Sighting in during hot summer, hunting in the cold?

MD

MD

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So I was at the range today.

Great day, only a few other shooters, and it was clear and hot. About 25 degrees and it felt like August, not June 10.

After sighting in a couple of my rifles, one with a new scope and the other a new-to-me rifle, I was satisfied and packed up.

Afterwards I started wondering; it was hot today. What happens if I shoot the same rifle in September when it might only be 10 degrees, or October when it might be minus 10?

Can I expect a different a POI?
 
You'll have to shoot those conditions to know. Some loads don't change much, others are brutal. A load with a wide sweet spot and relatively temperature insensitive powder might be OK, a load that is in the transition and/or changes velocity every time the sun goes behind a cloud will drive you crazy. Having said all that, if the hunting is at close range it may not make any difference. People keep telling me how their average shot is way under 100, that s probably true where they live.
 
it might make a difference if you're shooting over 150 yards I never do in fact i just sight in a bit high at 25 to 50 yards depending on caliber and i'm ready to go out to 150 to 200 yards
come hunting season I will re-sight in and see where i'm hitting early in the morning when it's cold and most likely time of day I might encounter wildlife
 
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I was wondering the same thing. I was shooing my 223 at 300yds at the range on a very cold winter day(-20C). I sighted in 1.5" high at 100yards then moved to 300yds. If my memory is right it should have been about 7" low. I found it was way lower than that but still in a good group. I just assumed it was the temp but didn't really do the research. Anyone know if this is normal?
 
My son's .223 is a good example of a rifle that can't be trusted with temperature changes, or actually a better example of ammo changing with temperature. It shoots white box Winchester like a target rifle but that stuff changes velocity with temperature worse than anything I've ever seen. It's fine with handloads, but I've got a couple cases left from when it was cheaper than empty brass. even with it, if it was a big game rifle wouldn't cause short range misses bad as it is.
 
45ACPKING said:
I zero my rifles immediately before each and every hunting trip...... in my opinion, every hunter should
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This makes sense if you only go on a couple or three trips per season.

Some of us go out (literally) on a daily basis, or at least several times per week. At that point, your advice becomes highly impractical.
 
:redface:
ironsighter said:
This makes sense if you only go on a couple or three trips per season.

Some of us go out (literally) on a daily basis, or at least several times per week. At that point, your advice becomes highly impractical.
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Does it really matter?. Are we talking about barrel temp or air temp?. I would think that hunting conditions mean both barrel and ambient temps are the same. At the range you could have hot barrel in cold ambient.
Waiting for the rain to stop.:redface:
 
Ed Smurf said:
:redface:
Does it really matter?. Are we talking about barrel temp or air temp?. I would think that hunting conditions mean both barrel and ambient temps are the same. At the range you could have hot barrel in cold ambient.
Waiting for the rain to stop.:redface:
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What I am saying is there's no way I am going to sight in my rifle before every hunting trip, because that would mean sighting in my rifle nearly every day. It is impractical and unnecessary.
 
I use a winchester model 70 sporter in 30-06 and its only had to be sighted in once in 3 years and that was during summer! harvested 3 whitetails an elk and a moose so far
!
 
Always check zero and loads prior to hunting season....

And if you want- Put ammo and rifle in chest freezer overnight. Transport ammo in a cooler and rifle in a padded case to keep everything as cold as possible. Then shoot, keeping all the ammo in the cooler until ready to go.

I admit I'
ve never gone to that extreme, but I think it will tell you something if you want to know. Especially over the chrono
 
I have noticed it some - but typically have final zero and re-check just prior to going out for the season.

If you don't believe it - just leave your ammo bake on the dash of your truck and shoot a few.

And as mentioned - some powders are more prone to instability in temp.
 
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