How warm until ....?

[harryinpa]

New to the board. Would like to know how warm it gets until my loads are accurate for the fall/winter season?

[deadon]

Welcome to the board Harry, I do not understand your question but then I do not understand a lot of things. I am sure you will get some answers here at Dougs, Rusty

[harryinpa]

I want to know how warm the outside temperature gets which will affect the accuracy of my load (i.e., 85 degrees, 90 degrees)?

[rossman40]

While most powders are temperature insensitive some arn't. The big thing is the sabots and how they work in the warmer weather. You can plink and check some loads out in 70°+ temps and if some warrant, re-test them in the fall when the temps are closer to what you would see in deer season to double check. Just do not bet the bank on a load that you worked up in high 70s-low 80s to work the same in the 20s-30s. Save your serious load work for spring or fall.

Most of us have a "go to load" that performs very well but can't resist trying new things. The book loads like 42gr of N110 or 43gr of 4759 with 250gr bullets or loads of 4198 or N120 for 300gr bullets are proven performers. You also have to watch primers, just about any primer will work in 70°+ but as the temp drops you need a hot primer like the Federal 209A, CCI 209M and the bottom of the recommended list, the WW 209.

[harryinpa]

Thanks Rossman. Appreciate the input.

[lwh723]

I don't even bother if it's over 60F. But everyone's barrel is different.

[spaniel]

At the ranges most people shoot, you will be fine no matter the temp as long as a) you keep the barrel at air temp -- LONG waits or a cooling rod -- and b) you stay away from hot loads that stress the sabot.

[sw]

Good question. The great advantage to sabotless shooting is that the sabot gets removed from the equation. Book loads, or 58-60g VV-120/300 g bullet, and keeping barrel cool as practical will help. Summer shooting of saboted bullets/smokeless can be frustrating. Want to remove most problems: 40 cal PacNor is the answer, IMO.
With the 50 cal, wool wad under sabot(Harvester or HPH MMP), and 42-44g 4759 or VV-110 and 250TMZ or 300g SST, with light cleaning between shots, 15 min between shots, keeping barrel in shade will help. CCIm 209s seem to work best for me thru all seasons.
Good luck.

[GMB54-120]

My first outing at 80F worked out very well with a 15min wait (in the shade) between shots. Actually i shot 2 of my best groups ever with 44gr N110 and thats getting close to a max load. Stone cold i was able to get off 2 shots before I felt the barrel needed to cool down.

I did have 2 sabot failures trying to rush two shots and by also trying a SOCOM boat tail bullet with a reduced load of N110. The other was a 250gr SST loaded right after another shot. Based on POI being so far from the tight groups, i think that is what happened.

This weekend is going to be warm again but im trying some N120 and Re7 this time. N120 is supposed to create a tad less heat than some powders so......i will see. This weekend im also going to bring another gun to help with the down time but still keep the kids interested.

[Richard]

Harry................If you get a chance, read thru the following thread. I shoot all year long is all temperatures. I agree you will need to tweak loads in the fall a bit, but you can gain usefull information, prevent blowing sabots and shorten your waiting times between shots.
Richard
dougva.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=Savage&thread=9675&page=1

[harryinpa]

Appreciate everyone's comments. Remember to remember those who gave all for our country this weekend.

[bob64]

I just put several small reuseable frozen gel packs in a 6 pack cooler. The packs are flexible and will form around the bottom 6" or so of the rod. The rod comes out almost dry with a quick wipe all that is needed before inserting. This keeps you from having to dry wipe the barrel if you want to shoot dirty.