temperature sensitive powders

zimbu

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I have been working up a couple loads for my .270win using IMR4831 and H4831sc and I'm wondering how sensitive these powders are to temperature change. Does anyone know of a resource that lists burn rate vs ambient temperature data? With regards to internal ballistics only, does anyone know how much a drop of 20C will affect the perfomance of these powders, and is one less affected than the other? Any info or experience relating to this would be appreciated.
 
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H4831SC is listed by Hogdon as an extreme powder, having shot some powders @ 1000 yards over some fairly signifigant temperature differences. I would say that this claim while it may be very well substantiated in a lab, they still require signifigant adjustment to zero at longer ranges. Some powders may be less sensitive to temp. but all will require adjustment across broad temp and humidity changes. No such thing as a free lunch.

Andy
 
I cannot say for sure about those powders but last year I worked up a load in Sept. using H-1000......it lost close to 100fps when I chronoed it in Nov. and that is from a powder that claims it is temperature insensitive.

I worked up the load again and ended up with an little extra charge....but still well within safe limits.

I would just wait till weather turns cold and try it.
 
I know my H380 powder isnt "extreme" and my group changed significantly with the temperature so I've switched over to Varget instead.
 
Reloaders have been dealing with temperature "sensitive" powders since day 1. It is a fact of life for reloaders and shooters whether using so-called "Extreme" powders or not. These less-sensitive types may be a bit better, but there have always been powders that were less sensitive than others. I recollect an actual test done some 30 years ago, loading several powders and then firing them under controlled temperature conditions. The results were enlightening, to say the least. For example, one commercial "ball" powder lost over 300 fps average when temperature dropped from 80ºF to -20ºF. A certain extruded powder manufactured in Europe dropped only 40 fps average during the same test. 300+ fps is a fair change in velocity, 40 is a non-issue at hunting ranges. One of the ways to be sure you know what is going on is to fire a shot at a target in the cold temperature and see if the POI has changed significantly. If so, an adjustment might be in order. I can honestly say, I have never missed a game animal due to changes invoked by a powder's temperature sensitivity. Knowledge is power, and one should make themselves aware of what to expect in varying temperatures. JMHO, Eagleye.
 
There are a few additional factors to take into consideration as well. Those being air density and humidity. A 20 degree temperature change and a major change in humidity will have a significant effect on your impact point at longer ranges (eg 500+ yards). These factors should have no real effect on changing muzzle velocities though. That's up to the power, primer, and gun.
 
I remember reading a story forty some years ago, by a well known (at the time) gun writer. He was going to the arctic, was with the natives, which were known as Eskimos at that time, to hunt seals.
He was getting a good aim at a seals head sticking out of a water hole. The old Eskimo said, "Better aim a bit high." The shooting expert snorted under his breath, aimed at the head and fired, hitting the ice in front of the seal. The Eskimo quietly said, "Gun shoots a little low in cold weather!"
 
This is a good question although the powders listed are from my experience pretty good.
I usually work up my loads and gun sighting in Feb or March as this is the same approx. temps I hunt. This avoids temp problems with powder as I have found the same as 350 Mag, there can be quite a difference with some powders.
 
IMR4227 is very temp sensitive. In my savage ml it wouldn't even ignite once the temp got below 5 degrees. Cost me a nice buck. I won't be using that crap again.:mad:
 
I had a scare with 414 in a 223 wssm. A warm but safe load that I used all winter for coyote hunting resulted in a few leftovers in the spring. The first shot at a gopher resulted in sticky bolt lift. I didn't think too much about it and guessed that one was maybe a little warmer than the rest that I had. The second shot resulted in a pierced primer and a pretty good scare. That was the end of that load and I since stayed a little farther under the max load.
 
Thanks everyone. What I gather from the collective input is that the powders
I'm using are relatively stable compared to some, and that the cold, dense air the bullet encounters after it leaves the muzzle probably has more of an effect than powder burn rate. When the weather stiffens up I'll print a group or two to verify accuracy and take a few shots at 100yd intervals from 500 to 1000 for my log book.
 
Modern H4831SC is indeed more temperature resistant than the IMR 4831. Hodgdons' EXTREME powders DO work but are not perfect.

If it's relaly cold, rezero.

And if you want to find out how your powder works at low temps, you can simulate it -sorta- by freezing your ammo over night , then taking ti to the range in a cooler.
 
Modern H4831SC is indeed more temperature resistant than the IMR 4831. Hodgdons' EXTREME powders DO work but are not perfect.

If it's relaly cold, rezero.

And if you want to find out how your powder works at low temps, you can simulate it -sorta- by freezing your ammo over night , then taking ti to the range in a cooler.


I never thought of that. Guess I will be taking a cooler bag to the range.
 
I found they are much more stable under higher temperature (they have less change under above zero conditions - wich makes sense, since these powders are developped made in Australia) but below -5 degree C, the difference increase a lot. It gets worse at -25 C...
But at the end, they are less sensitive than IMR / Alliant / Winchester and standard (ball) Hodgdon powders and even VihtaVuori and Norma powders. Gas expansion is all about physical law, so it's quite hard to get rid of it.
 
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