Would you do any load development in winter in northern WI ?

Would you do any load development in winter in northern WI ? - Printable Version

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Would you do any load development in winter in northern WI ? - dpete - 01-04-2020

I am in the middle of a huge brass prep binge and I keep wondering if its worth it to attempt load development while we are in the grip of winter weather. I'm not totally nuts to attempt anything in super cold, but I'm wondering about 20-30+ degrees. For the Grendel I'll be using 8208 XBR but how temp insensitive is it going to be when shooting targets in summer at 70-90* ?

Would you do any load development in winter in northern WI ? - A5BLASTER - 01-04-2020

I would wait. I'm in Louisiana and I try not to do load work ups when the temp is below 60 degrees.

Would you do any load development in winter in northern WI ? - Bigs28 - 01-04-2020

Well do you hunt/ shoot in the winter?

Would you do any load development in winter in northern WI ? - lazyengineer - 01-04-2020

I have - deep in the North Woods (mmmm cheeese currrdds). I would put them in a cooler to keep them warm (as every ice-fisherman knows, coolers are to keep your beer from freezing). And sometimes will throw in a little heating pad or hot-pocket; to keep them closer to summer-time ambient temperature.

Would you do any load development in winter in northern WI ? - VASCAR2 - 01-04-2020

It would make an interesting experiment to develop a load at lower temperature with chronograph results then shoot the same load at different temperatures. Keep a record of accuracy and velocity change for temperature change. From everything I?ve read IMR8208XBR is one of the more temperature stable powders used in the 6.5 Grendel. You have to use caution with 8208 as it will spike in pressure especially with bullets heavier than 120 grains. I?ve read the absolute max pressure with 120-123 grain cup and core bullets is around 28.5 grains. The monolithic bullets tend to build pressures quicker than cup and core bullets of the same weight so it is wise to start low and work up in .3 grain increments.

I wouldn?t develop a load at zero degrees with 28.5 grains of IMR8208XBR and 123 grain SST and assume it would be safe at 100 degrees. I would be interested in seeing any results if you choose to record your findings at different temperatures. I read velocity change might be less than 1 FPS per every degree of of temperature change with 8208. I read where CFE223 will change at least 1-1.5 FPS for every degree of temperature change.

There was one member from Alaska that did some velocity test at lower temperatures with the 6.5 Grendel but I don?t think he used IMR8208XBR powder in his test.

Here is a thread with info which might prove helpful.

http://www.65grendel.com/forum/showthread.php?11196-Powder-Burn-Rates-and-Temp-Sensitivity

Would you do any load development in winter in northern WI ? - FRB6.5 - 01-04-2020

If you already have a pet load it would be a great time to gather data to calculate/verify temperature sensitivity.

Would you do any load development in winter in northern WI ? - dpete - 01-04-2020

FRB6.5 Wrote:If you already have a pet load it would be a great time to gather data to calculate/verify temperature sensitivity.

I do have that for 3 pet loads right now. Target load for 18", hunting load for 18", and hunting load for 12". All 3 developed during warmer weather. I don't worry about loads developed in warmth and shot in cold, i.e. the hunting loads. Resighting takes place a week before season in appropriate temps. The load I'm wanting to work up is a target load for the 12".

Would you do any load development in winter in northern WI ? - dpete - 01-04-2020

Bigs28 Wrote:Well do you hunt/ shoot in the winter?

Yes, but this is for a target load. I have the hunting loads figured out. But thanks.

Would you do any load development in winter in northern WI ? - bbqncigars - 01-04-2020

If it's not comfortable to shoot, then I don't. Then again, I'm an old fart that's been frostbit a couple of times.

Would you do any load development in winter in northern WI ? - 65Whelen - 01-04-2020

A5BLASTER Wrote:I would wait. I'm in Louisiana and I try not to do load work ups when the temp is below 60 degrees.

That'd be about six days a year for us up here on the frozen tundra. Lol

Would you do any load development in winter in northern WI ? - 65Whelen - 01-04-2020

Bigs28 Wrote:Well do you hunt/ shoot in the winter?

I'm with Bigs, good quality trigger time is never a waste of time.

Would you do any load development in winter in northern WI ? - CJW - 01-04-2020

I’m with Bigs and 65

Do ever miss an opportunity to shoot.

Would you do any load development in winter in northern WI ? - jhoyda - 01-05-2020

I developed a great load with 95 grain V-Maxes and H335 in 35 degree weather. It was not so great in 75 degree weather. It went from 1 MOA to 3-4. Learned my lesson there.

Would you do any load development in winter in northern WI ? - 65Whelen - 01-05-2020

jhoyda Wrote:I developed a great load with 95 grain V-Maxes and H335 in 35 degree weather. It was not so great in 75 degree weather. It went from 1 MOA to 3-4. Learned my lesson there.

And you'd never learned that if you only shot at a certain temp. Learn as you go.

Would you do any load development in winter in northern WI ? - dpete - 01-05-2020

jhoyda Wrote:I developed a great load with 95 grain V-Maxes and H335 in 35 degree weather. It was not so great in 75 degree weather. It went from 1 MOA to 3-4. Learned my lesson there.

Had the same thing happen with a CFE223 load and 308 Win. Developed when it was cooler and shot great. Shot it that summer and was blowing primers right out of the cases. WAY too temp. sensitive.

Would you do any load development in winter in northern WI ? - WIHunter42 - 01-05-2020

I'm also in WI, Waupaca County. Ive been shooting my Grendel's for a couple years now. Ive found a couple loads that shoot really well and haven't had a problem with them going from summer 80 deg days shooting the same load at 10 deg. Im using CFE223 and AR-Comp. Those 2 powders seem pretty good. I chrono my loads and ive only seen a swing of about 70-80 FPS between the outside temp differences. I recently acquired a 16" grendel that i will be developing a load for with 8208XBR. The pet loads I have for my 22" and 24" don't seem to shoot as good as I'd like from the 16".

And as the other's say, trigger time is never wasted time. I get out as much as i can in all temps. Its not always going to be perfect conditions when you're hunting.

Would you do any load development in winter in northern WI ? - diddlyv - 01-07-2020

I learned the hard way a win 748 load that was safe in Roswell NM at 34 degrees was not safe at Capitan NM at 100 degrees. You can shoot hot weather loads in the cold safely but will not perform the same but the other way around could be asking for trouble

Would you do any load development in winter in northern WI ? - dpete - 01-08-2020

diddlyv Wrote:I learned the hard way a win 748 load that was safe in Roswell NM at 34 degrees was not safe at Capitan NM at 100 degrees. You can shoot hot weather loads in the cold safely but will not perform the same but the other way around could be asking for trouble

My thoughts exactly. Developed in hot, shot in cold, you can account for point of impact change. Developed in cold, shot in hot, you don't know what your going to get.

Would you do any load development in winter in northern WI ? - Lazermule - 01-15-2020

I do most of my load development in the winter and I am 30 miles north of Minneapolis so it is COLD. I don't necessarily cold soak loaded cartridges, at least initially but I will to test it out for cold weather hunting if I find a winner.