Caution in the cold

skipglo said:

Interesting thought and should in theory be true. However...to help dispell the myth... I live in Northern Alberta Canada and I'm sure some folks from Alaska and Siberia can jump in here...40 degrees below ambient lower 48 is what? 0-20 farenheight. For 45 years I have hunted in-25 to -30 farenheight and have never popped a primer or had a casing stick. The only thing that stuck once or twice was my sweaty hand on the receiver after pulling it out of a mitten with a Hot Shot in it.

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284saum said:

Last weekend I tested the cold gun/warm gun difference. Day 1, cold rifles (-2F), Day 2, warm rifles (72F). Ammo was cold (-2F) in both days testing

Ammo left outside overnight in temps of -25C (-13F) . Was exactly -19C (-2F) when I shot, same as day before with cold gun/cold ammo.. Rifles were left inside all night, loaded into warm truck (heater set to 22C / 72F) and left inside the idling truck until ready to shoot.

Ruger Scout 223, 55gr Hornady SP / IMR 4198
Cold gun - 2871 fps
Warm gun - 2881 fps

Tikka T3x CTR 6.5 Creed
130gr Sierra TGK / RL17
Cold gun - 2817 fps
Warm gun - 2819 fps

147gr ELDm / RL26
cold gun - 2533 fps
warm gun - 2561 fps

Tikka 6.5 PRC
140gr Nosler Accubond / RL26
cold gun - 3075 fps
Warm gun - 3071 fps

143gr Hornady ELDx / RL26
cold gun - 2925 fps
warm gun - 2909 fps

Defiance 280 Ackley
160gr Nosler Accubond / RL26
cold gun - 3001 fps
warm gun - 3010 fps

165gr Sierra TGK / Accurate MagPro
cold gun - 2800 fps
warm gun - 2814 fps

195gr Berger EOL / RL26
cold gun 2677 fps
warm gun 2671 fps

Ruger m77 Scout 308 Win, 208gr ELD / Varget
cold gun - 2215 fps
warm gun - 2241 fps

Ruger no1 300wm 175gr LRX / RL26
cold gun - 3067 fps
warm gun - 3063 fps

Defiance 338-06
230gr ELDx / Ramshot BigGame
cold gun - 2489 fps
Warm gun - 2515 fps

250gr Woodleigh PP / Ramshot BigGame
cold gun - 2389 fps
warm gun - 2399 fps

Ruger m77 375 Ruger
270gr LRX / Ramshot BigGame
cold gun - 2578 fps
warm gun - 2579 fps

300gr Nosler Parition / Win760
cold gun - 2550 fps
warm gun - 2556 fps


Average speed of cold rifle = 2713 fps
Average speed of warm rifle = 2720 fps
.003% change. I think it's safe to say the temperate of the rifle plays a very minimal role in velocity of the ammunition.

Measured with Labradar doppler

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