Cold weather accuracy trouble HELP!!

huntinandgutin · Rookie Member Joined: Feb 09, 2007 Posts: 3

I have a ruger 22-250 km177 with a bull barrell and a leupold 6.5 - 20 x 40 VXlll. I have been using the winchester Supreme and Hornandy molly coat ammo. When im hunting in tempatures down around zero degrees I cant hit nothing.The gun is shooting 8" to 10" inches low at a hundred yards.This is pissing me off!! Anybody out there know what might cause this?

Bushmaster

Wild guess...? Temperature sensitive powder. You sighted that rifle in during the warm weather. Right? At colder tempratures it isn't as hot burning as it was at warmer temperatures. Hence, lower pressures. Either change powders to a less sensitive powder or resight in your rifle in the colder thempertures...I'll almost bet that in warmer temperatures that it will shoot a bit high...

1895ss

I have never had that happen, at least not to that extreme. What kind of stock is on your gun and is the barrel free floating?

Dawgdad

Dirty barrel? When did you scrub it last. I though my .243 was going south . I checked all of the screws and the scope ounts but was still spraying with what is known to be a sub moa load. I de- coppered the bore and Voila = accuracy returned. I normally give the bore a quick wipe with a bore snake but not a scrubbing until after the season.

That is an easy fix too.

huntinandgutin · Rookie Member Joined: Feb 09, 2007 Posts: 3

LAst season the temp dropped to around zero had a dog within 100yrds standing still broadside BANG gone.I switched to the hornandy amo was at a range this fall the gun was hitting a Quarter at 180 yrds. I just had 2 dogs this week within a 100yrds broadside BANG BANG gone gone.I took a couple of shots after and it is clearly hitting low.The temp again is at zero or below its so cold the gun looks like you dipped it in water after i bring it in the house.I have a better running record with my old Winchester 9422 .22 mag and a tasco scope than i have with this big buck outfit.The barrel is free floated the gun has a wooden stock with no bedding plate and i daught i have run 75 rounds through it.
i thank you all for the help.

huntinandgutin · Rookie Member Joined: Feb 09, 2007 Posts: 3

Any suggestions on a ammo maker who uses a less sensative powder.

Dimitri · Super Member Joined: Nov 25, 2005 Posts: 5944

Welcome to the forums Howdy

Well it was mentioned on another forum I visit that for every 20*F that the tempurature changes military issue ammo would change one MOA from point of impact up (hotter it is) or down (colder it is). Smile

That seems exessive though on that ammo, perhaps trying non-moly coated ammo ?? Confused

Dimitri

mossbak

I was told by a gun smith that you can get a build up from the moly, my story or expeirence with the stuff, I had a win 70 WSM, i broke the gun in with federals, it shot very well, I then tryed the winchester with the moly soon after I was having accuracy issues 3 to 4" groups @100yrds...

I didn't check the scope because of what the gun smith said...

just my two cents worth...

moose2

I guess I'll throw my 2 cents worth in. First I would not expect any ammo to deviate that much at 100 yards do to cold weather. There are a couple of things in this situation that do catch my eye though. Zero or below zero temps. and equipment that is showing signs of alot of moisture. The expansion and contraction of metal due to the temps. and moisture can have very bad effects on things like scopes, even very good ones like yours. Can't say that is the problem, but its one that I would suspect. Hopefully your scope is fine and has not suffered any ill effects from the cold temps. A couple of things I try to do in very cold weather hunts is to pre-set my distance and my Mag. power on my scope before I leave the house. I also store my rifle in my vehicle the night before a hunt. I don't like taking one out from 70 degree temps. to 0 degrees without some acclimation. Hope you get yours figured out--tr