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Joe_S
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temperature variation
Apr 30th, 2026 at 9:28pm
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I took my centerfire rifle out today for the first time this year. Started with the same sight settings and load that I have been using for about 20 years. No hits on paper. I needed about -10 clicks of elevation to get his in the general area of where I was aiming. 
Checked the load, bullets and scope mounts, and then it occurred to me that the outside temperature was just over 40 Deg. I don't recall ever shooting in temperatures that cold before, could it be that the lower temperature caused a reduction in pressure or velocity that required additional elevation? Load was 16 gr. 4227.
Never had this happen before. 
Thanks!
Joe S
  
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bpjack
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Re: temperature variation
Reply #1 - Apr 30th, 2026 at 10:05pm
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40 is about as cold as I have shot around these parts. Never noticed a major difference between 40 and 70. 

Jack
  

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frnkeore
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Re: temperature variation
Reply #2 - yesterday at 3:00am
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I've shot in the snow, when it was ~20° and was not far off my normal sight settings, at least not enough that I noticed it.
  

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gunlaker
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Re: temperature variation
Reply #3 - yesterday at 8:47am
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I shoot in temperatures quite a big colder than that and I don't notice more than maybe a minute or minute and a half variation from winter to summer.  Assuming 200 yards.  Now at 1000 yards the effect of temperature and air density changes are far more extreme.   

Chris. A
  
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GT
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Re: temperature variation
Reply #4 - yesterday at 10:09am
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Joe,
I've had similar experiences as the others with the temp swings, usually not much change.  The only thing I've experienced with severe temp differentials is if you happen to be shooting in extreme sub-zero, some brands of primers can cause a delay.  In extreme heat, conditions, above a 110°F some powders don't play well.  I've experienced some changes but usually it's in a string.

Revisit your loads, lube, barrel conditions and settings.  Not saying you'd have those issues, but variations like what you described, if it was me and my equipment I'd hazard a guess and say I did something different.
Greg
  

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Dellet
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Re: temperature variation
Reply #5 - yesterday at 10:47am
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Temperature rule of thumb is 1fps per degree change, s o Thats easy to figure. I have a bigger problem with lighting, cold days tend to be darker, and point of aim/impact shift. Parallax.

If the scope was an external adjustment, maybe plungers were sticky.

Shoot it again without adjustment and see if it is still on or you have to move it back.

Never will forget hearing kind of a zipper sound pulling a rifle out of a case at the range. Thought the front sight might have hung up pulling it out. Turned out to be the sound of a turret being spun at a high rate of speed.
  
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GT
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Re: temperature variation
Reply #6 - yesterday at 1:03pm
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Todd,
Made me chuckle, been there.
G

"Never will forget hearing kind of a zipper sound pulling a rifle out of a case at the range. Thought the front sight might have hung up pulling it out. Turned out to be the sound of a turret being spun at a high rate of speed."
  

"To invent, you need a good imagination and a pile of junk"  T. A. Edison
"The trouble ain't that there is too many fools, but that the lightning ain't distributed right" M.T.
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Deadeye Bly
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Re: temperature variation
Reply #7 - yesterday at 2:51pm
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I shot a match in cold weather with black powder and most of my sight settings would up about 4 minutes higher. That's was my experience with black powder. Smokeless my be different.
  
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