cold and the sidearm

[walking arsenal]

winter has finally fallen here in the great white north (sorta) and i've put away my 1911 and picked up my steyr for winter carry.

but then like some times happens i got to thinking, i try not do do that but it happens anway.

i carry my steyr in the winter mainly cause it gets cold as snot and ocasiionally i have to leave my piece in the car. my steyr needs very little oil much like the glock. so, less oil, less oil to jellify, better cold weather functioning. make sense? does to me.

but

when i put the gun back on it warms back up, when i start the car the car warms up and so does the gun IN the car.

so does it really matter what you carry in the winter?

winter carry tips guys, lets have em

 

[armoredman]

All I would really worry about is ammo performance through heavy clothing. The 1911 being such a heavy war proven design, I wouldn't "sweat" it too much. Some Fed EFMJ would solve the problem, I would guess.

 

[taliv]

walkin, i know what you mean. i don't switch guns for winter, but couple nights ago it was 30 degrees and i had to leave the gun in the car for an hour. it sure got my attention when i put it back on!

 

[pezo]

Happiness is a warm gun.

 

[Dr.Rob]

Dry lubes like CLP could make that a non-issue, but I always run my 1911 with a dab of grease on the rails.

But when I take my rifle out to hunt in 3rd season, I strip ALL the excess lube off it, give it a quick spritz of CLP, wait a few minutes and wipe off the excesss... leaves just enough film to lube the bolt w/o freezing up/getting muddy.

I've seen it happen on rifles, so no reason it couldn't happen to a handgun... there's another good reason to pack it IWB, or inside your insulated coat.

 

[CAS700850]

I, too, switch carry guns for winter, but for different reasons. When it gets really cold, I switch from my Glock to my Sig 239, simply because I shoot it better wearing gloves than I do my Glock.

 

[psyopspec]

The only changes I make for winter carry is in the rig I use. I find myself using a shoulder holster for my full size 1911 with the easier concealability.

 

[ny32182]

P226/.40 year round for me.

 

[Coronach]

so does it really matter what you carry in the winter?

If you're worried about performance under bitter cold conditions, why not do a test? get your 1911 and Steyr very cold, then take them out and shoot them right away. Do like a magazine in each, and re-chill. Repeat until you get through a could hundred rounds (might take a few days, and involve loaded guns in the freezer- which might not be safe if you have kids).

Let us know the results.

Mike

 

[walking arsenal]

"(might take a few days, and involve loaded guns in the freezer- which might not be safe if you have kids)."


This is minnesota finding cold should NOT be a problem.

Thats a good idea, ill have to try it.

 

[NorthernExtreme]

I live in Alaska and carry a 1911 year round. Been on the range days where I had to wear gloves just to hold the gun (without getting contact frostbite). I have yet to see any problem with the 1911 and the cold.

Except putting it on when it is cold .

 

[wanderinwalker]

When traveling to the range, in cold weather, I've always had good luck with Glocks. Even when the temperatures get down to single-digits (okay Alaska and Minnesota guys, stop laughing... ) they always work fine. And when cold, I always shoot with gloves. Always have, likely always will. I don't understand why people from warmer climates (gunwriters in Cali for instance) seem to think wearing gloves while shooting handguns is such a big issue. It isn't.

 

[walking arsenal]

the steyr is a loose glock design with a better trigger IMHO, it was actually designed by a glock employee. sorta the reason i switched to it for the winter.

traded my g33 for my springer 1911.

miss my glock but love my springer.

 

[Kamicosmos]

Another thing to consider in the cold is how YOU will shoot! I learned this about a year ago, and had written a few posts on the topic. Examples:
In the winter you're wearing a nice big parka type coat, with big thick gloves on. Try doing a draw from concealment in your winter outfit, including your gloves....
I plan on carrying my SP101 year around. I figure in the winter, the Magnums will give me an edge over thick coats and such. But...man....working that SP with my big ski gloves on is a bit of a challenge! Especially reloading! I may wind up carrying my CZ97 or Beretta 96 in the winter, simply because their triggers are easier to manipulate with gloves, and have big grips to grab with gloves on, and mags are a bit easier to handle with gloves.

Just some things to think about.

As far as the gun goes, I'd do some testing with it at the range on a cold day. That way you can evaluate how both you and the gun do in the cold wearing your winter clothes. I know my guns perform fine. Myself on the otherhand, I don't do so well when I'm cold!

(As a related note, shooting in the summer is interesting. I kinda forgot that putting a black gun on a table for an hour or so in 100 degree weather isn't a good idea! Got a mild burn on my hand when I picked it up! Not to mention, I didn't shoot it very well cause of my Hot Potatoe grip!!)

