Consistent all weather powders?
- Thread starter logan1080
- Start date
- Location
- Prince Albert, Sk
Hodgdon Extreme line of powders are designed for such uses , I went to some of thier products for this reason, and yes, was more consistent for temperature extremes..
I don't worry too much about the temperature thing, even though "certain" powders are known to be more sensitive to variations than are others.
All powders change velocity somewhat with ambient temperature variances.
Eagleye
All powders change velocity somewhat with ambient temperature variances.
Eagleye
I shoot for -25C to +30C and Hodgdon extreme powders really shine.
http://www.hodgdon.com/smokeless/extreme/page2.php#top
At the other end of the spectrum, the balls propellants are extremely temperature sensitive (as safe winter load becomes a super hot summer load).
Alex
http://www.hodgdon.com/smokeless/extreme/page2.php#top
At the other end of the spectrum, the balls propellants are extremely temperature sensitive (as safe winter load becomes a super hot summer load).
Alex
The OP says he is starting out reloading.
Abut the last thing he should worry about, or bother himself with, is the consistancy of powder.
The ammunition companies have been loading ammunition for a hundred plus years with smokeless powder and their amunition is used from the sub tropics to the arctic and antarctic.
They go bang, where ever they are shot.
Abut the last thing he should worry about, or bother himself with, is the consistancy of powder.
The ammunition companies have been loading ammunition for a hundred plus years with smokeless powder and their amunition is used from the sub tropics to the arctic and antarctic.
They go bang, where ever they are shot.
To dogmatically say that "ball" or sperical powders are all temp sensitive is an error.
There are many newer ball powders that are just as temp stable as the extrudeds are. [Ramshot, eg]
H4831 has it figured out. Eagleye.
I agree, I think temp sensitivity is overrated.
I have used re22, H4831, H4350, re15 and H1000 and never noticed in the field.
- Location
- Prince Albert, Sk
An area that should be also investigated is brass preparation.
Pretty critical to consistency and accuracy.
Pretty critical to consistency and accuracy.
Find and read "Handloading: Why we do the things we do"
by Charles E. Petty
HODGDON 2011 RELOADING MANUAL p.52-57.
This article can be found on the Web and covers what is worth to get good accuracy and was is only pertinent for benchrest shooters.
It's simply one of the best article on reloading for accuracy that I've ever read.
Alex
+1 I've shot in everything from 35C to -35C and I've never had anything happen that I could even remotely blame on temperature.
I did some tests a few winters ago with my 204 Ruger , 35gr Bergers and BL-C(2) powder in my Browning Varmint Stalker.The gun would still shoot .5" groups but the POI would move as much as 4" at 100yds as the rounds got colder. I then switched to H4895 and can not blame missing coyotes on the powder when it is -35C anymore.
- Location
- Prince Albert, Sk
I did notice group size changes in my WIN 760 powder from temperature variations.
I went to H4350 for my target loads which helped stay consistent.
And, yes, if the military wants a stable powder in temperature extremes I do believe it does play a role.
That all being said, there are many variables to consistency, and yes, powder is one of them.
I went to H4350 for my target loads which helped stay consistent.
And, yes, if the military wants a stable powder in temperature extremes I do believe it does play a role.
That all being said, there are many variables to consistency, and yes, powder is one of them.
- Location
- Somewhere on the Hudson Bay Coast
Hodgdon's Extreme powders are designed to be temperature stable in the heat, they haven't proven to be much better than other powders in the cold. Perhaps the best cold temperature powder is Hybrid 100 V, I've chronographed it at -35, but I'm still experimenting, and that stuff won't do you any good if the burning rate is unsuitable for your cartridge or bullet weight. I bet damn few actually go shooting in extreme conditions where a powder's temperature sensitivity becomes an issue. But if your headed for the southern US, Mexico, Africa, South Asia, or perhaps south of Medicine Hat Alberta, the extreme powders should prevent sticky bolts with your loads that were worked up in temperate conditions.
The best advice is to ignore all that stuff and simply confirm the zero of your rifle if there is a big temperature swing since the last time you went shooting. I don't expect my group size in the dead of winter to be as good as in the summer due to the way I have to dress, but groups size is mostly hooey with hunting rifles anyway. If you can shoot a 2 MOA 300 yard group, and if your second shot stays close to your cold bore shot, you're pretty much in business.
The best advice is to ignore all that stuff and simply confirm the zero of your rifle if there is a big temperature swing since the last time you went shooting. I don't expect my group size in the dead of winter to be as good as in the summer due to the way I have to dress, but groups size is mostly hooey with hunting rifles anyway. If you can shoot a 2 MOA 300 yard group, and if your second shot stays close to your cold bore shot, you're pretty much in business.
The problem with asking a question like this in this forum is that the responses are coming from people with drastically different temperature stability requirements, depending on what they're doing with their rounds. The size of their targets, the distances they are shooting at and whether of not sighting shots are acceptable will dictate that. Just having a round that goes bang may meet the requirements of some, but in some applications temperature stability becomes extremely important.
Realize that people's anecdotes about velocity change (or lack of) at different temperatures are usually worthless because they don't know for sure that the powder was at the same temperature as the outside air. If the ammo was brought from home, in a vehicle with heat or air conditioning, those rounds would need to soak directly in the outside temperature for at least a couple hours before all of the powder in the case would be at the same temperature. Those plastic boxes that most people carry their rounds to the range in are very good insulators. If they were walking around with rounds in the magazine long enough for the powder temperature to stabilize at the outside temperature, they probably weren't shooting groups or doing any kind of test that would give a reliable indication of changes in performance. If you want to know the temperature stability of a powder, run a scientifically valid test. It isn't difficult to do...
The best advice given here so far is to stick with the Hodgdon Extreme powders if you're worried about temperature stability.
Realize that people's anecdotes about velocity change (or lack of) at different temperatures are usually worthless because they don't know for sure that the powder was at the same temperature as the outside air. If the ammo was brought from home, in a vehicle with heat or air conditioning, those rounds would need to soak directly in the outside temperature for at least a couple hours before all of the powder in the case would be at the same temperature. Those plastic boxes that most people carry their rounds to the range in are very good insulators. If they were walking around with rounds in the magazine long enough for the powder temperature to stabilize at the outside temperature, they probably weren't shooting groups or doing any kind of test that would give a reliable indication of changes in performance. If you want to know the temperature stability of a powder, run a scientifically valid test. It isn't difficult to do...
The best advice given here so far is to stick with the Hodgdon Extreme powders if you're worried about temperature stability.
