Don't fight it, go with the flow. Instead of battling to try and keep the gun warm, just know how your gun shoots at different temperatures like others have suggested. Add hammer adjustment clicks or scope clicks to compensate. My M3 has significant reg set point shift with temperature change. There may be some non-reg temperature caused speed effects as well, but in the end everything is all rolled together in the speed seen leaving the barrel. I chrono'd the gun at various temperatures and know exactly how many hammer clicks I need to add to get back to my 70deg speed setting.
You mentioned pellets, which makes me wonder which is affected more in this area: pellets vs slugs, and large vs small calibers
Hello Gents, yes, I also wonder why you are lubricating a spring at all? Maybe at the ends where they contact other parts so nothing binds, but other than that I can't see what advantage this is. Even for that, A dry lube would be better to avoid dirt buildup sticking to the lube. I use a little graphite, (pencil lead), for this. Unless parts are rubbing against each other oil, or whatever lube should have no effect on spring performance.
To Ladwict, do you know what the pressure is at 70 degrees? Going from 70 deg. fill to 32 deg. shooting outside, you should see a change in pressure. Can you do that test? I honestly believe this is the culprit for FPS drop, especially for metal tanks. Aluminium will change temp to ambient very quickly, steel only slightly longer. You could probably heat the air quickly with a hot wet towel wrapped around tank and see if FPS goes up. Electric sock would help I believe.
Thanks I will “go with the flow” but that is why I am just finding out what that flow is …..
I have made some new tests. I have taken the Wildcat that is shooting 965 fps at 70 degrees Fahrenheit outside and left the rifle there for half an hour at 32 degrees Fahrenheit and the average speed decreased with approx. 26 fps. Enough to change grouping pattern ( in this case for the worse) . The regulator was outside nicely getting back to the same pressure as when shhoting at 70 degrees inside. So my conclusion is that there must be a slower airflow or more friction in this lower temp. My hammer (spring) is set up completely dry so no viscosity changes that could affect speed I guess. Your thoughts ?
Cold air flows slower than the hot air as the particles have less energy. The reg pressure may be the same but the particles excitation is lower in cold temp. I believe that is the most significant factor influencing the v0.
Out of all the replies, I feel this is the one I was looking for. If the only thing that changes is tempature I totally understand cold air is less excited shall we say. Physics always has the answer! I should have stayed in school longer
I would say yes… even ballistic calculators exhibit this.Interesting.....
Would it be a constant? : The lower the temperature the lower the fps?
Or would it be a just one hit : Close to frezzing you loose X fps?
That brings up a good point….. ever since the weather has been so random with it being 60° one day and 40° especially between night and day, I feel like I’ve had zero’ing issues on my Hawke Airmax 4-12x AO and wonder if it’s my cheap UTG Leapers aluminum rings…. I wonder if getting a better mount would helpHAHAHA as i read this . Aluminium will change temp to ambient very quickly, steel only slightly longer. You could probably heat the air quickly with a hot wet towel wrapped around tank and see if FPS goes up. Electric sock would help I believe.
i pictures all you hunters with a battery sock on your air supply walking through the woods
Really liked this posting , as i will be shooting in the colder outside weather , and now realize FT matches in the cold months would be a challenge other than freezing one's butt .
I agree with this. Density has more effect than any other variable in this situation. Like flying a plane. We are flying pellets. Despite all variables with the gun, the projectile will still be flying thru denser air when its cold.Colder air is more dense than warm air. The denser air produces more drag on the pellet than warm. High humidity + cold air will produce more drag and slow the pellet even more.
Its just physics 101
https://www.physicsforums.com/threads/does-cold-air-cause-more-air-resistance.730813/