cold weather powders
 

Was shooting 5-stand last night and it was 3 degrees out - kind of nippy. About half way through I noticed my gun sounded a little weak. I was trying a new powder to me - American Select. So I had a friend step out the door and try one, and one loaded with Promo. Worked great. So we put one of each outside for 15 minutes and tried again - both were weak in recoil and report. Gonna try again in a day or two but this time I will load them a little hotter [ 1300 fps ] and also some 700X and maybe some Nitro 100.

Paul you may want to try a hotter primer in such weather, say a Federal 209A vs. a Winchester 209 or Remington STS 209.

I only have the Cheddites - about 8000.

My experience is that slow burning powders suffer more in cold weather. Keep the shells inside your coat, or wait for spring

Glad to hear someone else is out shooting in the cold! It's required here in Alaska!
Pete's advice on the hot primer is right on. Predator rifles at -20 and below function way better with magnum primers, even in the smaller cases like 222. Powder doesn't seem to make as much difference as the primer. I would be interested in hearing how much difference you find the powder choice makes with the shotgun. I haven't experienced problems with my shotgun, but probably haven't had the shells out of my pocket long enough to get really cold.
Ron

Might be wrong, but don't think Promo or Select are slow burning powders. And, they had been in the heated club house, went in my shooting coat pocket, and the 5-stand is enclosed but not heated. Anyways, tonight I'm going over for a meeting and will step out and try the 700X, Nitro, and the two hotter loads after they sit out for 10 or 15 minutes.

I shoot 700-x in all but my heavy 10 ga and 12 ga loads. works great even a 2 to 3 below 0. i use15 grs in my 12 ga for 3/4 oz to 1 oz and 19 to 23 in my 10 ga loads from 1 oz to 1 1/4 oz

Paul all 12ga target load powders are on the fast side on the burn rate chart. Of the four you mentioned Nitro100 is the fastest. Promo is the same as Red Dot, fast, and American Select a notch slower (better for 12ga 1 1/8 ounce) and close to Green Dot.

What you haven't told us is what the published pressures of your reloads are and that is the most critical aspect of cold weather loads. If you are shooting sub 8000 psi in very cold weather it invites problems. If you search around with Google most advice is use a hot primer like the 209A and get your pressures in the 10,000 range.

Increasing the pressure could be change the primer, increase the powder charge or shoot a heavier load.

You never see people shooting the promotional four pack loadings of Federal or Winchester having a problem in cold weather, they are high pressure loads.

Of course in a few years Global Warming will make it so none of us have to worry about cold weather shooting :rotf:

Until then there is point where I stop working in real cold weather before the shells give me a problem.

I don't want 10K pressures and yes that is a problem. Didn't seem to have it before, but then I didn't shoot last winter [ back problems ] and my memory is so short I can't remember two winters ago. Anyway, tried again last night and the 700X loaded to 8000psi seemed ok so that's what I'll go with.

What were the pressures of the non 700-x loads, were they real low like 6 or 5K? I don't believe it's the 700-x making the difference, it's because it's a higher pressure than what you had been shooting.

I don't think chamber pressure is static, pressure measurements are taking at something close to room temperature. A shell that works fine in the summer and does not in the winter is I suspect producing a lower pressure in the cold temps. What is published as a 10K load is probably lower in single digits temperatures. I wonder if there are tests done to confirm this.