Cold weather load development...worth it?

Loyalist

Loyalist

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So while I wait for varget to reappear at my local suppliers, I got the itch to try something new (I was shooting 168amax with varget out of my Rem700 5R .308)

I picked up a few hundred 175smks a while back and figured I could start working up some loads. So I went out and picked up a pound each of 4064, and IMR4895. I also have about 2lbs of 8208xbr kicking around.

I know the XBR is fairly temp tolerant, and I will try it, though I get the feeling that it works better with the lighter bullets.

My question is: with the 4064 and 4895, is it worth working my loads up during the upcoming weeks? Temps look to be about -3 to -8 for the next week or two. Most of my shooting, though, happens in the spring and summer. Is it even worth finding a load in the cold temps if I plan on shooting it more during those warmer temps?

Maybe I should just make a cold weather load for something to do while the unicorn hibernates...
 
Why don't you make a cold weather load and compare it to a warm weather load just incase you want to shoot when it's cold...

I bet you will be surprised at the results.
 
Below is the older American .308/7.62 sniper ammunition, it was loader with the double base powder RL15 and was temp sensitive in the heat of Iraq and Afghanistan.

Cartridge, Caliber 7.62mm, NATO, Ball, Special, M118LR (United States): 175-grain (11.3 g) 7.62×51mm NATO Match-grade round specifically designed for long-range sniping. It uses a 175-grain (11.3 g) Sierra Match King Hollow Point Boat Tail bullet. Produced at Lake City Army Ammunition Plant. The propellant's noticeable muzzle flash and temperature sensitivity led to the development of the MK 316 MOD 0 for Special Operations use.

Below is the new sniper ammunition and the single base IMR-4064 powder is used, 41.7grains .

Cartridge, Caliber 7.62mm Special Ball, Long Range, MK 316 MOD 0 (United States): A 175-grain (11.3 g) round specifically designed for long-range sniping consisting of Sierra MatchKing Hollow Point Boat Tail projectiles, Federal Cartridge Company match cartridge cases and Gold Medal Match primers. The Propellant has been verified as IMR 4064 (per NSN 1305-01-567-6944 and Federal Cartridge Company Contract/Order Number N0016408DJN28 and has a charge weight per the specs of 41.745-grain (2.7 g).[16]

Military ammunition is tested at 70-72 degrees F and must stay with in limits at well below freezing and extreme heat (I cant remember the high and low extremes)

Bottom line, you should test your ammo at the temps you plan to use it in. If you want all temperature ammunition then the loads for the M14 rifle below would cover all temperatures.

The loads below are for the M14 rifle and are not as hot as bolt action ammunition

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Loyalist said:
My question is: with the 4064 and 4895, is it worth working my loads up during the upcoming weeks? Temps look to be about -3 to -8 for the next week or two. Most of my shooting, though, happens in the spring and summer. Is it even worth finding a load in the cold temps if I plan on shooting it more during those warmer temps?
Click to expand...

Just because it will be -3..-8C while you are testing, does not mean that you can't test your ammo under warm-weather conditions.

Take an insulated cooler, put your ammo in it several hours prior to shooting, along with a bottle or two of hot water and a thermometer inside your ammo box. Replace the bottles of hot water before you head to the range. Conduct all your testing with your ammo at (say) 30C...
 
Thanks for the replies guys. I guess I was just looking for some motivation, haha. I will definitely try working up a "cool" weather load and see how it performs as the weather warms for comparison. I also like the idea of keeping ammo warm too to mimic summer conditions.

As far as -3 to -8 go, I am aware that this is not really cold (I live in Ottawa, and while there are certainly colder places, no one laughs at -40 windchill in Feb). I was more looking at the fact that 90% of my long range shooting has previously been between mid march and start of oct (beginning of hunting season). So when considering it was nearly 30 at Yankee range in Petawawa this summer, I wondered about the value in developing a load over the next few weeks with a new powder. But I will take the sage advice above and see what kind of results I can get. Hopefully I will learn a thing or two about temp sensitivity affecting pressure, POI, velocity etc.
 
rnbra-shooter said:
Just because it will be -3..-8C while you are testing, does not mean that you can't test your ammo under warm-weather conditions.

Take an insulated cooler, put your ammo in it several hours prior to shooting, along with a bottle or two of hot water and a thermometer inside your ammo box. Replace the bottles of hot water before you head to the range. Conduct all your testing with your ammo at (say) 30C...
Click to expand...

^^ Take the ammo to the range in cooler with the hot water bottles. As you shoot, take 5 rounds at a time and put them in your shirt pocket. (It is about 98 degrees.) Load and shoot one round at a time from your pocket. This allows you to develop ammo good for hot weather, in the winter.
 
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