.45 Colt Cold Weather Torture Test

[Greyhawk]

In hand loading .45 colt I got away from H110 because of its supposed sensitivity to cold weather. The powder I switched to was Alliant 2400. But is 2400 cold temperature sensitive? Well I decided to find out! Not only would I be testing my hand loads but also my Ruger Super Redhawk Alaskan and My Henry .45 Colt Big Boy Steel.
Last nights low in Northern Minnesota was forecasted to be -38 with -60 wind chill. In order to have a good test I stored my rifle, pistol, and my handloads in the open back of my truck overnight, the actual low got down to -40. When I arrived at the range the temp had risen to a balmy -27 with -40 wind chill. I had a couple of surprises in store.

Ruger Super Redhawk Alaskan performance: After snowshoeing from the parking lot to the firing line I experienced my first unpleasant surprise, I forgot to put on my hearing protection! Man did that Redhawk bark. I fired 6 rounds from the Redhawk and while the revolver performed admirably I did have one misfire from a light strike, although the round did fire the second time that I tried it. Otherwise everything worked with the revolver just like it was summer.

Henry Big Boy Steel: When I pulled out the Big Boy I was in for my second surprise. I could not budge the brass magazine follower under any circumstance, it was welded in. Whether this was because of a little moisture frozen in there or because it was just stiff I don't know, but instead of forcing it I just loaded the rounds one at a time. Other than problems with the magazine the Henry performed flawlessly.

The Handloads: Well, my real question was about 2400. I was shooting 'Ruger Only' loads of 20 grains of 2400 behind a 250 grain Hornady XTP, using Starline brass and Winchester WLP primers These rounds had spent the night in the back of my truck and couldn't have been colder. I don't have a chronograph but these rounds knocked down steel just like it was summer. So I would say I am pretty happy with 2400 for cold weather.

Well I hope my report has been at least entertaining. If you venture out to the range this winter don't forget the snowshoes!




http://henryrifleforums.com/download/fi ... w&id=13972

[JEBar]

very interesting .... thanks for the report .... I'm curious, when you took your Henry back into a heated area, did you check to see if the action functioned as it should .... I'm not familiar with the term magazine follower, any info would be appreciated

[Ojaileveraction]

Magnum primers?

[PT7]

Excellent and most interesting real-life range report, Greyhawk. And it doesn't sound like it was a "tortuous" experience for yourself in the frigid cold....that's good. Thanks for the "cool" photos, too!

Well I hope my report has been at least entertaining. If you venture out to the range this winter don't forget the snowshoes!

[PT7]

very interesting .... thanks for the report .... I'm curious, when you took your Henry back into a heated area, did you check to see if the action functioned as it should .... I'm not familiar with the term magazine follower, any info would be appreciated

Jim,

Just check out the exploded parts page in your Henry manual. Easy to see, and it is listed as "follower" there.
PT7

[North Country Gal]

Greyhawk, a big salute to you for heading to the range in such weather. We're almost that cold over here in neighboring northern Wisconsin, but I'm in no hurry to test any of my guns or ammo in this cold. Anyway, well done.

[BigAl52]

Man thats cold. Im not sure even ole RR would venture out in those temps.

[JEBar]

Just check out the exploded parts page in your Henry manual. Easy to see, and it is listed as "follower" there.
PT7

thanks .... I can see how it could easily freeze in such cold temps

[Jdl447]

Pretty much have the range to your self eh?

[Greyhawk]

I used Winchester WLP primers which are listed as standard or magnum primers. Also, I may not be using the correct terminology when I referred to the 'magazine follower'. What I meant was that I could not budge the brass tube to extend it and load the magazine, it would not even turn. I have never had this happen under normal conditions, and it worked just fine after the rifle warmed up. And yes, the range was very quiet! I invited both of my sons to join me but they thought I was crazy.

[fortyshooter]

Now that is an extreme test for you and the guns! A chrono might not have functioned in that kind of cold since they can be somewhat
finicky on a good day!
I like that same 2400 load in my Alaskan and get 1100 FPS with that 250 gr. XTP.
Thanks for testing!

[Ojaileveraction]

Geyhawk,
Rare to get real world data like this. Such extreme conditions!
Thanks for putting yourself out there.

[The Wiz]

I agree with your sons!

[Cofisher]

Lol. Kids can't keep up with dad. Been there.

[RanchRoper]

-40?...you are cowboy tough amigo. Well done.

[tractortad]

This has to be the coldest range report on record.

[TNman]

Awesome tenacity to get out in those temperatures! Thanks for the info...I will make sure my Henrys have a light coat of a quality synthetic oil on the mag tube but I will never be out in those kinds of temperatures. Great report...

[Mags]

.
I have a theory about that. The outer mag tube is a piece of steel curled to form a tube. The tube seam is not welded. The edges just tough each other. You can see this 'open' seam on the back of the mag tube by looking through the loading port on the tube. I suspect the 'open' seam allows the outer mag tube to shrink more so from the extreme cold and to clamp/grip down on the brass inner tube.

If you still have the 'vortex' temps, try TNman's suggestion with the synthetic oil and put your Henry back out overnight in your truck. Next morning, see if the inner tube is removable. I'm curious to read about what you find out.

... I could not budge the brass tube to extend it and load the magazine, it would not even turn. I have never had this happen under normal conditions, and it worked just fine after the rifle warmed up...

[Ojaileveraction]

.
I have a theory about that. The outer mag tube is a piece of steel curled to form a tube. The tube seam is not welded. The edges just tough each other. You can see this 'open' seam on the back of the mag tube by looking through the loading port on the tube. I suspect the 'open' seam allows the outer mag tube to shrink more so from the extreme cold and to clamp/grip down on the brass inner tube.

If you still have the 'vortex' temps, try TNman's suggestion with the synthetic oil and put your Henry back out overnight in your truck. Next morning, see if the inner tube is removable. I'm curious to read about what you find out.

... I could not budge the brass tube to extend it and load the magazine, it would not even turn. I have never had this happen under normal conditions, and it worked just fine after the rifle warmed up...

I remember in physics class about taking a steel ball and brass ring of the same circumference. heat the brass ring to expand it then slip it over the steel ball. Let it cool and it won't move. Try to hear it and the steel will absorb the heat and expand faster than the brass.

Could be the other-way around.

[Mags]

.
Maybe, except that the inner tube is an alloy not true brass. It is also a solid tube all the way around. So cold shrinkage should be limited. Whereas the outer tube is split and has more flexibility to shrink in both circumference and radius when chilled. Also the inner alloy brass tube is inside the steel outer tube. The reverse of what you had in physics (brass around steel). As you noted steel expands faster than brass when heated, it also cools faster than brass.

I remember in physics class about taking a steel ball and brass ring of the same circumference. heat the brass ring to expand it then slip it over the steel ball. Let it cool and it won't move. Try to hear it and the steel will absorb the heat and expand faster than the brass.

Could be the other-way around.