Is it ever too cold for you to go shooting?

I do have an outdoor propane burner that makes a great heater (granpa had no garage and did his own work so he used it a lot) It might have a new meaning in life now that I think about it

If I am trying to sight in a scope I'll wait for 60s or 70s at least as the cold has an effect on point of impact. I will hunt or plink in any temp we have here in NM.

I'll shoot my AK all winter but not as often as when it's warmer. No problem at all when freezing but around zero when it's as cold as it can be while it's still wet it's miserable. Those days I try to avoid.

The coldest around here and at my in-laws 300km north is usually around minus 25 to 30 Centigrade and the shooting's just great. In military reserve 3-gun we have a separate winter cup series now too. (Looked up a conversion chart: that's -13 to -22F).

OTOH, I was about 200km north of the polar circle in NCO school and it started in January. No weather was too cold for shooting, but keeping the TOW system batteries going was a chore. But that's a while ago.

Got to love you Mosin enthusiasts' awareness of history... those things were used in some serious conditions back then.

I will go to the range as long as it is 30 degrees or warmer. Once you get below 30 things are just too cold to be able to reliable practice. At least once a year I will bundle up in my winter coat and go practice with my Winter carry gun. My draw times are pretty pathetic but at least I practice getting it out most people just practice with the gun on their belt in the summer.

I have shot in temperature extremes from 10 degrees to 114 degrees, and it is good to know that your guns will function in all conditions, and that you can shoot them and work the controls with gloves on.

The guns I took with me on the 10 degree day were a Glock 17 9mm, a Remington 870, a WASR type AK and a Bushmaster AR. All were lubricated for summer type shooting (lots of Break-Free), and they all performed.

Just my .02,
LeonCarr

Nope. We shoot in the cold, wet, and windy winter weather of the northeast. You findout real quick which lubes and powders are temp sensitive

Yes, now. Long time ago there was no problem. In fact I tried my brand new SAR-48 out in 8 degree weather. Yes it was COLD. Yes I had a great time. Now, though, I don't even go to the indoor range when it's that cold out. Getting old, I guess. But I do have to go soon.

Today it was 8 degrees where I live. Lucky for me, I have a 25 yrd range off of the back deck. I can shoot off a couple of rounds of whatever to keep me happy and not have too walk too far to the wood stove.

It's not the cold, it's the wind. That's my motto out here during the winter.

-20F on a calm day? Not a problem. Kick up that wind much over 5mph and it starts getting painful, though. At 15mph at any temperature under 35F or so, it becomes uncomfortable unless you're wearing a ski mask as you can't see worth a damn due to squinting against the cold.

Last time I went out shooting, the winds were about 25mph, but it was warm - about 40F, I imagine - and drizzling. It was too cold. And besides - have you ever tried shooting beyond a couple yards in a 25mph+ variable wind speeds (so really like 15-30mph variable)? Almost impossible to shoot smaller objects past 30 yards from standing.

Most definitely.

The colder it gets here the less people are out at the range, after all it is Texas.
In fact we are expecting more ice this weekend so I'll be heading to the range
after work.

A buddy of mine says "There is no bad weather, just bad gear". If I get the opportunity, I will go. Hunted deer in the sleet this year. Went fly fishing last month in northern New Mexico. Had to immerse the rod in the river every 4 or 5 casts to melt the ice from the guides. On the other hand single digit weather here in North Texas is virtually unheard of.

Freezing cold is the perfect time to take your M44 out on a date. Remind him of his youth in the motherland. Mosin's were designed for sub-zero temps, and shoot better the colder it gets. It's actually cold enough in Siberia to shrink the barrel down to the specific tollerances needed for shooting MONazi shots. Ever wonder why the supposedly .300 bore is actually .311? It's because it's so warm where you're measuring it!


