Cold weather squibs?!

[Anmut]

Just got back from the gun range shooting some reloads with my son. Shooting out of a snubby 38 special s&w. Loads are, 125g copper plated over 4.7 of hp-38 with CCI SPP. I load on a single stage press and do my load processes in batches. When it comes to powder I am extremely careful, I load all the powder one at a time, a 100 rounds at a time into my two trays, then I use a flashlight to look at each case before I load the bullet.

Today, we were shooting in -10f weather and halfway through my 100 rounds of reloads every other shot was going pfft instead of bang. It happened 6x, each time I'm checking the barrel to see ***, and the last one squibb'd hard just past the forcing cone. There was unburned powder behind it.

So between my safety checks and seeing unburned powder I'm 99.97% sure that it wasn't a bad reload. I don't ever crimp my 38's because, well I've never had an issue in the last 1000+ rounds I've loaded.

So I'm wondering if this super cold weather, and without a crimp forcing a bit more burn time, that this is why I was getting pff'ts and not bangs suddenly?! Anyone else ran across this?!!

 

[Blue68f100]

Cold weather can cause problems when you get to extremes. If I recall a lot use Mag primers to get a hotter longer burn to counter this problem. You should should try storing you ammo in a cooler to keep it warm till you load and see if the problem goes away.

 

[sexybeast]

Its never happened to me but I have heard of this but mostly with rifle rounds with powder that is difficult to ignite.
Two weeks ago I shot in a match that was coooollllldddd!!!!! 22degrees with a stiff wind. I was layered up like a mummy and still could not feel my feet. I was shooting 9mm with a 125gr RN behind 3.7gr of hp38. I did not have one FTF or squib. I was using CCI small pistol primers.
231/HP38 is a very reliable and stable powder.
It may be position sensitive or cold sensitive but this was my experience.

Edit: I have heard from friends that hunt that they will stick some of their rounds under an armpit to "warm" them up. Same with their food! Yummy!

 

[Schwing]

I had a similar experience with 300 MP powder a couple of weeks ago. I was only about .3 grains above minimum charge so bumping up about .5 more resolved my problem.

I never had this problem with the same load in the summer.

 

[PO2Hammer]

There is some data that recommends magnum primers with HP38 and crimp couldn't hurt.
I do a lot of cold weather shooting and I like single base flake powders like SR-7625, SR-4756 and Universal and I'm using magnum primers more and more.
Hodgdon claims Universal to be superior in the cold.

 

[Mike 27]

I have had this happen with HS-6 in a 38. I think it has something to do with the cold but more on powder position in the 38 case. A mag primer may help. I switched to a fast powder in my 38's and never had an issue after. I think the slow powder with weather and case position all together may be the issue. After this happened I triple checked the load and went back to the range to verify that it was the load and not a mistake "squib" and I replicated the poor result after a few shots. This is when I went to the Bullseye powder and never looked back in my 38spl's.

 

[gahunter12]

With temp sensitive powders it can happen. I'm not 100% on how sensitive HP38/W231 is, but I do know that WST is reverse sensitive meaning the load gets hotter when temps get colder. Also a nice roll crimp will aid in building up case pressure.

 

[243winxb]

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=738024&highlight=squib Plated bullets & powder with a slow burn rate, again.

 

[GaryL]

I've had pretty good luck down to -20*F with Win LP primers and H110 in 44mag.

I will say those stout 44mag loads sting the hands pretty good when it's that cold. Can't wear thick gloves shooting, and the hands get cold quick.

 

[jmr40]

Cold temps will reduce velocity. At -22 a noticeable amount, but I just can't see it being enough to not even get the bullet out of the barrel. I suppose I could be wrong, but think there is something else going on here.

 

[Anmut]

I crimped them with a taper crimp and I'm going to keep him warm next time I hit the range. Thanks all for the info.

 

[Blue68f100]

The roll crimp will give you a higher starting pressure. It just hold the bullet better since it rolls into the grove and does not deform the bullet like the taper.

You may contact Hodgons and see what they say about the powder in the -20 below range. They may have some insight to pass onto you.

I know from experience in doing environmental testing for equipment for Alaska, things do not act the same as room temp. I used to test equipment all the way down to -75F with a 25 mph wind velocity. All I can say at that temp it does not take long to loose the function of your hands, 5 min max and your ready to get out. Any temp below -30F you can frost bite your lungs if you don't filter the air.