I was going to head to the range this weekend to sight in my 270 win. for moose/deer season (don't have another chance until season starts). Does anyone have any thoughts on any real differences in performance when you sight in during hot weather at the range and use it in cold weather for hunting (i.e. should i sight in a bit low now and if so how much is reasonable).
Sighting in rifles in hot weather and using in cold weather
- Thread starter chocabloc
- Start date
As mentioned, there can be some differences in POI of ammunition related to ambient temperature changes. However, unless you know for sure what characteristics your particular ammunition exhibits relative to temperature change, there's no way to adjust for it. Simply put, you can't calibrate the "system" with that particular variable unknown.
I suggest you just dial it in as though you were going hunting tomorrow, and call it good.
I've seen no real big differences if you are expecting normal 100yd or less shots. But if you are trying to poke your moose at 400m then you may want to check through the season and get some of the practice anyway.
After bashing round the bush for your moose, slipping and falling over logs while tossing your rifle into the weeds, using the rifle as a cane, there is always the chance that a few things may change.
Good luck.
After bashing round the bush for your moose, slipping and falling over logs while tossing your rifle into the weeds, using the rifle as a cane, there is always the chance that a few things may change.
Good luck.
I find that the stocks react just as much as the powders in a temperature drop. My Finnlight and HS stocks show minimal change in POI, usually an inch in any direction. But, any of my rifles with natural wood really react to the cold. One of my most accurate rifles (and has a solid bedding job), but with a high grade walnut, changes POI by as much as 4 inches in the cold.
Good practice to confirm the zero and grouping of your rifle when the weather changes, especially for hunting. Could mean the difference between a clean kill and a complete miss, or trailing an animal for several kilometres.
Good practice to confirm the zero and grouping of your rifle when the weather changes, especially for hunting. Could mean the difference between a clean kill and a complete miss, or trailing an animal for several kilometres.
^this. I will do load development when it's hot, accuracy testing, velocity testing etc, because I quite often shoot in warm weather. But I would no sooner take a rifle I hadn't checked the zero on in hunt conditions then I would drive to the range blindfolded. Fwiw. - dan
I agree with this wholeheartedly!!
I believe that far too much attention is focused on "Temperature stable" powders, when other factors, such as the stock may be far more influential on bullet placement in cold weather.
I have hunted at +32ºC and at -40ºC. with the same rifle.
But I sure as heck did not go hunting at -40º without checking first shot POI at that low temp.
Some rifles require adjustment, some do not.
FWIW, a lot of my cold-weather hunting was done before we even heard of "Extreme" powders from Hodgdons.
Regards, Eagleye.
