[HT] Arctic cold and guns - Page 2

Green-Neck · 02-21-2013, 02:31 AM

I'm currently preparing for a session where my 5 rocketeer players are arriving in 1938 Spitsburgen [Svalbad]. I'm wondering what effect cold will have on their myriad firearms. I'm setting the local temperature at -25 C [-13 f].

I would like some help developing some easy rules devised from an article named Firearm Maintenance and Precautions for Cold Weather, by Adam S. Gubar [or other sources people may be able to link to].

It appears from the first paragraph that misfires in pre percussion cap rifles were over 30% in very cold weather. For a TL5 firearm [malf 15?] that requires -3 or -4 to get to malf 11-12 [30ish%].
I wonder if there is a graceful way to scale cold weather induced Malf at different temperatures.

The article cites a 2:3 ratio for temperature below 0C, every 2 deg below lowers the effective range by 3% due to denser air. At -25 C we have 37.5% reduced effective range. I'm thinking that’s close enough to say -1/3 half damage and maximum range – or am I over simplifying the physics?

02-21-2013, 02:31 AM	#1
Green-Neck Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Fryers Forest Australia	[HT] Arctic cold and guns I'm currently preparing for a session where my 5 rocketeer players are arriving in 1938 Spitsburgen [Svalbad]. I'm wondering what effect cold will have on their myriad firearms. I'm setting the local temperature at -25 C [-13 f]. I would like some help developing some easy rules devised from an article named Firearm Maintenance and Precautions for Cold Weather, by Adam S. Gubar [or other sources people may be able to link to]. It appears from the first paragraph that misfires in pre percussion cap rifles were over 30% in very cold weather. For a TL5 firearm [malf 15?] that requires -3 or -4 to get to malf 11-12 [30ish%]. I wonder if there is a graceful way to scale cold weather induced Malf at different temperatures. The article cites a 2:3 ratio for temperature below 0C, every 2 deg below lowers the effective range by 3% due to denser air. At -25 C we have 37.5% reduced effective range. I'm thinking that’s close enough to say -1/3 half damage and maximum range – or am I over simplifying the physics? __________________ A fine blend of hillbilly and permaculturist.