Below freezing temps effect shots

mickeymouseoutfitters · Dec 11, 2016

I've been practing when temps were 40+ degrees. Had a good 4" group at 100 yards, but when I went on my late hunt I missed. Then took it to the range, I couldn't even hit a piece of 4'x4' cardboard at 100 yards. Anyone else have problems with their muzzleloader when temps get below freezing?

Zeke · Dec 12, 2016

Temperature will affect lots of things like the powder efficiency and stock warp but what you encountered sounds too extreme for even that.

Check your stock screws and sight/scope screws. Something is drastically wrong!

Zeke

elktaker · Dec 12, 2016

When you say you could not hit 4'x4' card board, do you know of it was grouping some where else? Or you just weren't hitting.

You will see changes with temps as in fps that could through you off a node but it would not be noticeable with a 4" group.

Things to check:

Gun sight got bumped?

Load is not fully burning (what gun, ignition and what primer and powder) if you are shooting 209 try a mag primer and see if there is any difference.

Check gun stock screws tight( would be pretty bad to miss a 4x4 target)

mickeymouseoutfitters · Dec 12, 2016

Traditions evelotion with 80gr loose pyrodex powder and a regular 209 primer. I didn't know they made a mag primer. Its fine when it's warm, but when it's cold, I can see flames coming out the barrel. I'll defiantly be trying the mag primers.

elktaker · Dec 13, 2016

I shot cci mag 209 with all my muzzleloaders, but I am using bh209 from 74gr to 105 gr by weight in my custom. The burn pretty clean as well.

The other issue is if the cold is making your sabot or bullet fit loose it could cause a lack of pressure to fully burn. If the mag primers do not work, add a wad under the bullet.

Hopefully one of those will work.

elkassassin · Dec 13, 2016

Get Some Real Powder!

BH 209!

[font color="blue"]She put a Big F.U. in My Future,Ya She's got a
way with Words[/font]

mickeymouseoutfitters · Dec 13, 2016

it says that it's for totally enclosed breach. I have an open breach. Should I try it anyways?

elktaker · Dec 13, 2016

I wouldn't with you plug.

elkassassin · Dec 13, 2016

Disregard Post #5!

Do NOT Use BH 209 in your Gun!

Sorry mm!

I Didn't see which Gun you were Shooting!

I'd Get a Better Gun that'll Shoot it though!

It Ain't Worth Missing/Wounding an Animal!

[font color="blue"]She put a Big F.U. in My Future,Ya She's got a
way with Words[/font]

GoexBlackhorn · Dec 15, 2016

LAST EDITED ON Dec-15-16 AT 11:18AM (MST)[p]
YES, cold weather sight-ins are different than warm weather sight-ins. Cold barrel sight-ins are different than warm or hot barrel sight-ins too.

Whenever you sight-in your ML, you need to return to the range, to check it on paper, when the barrel is clean and not shot prior that day.

Too many range shooters think that the gun will remain sighted-in, after shooting it 10-15 times prior. You can never trust your sight-in, when finally getting those bullseyes on the 10th,11th-12th-13th-14th or last shot of the range day.

When I think I'm real close, I pack up and go home, to return another day and see how it shoots from shots-1 and shots-2. Those are the only two shots that really matter.

I bring more than one muzzleloader to the range anyways. that way I'm not paying $10 for the range visit and only shooting two shots to re-check my zero. Sometimes I bring a centerfire, pistol or shotgun, just to make sure I get use out of my $10 range table-fee for that visit.

elktaker · Dec 15, 2016

>LAST EDITED ON Dec-15-16
>AT 11:18?AM (MST)
>
>
>YES, cold weather sight-ins are different
>than warm weather sight-ins. Cold
>barrel sight-ins are different than
>warm or hot barrel sight-ins
>too.
>
>
>Whenever you sight-in your ML, you
>need to return to the
>range, to check it on
>paper, when the barrel is
>clean and not shot prior
>that day.
>
>Too many range shooters think that
>the gun will remain sighted-in,
>after shooting it 10-15 times
>prior. You can never trust
>your sight-in, when finally getting
>those bullseyes on the 10th,11th-12th-13th-14th
>or last shot of the
>range day.
>
>When I think I'm real close,
>I pack up and go
>home, to return another day
>and see how it shoots
>from shots-1 and shots-2. Those
>are the only two shots
>that really matter.
>
>I bring more than one muzzleloader
>to the range anyways.
>that way I'm not paying
>$10 for the range visit
>and only shooting two shots
>to re-check my zero. Sometimes
>I bring a centerfire, pistol
>or shotgun, just to make
>sure I get use out
>of my $10 range table-fee
>for that visit.

He is missing a 4x4 ft targets so he has more going on than a simple poi change.