Just how much does the weather effect your pattern?

[Arra]

I bought a new SSX to try out in my Remington 20 gauge. I was gonna shoot it today for the first time but my buddy James said I needed to wait to a Sunny day. How much does a cloudy day hurt it? I know in hunting situations we will have all kinds of weather.

[Tom Foolery]

Temp and humidity will change a pattern, clouds not so much.


I pattern on good and bad days, I actually prefer not great days because if my gun will throw a good pattern at 40 degrees and 70% humidity it's only going to get better on a good day.  As long as it's not raining or windy I shoot.

[ILIKEHEVI-13]

It depends on how much of a difference in Temp your talking about.  I have seen in person a choke that on 70 degree days would put over 300 shot in a10" at 40yds only put around 230 shot on a 45 degree day.  That's a big difference.  So what I am saying is your not going to see a lot of difference in patterns when talking only about a 5 to 10 degree change in temp from one day to the next in patterning.  But when you see a bigger fluctuation in temp changes in doing patterning testing you will see bigger differences in patterning results.  Humidity doesn't play near the role in patterns as temp does. 

[ILIKEHEVI-13]

And I will add neither does shooting in the rain vs temp as well. 

[davisd9]

Wind can cause you a big headache.

[Arra]

The sun popped out here and I shot it . I was right around 150 at 40....That's plenty good enough for me. Time to clean the barrell and wait till opening morning.

[davisd9]

The sun popped out here and I shot it . I was right around 150 at 40....That's plenty good enough for me. Time to clean the barrell and wait till opening morning.

[allaboutshooting]

I bought a new SSX to try out in my Remington 20 gauge. I was gonna shoot it today for the first time but my buddy James said I needed to wait to a Sunny day. How much does a cloudy day hurt it? I know in hunting situations we will have all kinds of weather.

Ambient temperature is the major factor. Barometric pressure, altitude and humidity can all affect patterns but temperature is the major weather-related factor.

If you know how your gun/choke/shotshell will pattern in 40 degree weather, you'll know a lot about your combination. In most instances, patterns will get better as temperatures rise.

Knowing how your gun/choke/shotshell will pattern in 70+ degree temperatures may not tell you much about how it will work for you in the turkey woods.

Thanks,
Clark

[ILIKEHEVI-13]

Well said Clark.

I like about 60 to 70 degree to test patterns in due to the fact that is just about normal spring turkey temp here. 

[dogwood]

Here in NE PA our spring turkey time temps can range from the upper 20s in the a.m. to the 50s around noon give or take.