Cold weather 22 ammo
- Thread starter porpoise
- Start date
I have found that “biathlon” ammo doesn’t perform as well as others. In the -25 to -30 range I find the functionality of the rifle is more of a problem. I do keep the ammo in a pocket or vehicle until use though.
I've had nothing but trouble in -10 to -20 weather with Remington & Winchester in my Ruger - but CCI seems to work great with no stoppages or jams.
The CCI makes a nice sharp "Crack/Report" at the muzzle - a Good Quality Powder being used (I think).
I've also had a few case head separations with the Winchester Standard 40 Grain Round Nose - I think their Rimfire quality is no good anymore.
Finally, in both My 22 LR's and 22 WMR's - CCI seems to be the best.
The CCI makes a nice sharp "Crack/Report" at the muzzle - a Good Quality Powder being used (I think).
I've also had a few case head separations with the Winchester Standard 40 Grain Round Nose - I think their Rimfire quality is no good anymore.
Finally, in both My 22 LR's and 22 WMR's - CCI seems to be the best.
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I've also had trouble with cheaper ammo at milder winter temps. That's why I bought the biathlon. It's budget practice biathlon but seems to burn good with a consistent Crack at all Temps. But suddenly, in a couple of degrees below minus 25 it starts shooting poorly, like 8 inches at 30 metres. I had 2 magazines, one cold and one warm in my pocket, I shot the warm one last to give it the benefit of the warmer barrel, no difference, shots all over the paper
Years ago I contacted Lapua in regards to the same issue with their Polar Biathlon ammo. Apparently biathlon races get cancelled if the temperature drops below -20C therefore the ammo is not designed to perform beyond that temperature limit.
Well the people participating in the Olympics seem to be able to make the bullets fly straight. I love all of the ridiculous responses about cold weather shooting. Biathlon ammo is designed to shoot in extreme cold weather as are the barrels on Biathlon rifles. Regular ammo and im talking even the most expensive ammo starts to suffer loss of accuracy once the temp dips much below 50 degrees. Hence the companies that produce the most accurate ammo in the world offering specific loads for cold like Lapua, Eley and RWS. Pretty sure the CCI Stangers and Maxi mags or Yellojackets or whatever arent takin home the gold haha
I was using biathlon ammo. Maybe a biathlon rifle has a faster twist I don't know. But not so ridiculous is the effect of cold weather on bullets. I know this because my remington 243 would shoot 107 grain boattails just fine in summer but when I took it out in the winter the bullets were all over hitting crooked or sideways. Next summer it shot the same bullets fine again. I had bought it because it was the fastest twist factory 243 at the time with 9 and 1/8 twist which I had read should stabilize those bullets. Well by the time it got to minus 10 it wouldnt
Well most 6mm bullets 105 grain and higher require 1 in 8 twist or faster. Decrease in velocity between summer temps and winter coupled with the slow twist of your rifle would be the cause. If your theory was correct, bullets would be tumbling/keyholing in cold weather all the time. Many people shoot all year and hunt in extreme cold and dont suffer from this. My 6.5,6BR,243,22-250,308 etc are all shot during all months of the year and ive not had any bullets behave as yours. Biathlon rifles have the same twist rate thats pretty much a standard of all 22 rimfire rifles which is 1 in 16 twist.
Mystic Precision
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Summerland, BC
The OP is asking a multi part question AND the temps are extreme. Biathlon ammo is designed to work for this game... I strongly suspect that there is a limit to how cold they will go out and play. todays temp in Beijing is listed as -4C (no idea what the onsite temp is). Maybe someone has some info on the coldest high level biathlon event was?
Looks like they are going to be going well over freezing in the next few days... maybe they will have to switch to summer ammo???? and running shoes????
the OP has also answered the question of when biathlon ammo he shoots craps the bed. Add in the issues with the rifle itself when it is that cold and you have poor results on paper when things get real cold.
Firing pin springs and/or lube start to do some weird stuff when they are freaking cold. I would assume the barrel would change quite a bit as well. Sort that out and you might have a hope of getting the ammo to ignite consistently.
Then you can worry about ammo that can function at these depths of cold.
I have competed with biathlon ammo and it did very well when temps were below what the 'reg' stuff liked.... so we aren't talking super cold at all.
Jerry
Looks like they are going to be going well over freezing in the next few days... maybe they will have to switch to summer ammo???? and running shoes????
the OP has also answered the question of when biathlon ammo he shoots craps the bed. Add in the issues with the rifle itself when it is that cold and you have poor results on paper when things get real cold.
Firing pin springs and/or lube start to do some weird stuff when they are freaking cold. I would assume the barrel would change quite a bit as well. Sort that out and you might have a hope of getting the ammo to ignite consistently.
Then you can worry about ammo that can function at these depths of cold.
I have competed with biathlon ammo and it did very well when temps were below what the 'reg' stuff liked.... so we aren't talking super cold at all.
Jerry
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Mystic Precision
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Summerland, BC
This is an air density question with a marginally stabilised bullet. I have done this same thing...
And yes, there can be some positive results when you can balance twist vs stability wrt to certain bullet shapes. The vast majority of centerfire combos are stabilized by a comfortable margin so they work in all ambient conditions.
Jerry
Apparently -20 c is their limit according to Google. - dan
Mystic Precision
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Summerland, BC
Thanks Dan... ammo is working as designed
Jerry
Jerry
Yes my centrefires all shoot fine in the cold too with appropriate ammo. Not sure why you think that negates my theory.
People wanting to target shoot a .22 LR in the Canadian cold a lot should consider getting a biathlon rifle as well as biathlon ammo. The rifles are made to shoot in sub freezing temperatures and are tested in cold chambers to make sure they'll deliver. They are not cheap however, so clear a significant amount of cash or credit to buy one over say a 10/22. Nordic Marksman, a sponsor here, is a good place to look.
