ndking1126
New member
I've gotten into handloading and have picked up a really accurate rifle. Having the accurate rifle has raised my confidence in my shooting ability since good, consistent groups are becoming the norm.
I have long suffered from inconsistent and wandering groups with my hunting rifle though. So one answer is to start loading for it also.
I live in the south where it gets really hot most of the year and hunting temps can be anywhere from 20-55*.
In an effort to remove one more variable, I'd like to test ammo at different temps, but on the same day with the same setup, and me shooting the same. (Maybe in June I shot well, but in Oct the groups aren't so good and I'm not sure if it's the change in temp or me messing up.)
Is there a way to test this without waiting for winter to get here? For example, load up 10 rounds and then refrigerate 5? If I could shoot the 5 while they are still around 40*, would that accurately replicate the winter conditions? As I see it, I would attach my magnetospeed, pull a round from the cooler, chamber it, and then fire right away so the chamber couldn't change the overall temp of the round. If the velocities of the 5 refrigerated where basically the same as the 5 that were at ambient temps (probably 80*+), I would have a reasonable belief I could practice now and still use the same round later in the year.
I've been doing a lot of reading on the fact that temp affects velocities, but very little on how to work with it, other than just waiting for winter to get here. Thanks!
I have long suffered from inconsistent and wandering groups with my hunting rifle though. So one answer is to start loading for it also.
I live in the south where it gets really hot most of the year and hunting temps can be anywhere from 20-55*.
In an effort to remove one more variable, I'd like to test ammo at different temps, but on the same day with the same setup, and me shooting the same. (Maybe in June I shot well, but in Oct the groups aren't so good and I'm not sure if it's the change in temp or me messing up.)
Is there a way to test this without waiting for winter to get here? For example, load up 10 rounds and then refrigerate 5? If I could shoot the 5 while they are still around 40*, would that accurately replicate the winter conditions? As I see it, I would attach my magnetospeed, pull a round from the cooler, chamber it, and then fire right away so the chamber couldn't change the overall temp of the round. If the velocities of the 5 refrigerated where basically the same as the 5 that were at ambient temps (probably 80*+), I would have a reasonable belief I could practice now and still use the same round later in the year.
I've been doing a lot of reading on the fact that temp affects velocities, but very little on how to work with it, other than just waiting for winter to get here. Thanks!