This was the first year in a long time that I was intentionallyleaving rifles loaded a couple days in a row. I did this more to test whether and how wellthey would fire the next couple days after the stored conditions. Also I wanted to see some rusting properties of powders on my rifles. Not to a point of damage to them but just how they would react. By the way, those who use a muzzle mit, finger cot, what ever you want to call it, TAKE THAT THING OFF AT THE END OF THE DAY AND WIPE THE BARREL OFF WITHOIL. I could not believe how fast a rifle started to stain under that finger cot.

On three rifles, my Wolverine LK-II, CVA Staghornand a Renegade .58 caliberI noticed that the POI shifted on the ice cold barrel. I stored mine is a wood working shop where the temp might have reached night time lows here. In some cases that shop can get damp or humid perhaps is a better word as any snow dragged in there if it melts really can not escape... It is cold in there. (I've even stored meat in there during the winter time when the freezer was too full without any problems.).

Two of those rifles shot at least a inch off at 50 yards. The CVA Staghorn I used one afternoon hunt actually misfired with a 209 Remington Kleenbore Primer the next day. On the second primer it hit over six inches low and two inches to the right. I was shocked and sure glad I did not have a shot at a deer that day with that. In fact that was the reason I took the flintlock with me Saturday, because I did not trust the CVA anymore. Good thing I did as it was my only shot of the season.

So in answer to your question, yes I have seen rifles do that. Also I will be running some other cold weather tests this winter to see how bad I can get a rifle to fail, if it will at all.