This entire post is nonsense

"Too cold" for me means that the temp is below 0 at the range. My locally shootery is in the middle of the country with no wind blockage other than a shelter belt, and this often translates to wind chills that feel 15 to 20 degrees colder than in the city. Braving anything above that, it's not uncommon to get the range to oneself.

Tips:
-Shooting plastic handguns keeps the hands a lot warmer than shooting metal ones.
-Pilot's nomex gloves are the perfect blend of warmth and dexterity. Also, with the nomex on you can warm your hands on an AR barrel without worrying about heat damage to the gloves.
-I wear a hooded sweatshirt under my jacket. I keep it stocked with rounds, which keeps them warm, and between shootings I reload mags with in the pouch. Keeps the mags and bullets warm, which keeps the hands warm.
-Practice tactical movements as space allows, or shoot out to longer ranges. Either one means that you're moving, and moving=warmth.

No

-41c the other day at the range. I had it all to myself, oddly enough

Next time I'm bringing snowshoes to get to the targets, though!

No, never to cold to shoot. Too cold to shoot well, yes.

"Too cold" for me means that the temp is below 0 at the range.

Click to expand...

Don't get to shoot much, do you?

there may be a day

when firing in the lowest temp's is necessary for your survival...or your children's, or your grandchildren's, or their children's. Keep up the trade and pass it on; it's never too cold, too wet, too hot, too windy, to icy, to dry, too anything. Consider it training and drive on.

ST

One thing about extreme-cold shooting...if you ever shoot a Sub 2000 without a cover on the steel tube, being that the tube goes right against your face when you bring it up to aim, well, you'll only do that once.

When we were out calling Coyotes the other day it was -2*.

Nope.

My buddy and I (finally) sighted in the AR's red dot and shot some trap in strong-blowing snow a couple weeks back. Feet were cold when I got in but at least you're moving and shooting. It's got nothing on hunting-season cold though. Deer, and even spring turkey on wet, cold mornings - had some miserable times.

yes. the winter is too cold in general, in my opinion. not a weekend to look forward to. we just got 6-8" of snow yesterday. heh.

via www.wunderground.com

Today
Mostly cloudy with a 40 percent chance of snow showers. Any snow accumulation less than an inch. Windy with areas of blowing and drifting snow producing near whiteout conditions at times especially over open areas. Highs around 15. West winds 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 35 mph.

Tonight
Mostly cloudy in the evening...then becoming partly cloudy. Areas of blowing snow in the evening. Brisk with lows around zero. Northwest winds 20 to 25 mph with gusts up to 35 mph.

Sunday
Partly cloudy and brisk. Highs around 12. Northwest winds 20 to 25 mph with gusts up to 35 mph.

Sunday Night
Partly cloudy. Lows around 9 below. Northwest winds 10 to 20 mph.

Blowing/Drifting Snow Advisory
Statement as of 4:06 AM EST on January 20, 2007

Blowing Snow Advisory remains in effect until 7 PM EST this
evening...

Northwest winds of 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 35 mph will
result in considerable blowing and drifting snow with some
whiteout conditions at times in open areas.

A blowing Snow Advisory is issued when a strong and gusty wind
will combine with falling snow and/or snow on the ground to
produce blowing and drifting. Snow will likely blow over
roadways... partially covering or further blanketing the pavement.
Also... blowing snow will lower visibilities with near whiteout
conditions at times. Snow drifts will likely form near
structures such as homes... cars... or trees... and could become
significantly deeper than in areas exposed to the wind and away
from structures.

hey Ryan

Where about in Maine are you located. Must be somewhere up north cause there is very little snow down in the southern and central are where I live and work.

Range trip? Oh yeah...gotta be at least +40...

And now that I'm older, with bad arthritis, I won't even go hunting unless its at least +20. Even then it'll just be a short trip into the woods.

Old Fart Maxim- Good temperature for the range is when degrees at least equals my age- I have violated it from time to time but less and less as time goes by- One good thing about the so called global warming