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Old 02-02-2004 | 07:58 AM
  #9  
noway
 
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 429
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From: meridian idaho USA
Default RE: Powder and temp changes?

first time,
I don't drive myself crazy about it.
I do all my load development and long range shooting practice in the spring after coyote hunting is over.
One reason is that I am not so busy that time of year.
But mainly because it is cold enough that the barrel does not get so hot.
I can do a good range session in the spring in an hour.
In the summer it takes a least twice that long unless I want to run the air conditioner in the truck to cool the barrel between groups.

I don't let my barrel cool between shots because I want to see what the load will do in the field. I let it cool between groups though. Never more than 3 shot groups or it gets too hot.

I choose the bullet I want to use for the game application.
I then experiment with powders to get the best accuracy/velocity combination I can. Then unless the groups are over 1" that is the load I use for hunting.
My rifle is very accurate so I have never had a hunting bullet I couldn't get to group under an inch with some combination.

Where I live the fall temperatures when I hunt are basically the same as the spring temperatures.
For shooting in the summer put in a grain or two less depending on how hot it is and go for it. However as I said I do the vast majority of my load development and practicing in the spring when it is cool, 30-50 degrees is my favorite temp to shoot in. I also try to always use one of the Hodgden Extreme powders such as H4831 for all my loads. They have much less temperature/pressure variation than some other powder.
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