Range time in the cold
- Thread starter johnnyjr
- Start date
RicinYakima
High Steppes of Eastern Washington
Life is short. Go when you can, but for me the cut off is below freezing. It is a 50 mile round trip, and if I can only shoot for 1/2 hour, it is not worth it to me.
JonB
Halcyon member
I've tested a lot of guns and/or "pistol loads" when it's below 32º but if the sun ain't out and it's breezy, ...I am out, then back in the car in minutes(range is 5 miles away).
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40º and calm is what it has to be (if the ground is covered in snow), for me to spend an hour or so plinking.
Photo is from Feburary 2023, hazy sunshine, I don't recall the temp? I was shooting the Model 58.
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40º and calm is what it has to be (if the ground is covered in snow), for me to spend an hour or so plinking.
Photo is from Feburary 2023, hazy sunshine, I don't recall the temp? I was shooting the Model 58.
Winelover
North Central Arkansas
My range is just outside my back door. I anticipate subzero temperatures to test hunting loads, developed in warm temperatures. Need to make sure POI isn't affected by cold weather. I try to imitate conditions, I may run across during our hunting season. We can have lows in the 40-50's on the warm side or 20-30's on the cold side. I don't like surprises. I'll put the rifle outside while I hang four targets. After acclimatization, go back indoors and fire another shot, 20-30 minutes later. Repeat till all four targets are used. Mark those targets with same color highlighter and record pertinant information...............day, temperature, wind speed and direction. Next time, using a different color highlighter. Do that several different days when conditions are conducive. Compare the results/groups.
JWFilips
Well-Known Member
Over the past 5 years since we retired my buddy Ed and I shoot at the range 2 to 3 times a week all year except for what we call "silly season" This the month before Rifle deer season in PA! You know it's those guys that take their rifle out once a year to make sure they can still hit a target!
We stay home and just do reloading until the weeks after the deer season ends. We have shot in 5 below temps and take 20 minute breaks in the car with the heater blasting to warm up. Now that we are in our 70's we set the cold limit a 20 degs but mostly 30 degs has been the limit the past 2 years. Problem with our range is the winter winds are ceaseless and directly across the line of fire. Not conducive to accurate shooting, especially with "Low Node" loads
We stay home and just do reloading until the weeks after the deer season ends. We have shot in 5 below temps and take 20 minute breaks in the car with the heater blasting to warm up. Now that we are in our 70's we set the cold limit a 20 degs but mostly 30 degs has been the limit the past 2 years. Problem with our range is the winter winds are ceaseless and directly across the line of fire. Not conducive to accurate shooting, especially with "Low Node" loads
Michael
Active Member. Uh/What
Churches have individuals that only show up for Christmas and Easter, hence "C" and "E-ers"
Or those that only attend on two other occasions, marryin' and buryin', "M" and "B-ers"
Has far as the above hunters go, I refer to them as "D" and "E'ers". They show up just for Deer and/or Elk seasons.
fiver
Well-Known Member
problem ain't the cold, the problem is getting back up the hill.
if the road isn't too icy sometimes i'll just shoot out of the truck.
i cut a pool noodle in half and taped it on top of another one i slit down the side that slides over the truck window.
if it's that bad i'll just drive out side town and stop on the side of the 2 lane road out there and shoot off the side of the road.[aka leaning against the truck tire or against the open door]
sometimes i can't put out targets because the snow is armpit deep so i just shoot at the branches of whatever is out there.
there's no group shooting of course but you know when you hit it.
if the road isn't too icy sometimes i'll just shoot out of the truck.
i cut a pool noodle in half and taped it on top of another one i slit down the side that slides over the truck window.
if it's that bad i'll just drive out side town and stop on the side of the 2 lane road out there and shoot off the side of the road.[aka leaning against the truck tire or against the open door]
sometimes i can't put out targets because the snow is armpit deep so i just shoot at the branches of whatever is out there.
there's no group shooting of course but you know when you hit it.
Mitty38
Well-Known Member
All depends if I can get down the hill at the club or not. Other then that if the wind is not real bad and it's above 20 degrees it's all good.
Cept' I never shoot in March. I always end up working on membership meeting day 1st Wednesday of March. Then it takes me till April to catch the Secretary. To verify my hours and pay my dues. To get the new gate combo that changed March first.
Cept' I never shoot in March. I always end up working on membership meeting day 1st Wednesday of March. Then it takes me till April to catch the Secretary. To verify my hours and pay my dues. To get the new gate combo that changed March first.
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Tomme boy
Well-Known Member
If I go to my private range it does not matter how cold it is out. We have a propane heater in the building we built to shoot out of. The thing that makes it so that you can't shoot is snow drifts getting to the shed. I have been stuck 3 times so far and had to walk about a mile to get to the machine shed to get the tractor out to pull myself out. Once I had to get the 4wd Versatile to pull my truck out. Have to be careful using that as it could pull your truck in half!
johnnyjr
Well-Known Member
Well,I went to the range this morning,28 degrees. Playing with 38s at 100 yards.. spotting scope fogged over. It's pretty old model.. maybe time for a new one.. Anyway I was glad to get there..