I'm not sure the images I tried to post will show up, (it's my first time with pic's).
In south east Wisconsin, it gets COLD during the winter. "Teens" can be the norm during mid Dec. through Feb. "Off" sounding shells are not unusual. Is it just the weather? Or is it your components? Are Factory shells better?
I noticed the temps were going to be in the teens on my day off, Friday. So I took several of my loads, and some Federal Factory loads, and headed to the range to do a little chronographing. NOTE: All the shells I used sat outside in the 18 degrees for a full 2 hours.
When I was done I walked downrange to check out some of the wads. About a third of them had a crack in the powder cup, one was broke in half, and a bunch of them had pieces missing. Just for the record, I was shooting a Remington 1100 with a 2 3/4" chamber and a .729" bore. (I was shooting at a pistol range with a berm, so I was able to find all the wads I had shot. These are not pickups at a trap range).
Here's my data: (All are 1 1/8 oz. 7 1/2 shot)
#1: Federal Factory 3 dram Gold Medal Plastic: 1232, 1196, 1186, 1206, 1210. (1206 fps average)
#2: Federal Factory HCP Paper: 1214, 1207, 1188, 1203, 1222. (1207 fps average)
#3: Fed Paper Reload: (F209, 21.5 gr Green Dot, Fed 12S4 wad): 1109, 1108, 1151, 1106, 1139. (1122 fps average)
#4: Top Gun Reload: (F209, 21 gr. GD, CB Red 8 wad): 1113, 1069, 1081, 1099, 1084. ( 1089 fps average.)
#5: Gold Medal Plastic Reload: (F209, 21 gr. Green Dot, CB 12S3 wad): 1151, 1134, 1105, 1142, 1156. (1138 fps average).
As my reloads usually go around 1200 fps in warmer weather I'm going to be a little more careful about leaving them out side in COLD weather for any length of time.
If anyone is interested, I found a good way to get fairly consistent readings with the inexpensive chrono's. Clouds, bright sun, and sometimes the low angle of the sun during winter can give the chrono's light sensor problems. So I put mine in a box covered with some semi-transparent plastic (from a garbage bag). It seems to work pretty good. Hopefully, pic's will show up below. Good Luck, Randy
In south east Wisconsin, it gets COLD during the winter. "Teens" can be the norm during mid Dec. through Feb. "Off" sounding shells are not unusual. Is it just the weather? Or is it your components? Are Factory shells better?
I noticed the temps were going to be in the teens on my day off, Friday. So I took several of my loads, and some Federal Factory loads, and headed to the range to do a little chronographing. NOTE: All the shells I used sat outside in the 18 degrees for a full 2 hours.
When I was done I walked downrange to check out some of the wads. About a third of them had a crack in the powder cup, one was broke in half, and a bunch of them had pieces missing. Just for the record, I was shooting a Remington 1100 with a 2 3/4" chamber and a .729" bore. (I was shooting at a pistol range with a berm, so I was able to find all the wads I had shot. These are not pickups at a trap range).
Here's my data: (All are 1 1/8 oz. 7 1/2 shot)
#1: Federal Factory 3 dram Gold Medal Plastic: 1232, 1196, 1186, 1206, 1210. (1206 fps average)
#2: Federal Factory HCP Paper: 1214, 1207, 1188, 1203, 1222. (1207 fps average)
#3: Fed Paper Reload: (F209, 21.5 gr Green Dot, Fed 12S4 wad): 1109, 1108, 1151, 1106, 1139. (1122 fps average)
#4: Top Gun Reload: (F209, 21 gr. GD, CB Red 8 wad): 1113, 1069, 1081, 1099, 1084. ( 1089 fps average.)
#5: Gold Medal Plastic Reload: (F209, 21 gr. Green Dot, CB 12S3 wad): 1151, 1134, 1105, 1142, 1156. (1138 fps average).
As my reloads usually go around 1200 fps in warmer weather I'm going to be a little more careful about leaving them out side in COLD weather for any length of time.
If anyone is interested, I found a good way to get fairly consistent readings with the inexpensive chrono's. Clouds, bright sun, and sometimes the low angle of the sun during winter can give the chrono's light sensor problems. So I put mine in a box covered with some semi-transparent plastic (from a garbage bag). It seems to work pretty good. Hopefully, pic's will show up below. Good Luck, Randy