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BL-C2 in cold weather?

4K views 10 replies 7 participants last post by  mogunner 
#1 ·
I'm using BL-C2 in my 308 hunting rounds this year. I'll be in the mountains of Wyoming. I've heard several people say BL-C2 acts finicky in cold weather, and I should use magnum primers. Any thoughts because I need to fill the freezer?
 
#2 ·
I've used BL-C2 in my 257 Roberts Imp with no problems, I used to hunt coyotes in Michigan's Upper Peninsula in winter months and never had a failure. I have also heard that Ball C-2 can be difficult to ignite in cold weather, though I never had any problems. With so many great IMR powders available for the 308, you may want to use one instead. One thing I always noticed with Ball C-2 is that it always produced a huge muzzle flash.
 
#4 ·
Used it in my old 308 also, great powder for the 308. I have never experienced a problem with temp. Maybe there is a reason for that. I don't like hot days so all my load development take's place in the early spring, when it's cool to cold out. During the hot months I shoot loads I worked up in cool months. I hve read about this temp thing and what it can, not does, cause and one thing that stuck out was that it seem's the temp range was rather wide. I think if I was going to Arizona or Texas hunting in the summer, I'd work up loads in the warm fall days. I guess that does help as I've never seen a temp problem with my loads.
 
#5 ·
I've done some cold weather shooting and there is more to it than the powder you are using. I have used magnum primers at -20 and have not really noticed much difference at all. (BL-C2)
What I have noticed is that most of the time it is the rifle you are using. The colder it gets, the more inaccurate some rifles become. There is no ryme or reason to this. At -30 to -40 I have seen rifles , including my own go from 2MOA to as much as 12MOA. This seems to effect free floated barrels more so than bedded rifles. What I have done is used a two or three point bedding system which can improve cold weather shooting. But there is a trade off most of the time. I had my Parker Hale 7mm Mag free floated and it shot 1MOA-1.5 MOA. In cold weather it (-35) it shot 12MOA. After a three point bedding,( 4.5 lb forend pressure) it shoots 1.5MOA during the summer and now it shoots 2MOA during the winter.
 
#7 ·
I am using BL-C2 in my M14 and have not had any problems with fail to fire or function at colder temps.
How cold will it be where you will be hunting?
On a personal note, If I had any resevations about my ammo, I would bring along a box of premium factory ammo just in case.
Wish I could be more helpful.
 
#8 ·
I've never had any issues with it before, and used the same powder last year in Wyoming but was never able to get a shot. I'd never heard of issues with the powder in cold weather until the day I posted this. A couple guys in a long range shooting group I'm joining were talking about it.
 
#9 ·
I,m a fan for the 308 Win. of Accurate Arms 2520 and even a bigger fan of VihtaVuori N140 or N540, that is if you can find it, and IMR 4166 of which I have not tried but have heard good things about. All of these powders are temperature insensitive. Also. The IMR 4166 has a anti fouling agent incorporated into it. I like to develop one load that will shoot the same year round seeing that most of time I develop my loads in the summer months and being a fan of looooong distance shooting, and don't want a point of impact drop or rise do to temperature changes.
 
#10 ·
You will be fine with that powder (BLC 2). If it gets cold enough to effect that powder both you and the animals will be hunkered down. You might consider trying some Large Rifle Magnum (the boxes will be marked "For Use In Standard or Magnum Rifles" and see if they affect your sight in groups. Of course you want to re-work your load up to make sure your pressures stay safe.

I think it is Winchester that offers those primers I mentioned - they can be used for either standard or magnum calibers. They are just a little hotter than ordinary Large Rifle Primers. You'll have to look it up.
 
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