Cold Weather Rimfire Accuracy?

[ditto1958]

My shooting mentor at the range told me today that once winter comes, he doesn't shoot his 22's out past 25 yards. He doesn't know why it is, but he claims 22 LR is not worth a darn for accuracy at longer ranges in cold weather.

I wonder if there is anything to that? I will say about my friend that he is an astonishingly good shooter. Even more amazing is that he shoots so well at 80 years old. So, maybe he knows something. He has waaaay more experience than I have.

[North Country Gal]

Yes, I have heard this and experienced it, as well. I do tend to get more fliers and groups do open up when the temps get down into the 30s and below. However, this is when I'm shooting from the bench at 50 yards, using a scope, where a tenth of an inch difference in group size is significant. Not something I worry about much when shooting from a standing position or using iron sights or for my pistol shooting, because other factors cause more of a spread, then. It's still there, but accuracy suffers more for other reasons. And I do shoot past 25 yards in the winter, because, as you well know, if we only shot when the temp was above 50 in Wisconsin, we'd have a very short shooting season. Good question, though.

[bandit1250]

Cold weather rim fire shooting can have accuracy problems especially with the more greasy ammo like Wolf and Norma Tac and some other European brands. What some cold weather shooters do is to keep their ammo in a inside pocket near your body to keep it warm and the lube won't thicken to the point of causing accuracy issues. I think there has been things on the internet (maybe rimfirecentral) about this issue. If you wipe the greasy stuff off they usually shoot worse so try the keep it warm method by only getting out what you are going to load and shoot at your target right away before it gets cold again. I shoot here off my porch in cold weather and if I keep the ammo in my room go in and load the mag and go out and shoot right away they do tend to group better than letting the ammo sit on the bench and get cold especially with the heavy lubed brands. Also the copper washed ammo doesn't seem to be affected quite as much but I don't like them as good as plain lead.

[North Country Gal]

Good tips. Thanks. Might try the in the pocket one.

[Henry88]

I wonder if copper plated bullets are more accurate in the cold?

[JEBar]

I wonder if copper plated bullets are more accurate in the cold?

I wasn't aware of the cold weather issue .... in thinking back to winter squirrel hunting with a 22 in the mountains of Western NC, I only used Winchester or CCI Stinger jacketed hollow points .... I never recall any accuracy issues ....

[Sir Henry]

I shoot better in cold weather. Maybe its because I enjoy it more but it might have more to do with the relative humidity. I shoot at two ranges. One is near a cool damp climate and don't shoot better but the other range is in the desert and at 25 degrees the relative humidity is near zero. I always thought it was the relative humidity and not the temperature that made the difference. So I might shoot better when its 25 degrees out with 10% humidity than when its 45 degrees and 70% humidity.

[Les]

I must admit, this is the first time I've ever heard of the problems with .22 in cold weather. Probably because it doesn't get really cold here, and also because most .22 folks I know shoot indoors in the winter. It's really interesting to know, though.

[Tape]

It will not effect POI as much as people are saying, the only difference is the air is denser so the bullet will drop sooner then warmer weather. Windage will not effect the bullet anymore than usual.

[RanchRoper]

Wonder what -30 does to Big Boy accuracy? If somebody knows let me know, cuz I ain't going to find out!

[Tape]

Wonder what -30 does to Big Boy accuracy? If somebody knows let me know, cuz I ain't going to find out!

50yds, nothing


I don't see anything in the Henry manual to not shoot it and if something broke believe it that Anthony will gladly take care of it.

[North Country Gal]

Guys, once again, I don't think it's an issue unless you are getting down to tenths of an inch in group size out there at 50 yards and beyond. At least it isn't for me. After being cooped up for long periods in the winter waiting for those all too rare decent winter days for shooting, no way will I stay home for that kind of lack of accuracy. What lack of accuracy I get on those days is more from shivering.

[RanchRoper]

I don't have to worry about the bears now when I'm pushing cows in the back country, they are sleeping, so as long as I can get on the paper at the range at 25/50/100 yds I'm happy. Our cold snap is supposed to break in a week or so, and the long rang forecast for Jan/Feb/March is for temperatures above freezing most of the time. So lead will be flyin'!!!

[Sir Henry]

Forgetting about the firearm for a bit I've found that in cold weather my eye will tear up just a tad and my vision is better.

[North Country Gal]

Me, too, but I have to be careful not to let my glasses ice up.

[ditto1958]

Forgetting about the firearm for a bit I've found that in cold weather my eye will tear up just a tad and my vision is better.

Are you sure it's the cold causing the tears, or could it be that you knocked your coffee off the shooting bench?

[North Country Gal]

That would do it for me. Total disaster.

[Sir Henry]

Forgetting about the firearm for a bit I've found that in cold weather my eye will tear up just a tad and my vision is better.

Are you sure it's the cold causing the tears, or could it be that you knocked your coffee off the shooting bench?

No one saw me do it and you can't prove a thing.

[bandit1250]

Forgetting about the firearm for a bit I've found that in cold weather my eye will tear up just a tad and my vision is better.

Maybe the better vision after your eye tears up will help making sure the fifth shot is right in there with the first four.

[Sir Henry]

Forgetting about the firearm for a bit I've found that in cold weather my eye will tear up just a tad and my vision is better.

Maybe the better vision after your eye tears up will help making sure the fifth shot is right in there with the first four.

You have been reading my range reports.