The Rohrbaugh Forum

Rohrbaugh Products and Accessories => Rohrbaugh R9 (all variations) => Topic started by: flintsghost on April 16, 2011, 12:38:15 PM

Title: Ammunition and the effects of ambient temperature
Post by: flintsghost on April 16, 2011, 12:38:15 PM
One of the things that isn't often considered when we travel to a range to shoot is the effect of temperature and the sun on our gear, especially ammunition.    The facts are that extremes of heat and sunlight boiling down on the weapons and the ammo left on a shooting table can raise the pressure levels significantly.    Also the reverse is true.   Go to an outdoor range in winter in fairly cold weather and your  ammo is suddely lower pressure than you expected and may even be a bit more unreliable.    Your zero for your sights will change.  Now this won't effect you much at the short ranges you use a Rohrbaugh at,  but in heat it could be catastrophic regardless of the firearm.  

I used to use a chronograph periodically and found that in the high summer heat, velocities would be higher than normal.  I also had a major problem experience once which I believe was induced by my own lack knowledge at the time.    Back in the early '80's when I was both building custom 1911's and also a designated foreign correspondant for a French Shooting magazine,  I was contacted by the people at Devel.   They had one of their chopped 9mm S&W Devel pistols that they were going to give away to a Devel dealer at the SHOT show.  They teamed up with Glaser to promote both their pistols and a new high powered +P type Glaser safety slug for this drawing.   Devel wanted me to test the weapon for the magazine and shoot it with these new Glaser Safety slugs which had a black tip instead of a blue.   I had a photographer with me and we went to an outdoor range used by my department.   We put the gun and test ammo out on the table in the sun and took, copious amounts of pics etc for about an hour.  It was about 95 degrees out and we had no shade.

Then I went to shoot the pistol.  First shot it blew in my hand.  The pistol contained everything and only the grips fragmented but the hood expanded up into the port and the magazine was bulged out.  Needless to say my hand hurt a lot and there were some plastic fragments imbedded in it.   Devel blamed Glaser and Glaser blamed Devel.   I wasn't smart enough to know what happened.   As I gained a bit more experience I believe that the increase in pressure that was caused by having the weapon and ammunition in the sun may have been the culprit.   Since then when I am outdoors I use a cooler to store my ammo at the range, unless the firing points are covered and in shade.   When I attended the NRA Long Range Rifle Instructors course at Raton, NM, I had a cooler I carried with me on the line to store my ammo since the firing points on the 1000 yard range are not covered.  I had a larger cooler with cool packs in it in my topper on my truck for my bulk ammo that was being used for the week, and I kept my back up sniper rifle in a aluminum sealed case.     Something to think about.
Title: Re: Ammunition and the effects of ambient temperat
Post by: coyote on April 16, 2011, 12:48:03 PM

excellent reminder using a vivid example. thnx fg!





.
Title: Re: Ammunition and the effects of ambient temperat
Post by: flintsghost on April 16, 2011, 01:18:09 PM
The wisdom that comes in old age is a natural evolution if one survives the mistakes we make when we are young and stupid.  I got a lot smarter after that.
Title: Re: Ammunition and the effects of ambient temperat
Post by: yankee2500 on April 16, 2011, 03:33:59 PM
Reminds me of something my Grandfather would always say.
 " Too soon we get old, too late we get smart "  ;D
Title: Re: Ammunition and the effects of ambient temperat
Post by: flintsghost on April 16, 2011, 04:18:52 PM
Quote
Reminds me of something my Grandfather would always say.
 " Too soon we get old, too late we get smart "  ;D

fortunately,  I was just smart enough, soon enough, to get old.   Of course if the old saying, "the good die young" is true, I'll live way past 100.  But I hope not.

And then everyone should remember that,  "old age and treachery will always overcome youth and skill."   So there are some benefits.  
Title: Re: Ammunition and the effects of ambient temperat
Post by: yankee2500 on April 16, 2011, 04:32:27 PM
Here's another one I've seen.

Never Pick A Fight With An Old Man, If he's too old to fight
  He'll just Kill you.   ;D
Title: Re: Ammunition and the effects of ambient temperat
Post by: flintsghost on April 16, 2011, 04:45:38 PM
Very true
Title: Re: Ammunition and the effects of ambient temperat
Post by: RickP on April 16, 2011, 06:17:47 PM
Ok, so temperature would explain why my 10/22 was dropping an inch or so from 25 to 50 yards back in January, but now is flat. Now I can stop wondering.

Thanks,

Rick
Title: Re: Ammunition and the effects of ambient temperat
Post by: Richard S on April 16, 2011, 06:38:28 PM
Quote
* * *
And then everyone should remember that,  "old age and treachery will always overcome youth and skill."   So there are some benefits.  

Substitute the word, "exuberance," for the word, "skill," and you have a summary of the philosophy by which I now approach each day of my life. (I rely on seven decades of accumulated skill, even though I've accumulated a lot of scar tissue and lost a body part or two and along the way.)  8)
Title: Re: Ammunition and the effects of ambient temperat
Post by: kjtrains on April 16, 2011, 09:04:59 PM
Wisdom does play a big role in life.    :)
Title: Re: Ammunition and the effects of ambient temperat
Post by: kjtrains on April 16, 2011, 09:48:17 PM
Quote
Here's another one I've seen.

Never Pick A Fight With An Old Man, If he's too old to fight
  He'll just Kill you.   ;D

I like this one too.

You can't beat a person who never gives up.  Babe Ruth
Title: Re: Ammunition and the effects of ambient temperat
Post by: flintsghost on April 17, 2011, 12:58:10 PM
Gosh,  I didn't mean to change this to the Rohrbaugh cliche festival, but oh,  what the heck....

"a pistol is like a parachute..., if it doesn't work when you need it, you won't ever need it again."