 

[Wildalaska]

Reason I never liked the HK P7 here in Alaska is that it tends to freeze up in the cold

WildicecubeAlaska

 

[Vern Humphrey]

The great thing about the M1911 is, "It's been there."

The M1911 has been carried by the Army in Alaska for generatinos. It was in Siberia during the Intervention after WWI. It was in the Aleutians in WWII. It was in Korea during the winters there.

And, of course, it was in the jungle in Haiti, Nicaragua, New Guinea, the Philippines, Viet Nam, and so on.

And in the desert in Mexico and North Africa.

And no one ever had to switch guns because of the climate.

 

[Trisha]

Either the 1911 clone (Kimber Stainless Compact) or the HK USPc just get their usual cleaning, I just leave the slightest film of CLP.

Both work well with gloves, and at my last dead-of-winter session at the range, neither had a hiccup when I'd run eight mags back-to-back through each and then drop the gun in the snow while I reloaded the mags only to resume shooting. (I've only done this test twice) Ice built up on the Kimber but broke free 1) racking the slide; or 2) with a moderate rap of the flat of the slide against the wooden bench. The HK never built up an ice jam, even internally.

That said I find I prefer the HK when using gloves (but only by a slight margin).

I prefer a shoulder rig, especially when the weather demands a few layers and a parka as I feel I reach a sight picture both more quickly and with less movement of clothing that way as opposed to any format of hip carry - YMMV.

I do switch to heavier throwing knives - they're easier with gloves.

Trisha

 

[enfield]

I lube my slides with Mobil 1, which should have good (low) viscosity in low temps.

 

[tc300mag1]

i sitch in winter too but go up in caliber and gun size i carry a xd 9mm subcompact in summer and switch to my Hk usp 45 in winter ...

In winter i do shoot my carry ammo more just becuse i worry about the heat cycles or cold cycles i guess and possible condenstaion probley worry for nothing never had a problem but ya know ...

i also use grease on the slide gonna try out brian enos slideglide this year

 

[armoredman]

My PO! was torture tested in extreme heat and extreme cold, but fortunately extreme cold in AZ is 30.....no problem. Bites when I have to wear a jacket all day.....

 

[stans]

Lubes like Breakfree CLP and FP-10 are nearly dry when used properly, so cold weather should not be a factor with these lubes. Heavy winter clothing means you need penetration. Odds are that you can still shoot hollowpoints and they will plug with clothing and act like ball ammo, so I wouldn't worry too much about penetration. The one thing that I would watch for is rust! The gun gets cold, then you put it next to your body or carry it indoors and the warm, moist air condenses on that cold metal. Now you have water on the metal and if it is carbon steel you can end up with rust, so rust protection is a must.

 

[stevelyn]

I've spent most of my time in Alaska in the Interior and arctic. If you're dressed warmly and carrying concealed, cold shouldn't be that much of an issue. Getting to your gun might be.
Most CLPs and synthetics like EEZOX have very low pour temperatures. I'm playing around with MPro-7 CLP which has a low temp range of -76F. Sorry, when it's that cold I stay home and throw wood on the fire.
Carrying openly or carrying a long gun becomes a little more problematic, but as long as they're not over lubed, they should work fine. I've never have any problems down to about -20F or -25F. My rifles have operated even when caked with snow. Friends revolvers carried in holsters slung from snowmobile tanks or handlebars work fine.
Why only -20F? Any colder than that I tend to hang close to the fire. Snowmobiles also become uncomfortable when combined with windchill. Besides up here it's foolish to wander far from home or shelter when it gets much colder. Too many things can happen and you can end up like a Jack London character.
As far as condensation, I normally set my guns near a heat source so they warm up to room temperature+ quicker minimizing the time condensation is present. A quick wipe-down and everything is fine.
Concealed carry guns are almost always near room temperature from being carried close to my body and under layers of goose down and Carhart bibs.

 

[sm]

Agree with Vern Humphrey and others about the 1911.

Designed to be reliable in all sorts of climates,and enviroments. PROVEN.

Coronach, made a great suggestion - test for yourself.

I have. Snow, mud, sand ( sand poured into as well) dunked in water, ....

The other thing about the 1911 is it is so flat and easy to conceal...a full size gun, with real ammo. What a deal.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

I started carrying a M1911 when I was such a callow youth that I thought I had discovered something no one else knew -- that the .45 is easier to conceal than most snub-nosed revolvers.

As for reliability -- I've been in so many places and climates with the .45, I feel we were adopted as a set.

 

[sm]

Mr. Humphrey -

You were Sir.