cold temps and 22s

[Nath]

I have often noticed how a cold snap can have a dramatic effect on 22 performance and zero changes with sub sonics but what I was wondering was, have any of you guys shot in say -20c and noticed a major drop of in vel?
Does a HV still manage to break the sound barrier etc?

Nath.

[mescalero1]

-20 centigrade?
what are you doing out in that?

[mod71alaska]

-20 centigrade?
what are you doing out in that?

More simply...what the heck is -20C???

[Hobie]

-20 centigrade?
what are you doing out in that?

More simply...what the heck is -20C???

Too darn cold!

[Nath]

Thats the whole reason I'm asking because we hardly ever see those temps.
-20c is errr,, in F I don't know

Nath.

[mescalero1]

My bad, I am in Phoenix, Az.
When I checked the forum, that was the first thing I saw.
I had just come in from sunbathing

[jnyork]

-20C is only -4 F, not so bad. In my younger days I hunted rabbits in colder temps than that, never had a complaint from the bunnies

Our club holds winter silhouette matches, cold or no cold. Huddle around the fire for a while, shoot a little while. I know they had one a couple or three years ago at about -20F, I was in Arizona at the time.

[bhk]

I have had terrible luck hunting with some brands of ammo in cold (10-15 degree F) temeratures, particular with Wincherster Super-X. The bullets often became so slow I could see the bullet leave the barrel and curve sharply to the ground. Sounded like a BB gun and my 10/22 would not cycle, of course. This occured quite a few times during cold weather. This same ammo worked fine when warm. I have switched to CCI Minimags for rabbit hunting and have not experienced the same problem.

[hfcable]

i once did a lot of testing of 22 ammo in the cold and accuracy is very poor, velocity very erratic. there was an article on this some years ago...but long story short, at those temps you need to use biathlon type ammo, such as rws or the russian stuff if you can find it, it gives consistent velocities and accuracy even far below zero.

[Old No7]

Hello there Nath and all, I think I can lend some in-the-field experience to this discussion...

I can't comment on whether the rounds break the sound barrier or not, but consider this...

Every February for the last 5 years, my local Rifle Club has held the annual "Frigid Feet & Fingers February Frozen Fun Shoot". (Yes, that's really the name... Coined by yours truly...)

Anyway, we shoot OUTDOORS in MAINE at 100 YARDS in MID-FEBRUARY with .22 rimfire rifles, off the bench. In 3 of 5 years, the temperature has been 5 degrees above zero F -- not sure what that is in C -- and that is without the windchill. But it is "wicked c-c-c-c-c-cold" as the boys say. (Some guys call it the annual "Frostbite Match", as it's easier to say -- and more accurate.)

Many of the guys and the guns do quite well, but here's what I have observed...

* Shooters who sight-in on the 1st relay (10 minutes for sighter's) do quite well on that relay, once on target, and on the next relay (which is #1 of 3 for score).

* But... Those shooters who leave their 22 ammo out on the bench in the cold -- and that is most of them -- will start to lose elevation (thus velocity) by the start of the 2nd relay for score. And it gets worse...

* By the 3rd relay, we've seen shooters down from 4" to 6" in elevation -- after having a decent zero to start with -- and the groups aren't as round or tight either. Sure, some of that could be the shooters getting cold too, but this has happened more than enough for me to say I've seen it, and believe it.

What I do now -- and now everyone else may know -- is I keep my ammo inside my shirt pocket, and only feed single rounds. The ammo stays body-temp until it's loaded and shot. And I try not to let it sit in the chamber too long either. To keep the receiver a decent temp, a chemical hand-warmer pad is rolled tight and put into the open action between relays -- not sure if it helps, but I've been in the Top 3 for the last three years and now it's part of my routine. (And the guys hate that, 'cause I shoot a semi-auto -- a T/C Classic Benchmark.)

Wanna guess what I didn't do the first 2 years???

I have to admit, some members think we're NUTS for doing this, but each year it is one of the Fun Shoots with the best attendance, and it's a lot of fun if you prepare for the conditions.

I hope this helps.

Old No7

ps: This Match is held in Mid-February every year in Damariscotta, Maine (Midcoast) -- and all of you flatlanders are welcome to join us, ayuh!

[Lefty Dude]

They make 22 match ammo that is not temp sensitive, but it is pricey stuff. Like is used for the Winter Olympics

[Nath]

Thanks guys, very interesting and I guess my hunch was right.

Nath.