08-15-2023, 05:38 AM
Want to add something - hope it helps.
While temperature stability may be good, and temperature instability may be bad, make sure whether your powder is actually stable or unstable.
Test: I read an article a while ago, but I am unable to find it again now. Someone did a test with a number of SB extruded and DB ball powders. The way the guy did the test really looked solid to me. He cooled (with a 12V fridge) and heated (with a seedling heat mat) batches of each, loaded to the same CBTO and pressure rating. He also did some temp increments in between the extremes. Of course he worked with thermometers, good recordkeeping and good principles such as barrel management.
Result: both the SB stick and DB ball had some velocity response to temperature. The variations were quite linear, and relatively small for a hunter's requirements. I can't remember the exact variations, but the article blew away the idea that SB is oh so stable, and DB is unshootable. In some cases, variances on DB ball were actually smaller than its equivalent stick powder, most notably so in my favourite ball powder, Somchem S321.
After reading that article, I became very relaxed around this topic. I know I don't chase velocity, and rarely have loads > Pmax - 15%. I also hunt in areas where 80% of shots are below 150yds, and often at larger animals (read 'larger vital zones'). I only hunt in autumn and winter, and go to the range only early morning in summer, or midday in winter.
Summary: To answer the OP's question, yes, I think temp sensitivity is overblown. Not because it doesn't exist, but because the majority's skill level and requirements are insensitive to it. Also, don't just assume a powder to be stable or unstable just because someone said so. If you really must know, go and test it.
While temperature stability may be good, and temperature instability may be bad, make sure whether your powder is actually stable or unstable.
Test: I read an article a while ago, but I am unable to find it again now. Someone did a test with a number of SB extruded and DB ball powders. The way the guy did the test really looked solid to me. He cooled (with a 12V fridge) and heated (with a seedling heat mat) batches of each, loaded to the same CBTO and pressure rating. He also did some temp increments in between the extremes. Of course he worked with thermometers, good recordkeeping and good principles such as barrel management.
Result: both the SB stick and DB ball had some velocity response to temperature. The variations were quite linear, and relatively small for a hunter's requirements. I can't remember the exact variations, but the article blew away the idea that SB is oh so stable, and DB is unshootable. In some cases, variances on DB ball were actually smaller than its equivalent stick powder, most notably so in my favourite ball powder, Somchem S321.
After reading that article, I became very relaxed around this topic. I know I don't chase velocity, and rarely have loads > Pmax - 15%. I also hunt in areas where 80% of shots are below 150yds, and often at larger animals (read 'larger vital zones'). I only hunt in autumn and winter, and go to the range only early morning in summer, or midday in winter.
Summary: To answer the OP's question, yes, I think temp sensitivity is overblown. Not because it doesn't exist, but because the majority's skill level and requirements are insensitive to it. Also, don't just assume a powder to be stable or unstable just because someone said so. If you really must know, go and test it.