[wolfeyes]

What powders (if any) are safe to shoot in very hot weather? I'm talking about 105 to 115 degrees.......jh

[kingpin008]

Uh, all of 'em.

It takes a heck of a lot hotter temps and a lot longer time than you'd be out in the sun to cause any problems with powder.

Think of it this way - we've got a bunch of guys and gals out in the sandbox right now, blasting through lots of ammo that's been shipped and stored in non-air-conditioned shipping containers, and they're not having any issues with it. Ammo is way, way, way more hearty than most people seem to think it is.

[Walkalong]

I routinely shoot in 95 to 98 degrees and sometimes hotter weather here in Alabama during the "dog days" of summer. All my loads are worked up and or tested/tweaked during that time to ensure they are safe year round. Sometimes you will find a load that is temperature sensitive. I generally rule it out if it shows a big difference from say, 50 degrees to 95 degrees. I like loads that are consistent from hot to cold since I shoot in weather from as low as 30ish to as high as 100ish degrees.

Bottom line is, if you work your load up in the hot temps in Az, they will be fine to shoot in those temps.

[Halo]

Yep, the only time hot weather could be a potential problem is if you're shooting something that was worked up as a high power winter hunting load. A load that was close to max pressure at 20 degrees could be overpressure at 90 degrees. I'm paraphrasing a little blurb somewhere in the Speer #13 manual about temperature variations.

But the powders in and of themselves, they are perfectly safe at high temperatures. It's sort of like the old saying, the difference between medicine and poison is in the dose.

[The Bushmaster]

The only thing I would watch for is if you load at the top of the powder charts (maximum load) is that some powders can be heat sensitive in that they will produce higher pressures. One that comes to mind is AA #5. I found that it is a bit temperature sensitive. As long as you keep your exposed rounds in the shade and not exposed to direct sun light you should be just fine with any of the powders...

As was explained in the two above posts by Walkalong and Halo. Winter loads will be hotter in the summer and vice versa

[30Cal]

For rifle, extruded powders in general are going to be much more stable over temperature than ball powders.

[Der Verge]

The only caliber that I routenely hear about pressure issuse at higher temperatures is the .460Wby. Seems many people get the ol sticky bolt when they go on Safari. Unless you are really shooting at max, or over, you should not have a problem. If you would like to feel more secure, many of Hodgdon's powders are specifically named as temperature indifferent....

[Bula]

only a mad man would go shoot in that weather! that being said, i was out yesterday at 3pm, funny I had the entire range to myself....go figure. BTW, AA2230 did fine in some .223 loads.

[wolfeyes]

From Arizonashooting.com;
"Spherical powders like BLC(2) & H335 see very large pressure swings due to temp changes".That's the ones.Thanks for all the replys......jh

[Sitting Duck]

Casa Grande here. I know where you are coming from. I hear Varget is supposed to good from one end of the temperature spectrum to the other. Depending on the application.

Now.... If someone has an idea for water cooling my 22-250 I'm all ears. I think the heat is getting to me, also. I've asked others at the range this very question only to find out that, like Bula, I have the range to myself.

[wolfeyes]

Yep, I have been using Varget myself.......jh

[evan price]

Varget is the awesome rifle powder as far as I am concerned- and the fact that everyone sold out of it confirms that.