that great at 100 yards.
Can cold weather affect the whole combination of shot placements?

Thanks

Welcome. I have good freinds in SA including one who reads this forum "Fatboy".

Yes temps can affect your shooting. Some powders are more sensitive than others, and of course steel moves with temperature changes and it becomes stiffer which will affect barrel harmonics to some degree.

Thinner contour barrels seem to be affected the most negatively and heavier contour barrels seen to actually shoot better in freezing temps than they do when it'a 115F outside during the summer here.