Well, normally, I don't consider the cold here in Texas, but mind you at my age 65ºF is cold for me now where I wear a light jacket or vest. My edc is a revolver and sincerely never have considered cold weather as I carry it outside the belt regardless of season. On the plus side I enjoy carrying my extra ammo in the jacket pockets and with this arctic blast happening in a couple of days temps will reach into the 20's if I do have to go out the jacket allows me to carry a backup gun which normally would be my 380.
Cold weather handguns.
- Thread starter Armored farmer
- Start date
Grunt
Member
My gun of choice, especially in the winter is the HK USP. Accurate, dead reliable, 12 rounds of .45ACP is a decent load and most importantly, the controls are large enough that a heavy glove can manipulate and the trigger guard, especially when carried cocked-and-locked, is a cavern! I have no problem getting to the trigger safely and there is plenty of room to allow it to reset as well.
For cold I choose a revolver, and for warm as well. It's not the cold or heat that I am concerned with, its reliability and a caliber to take down the biggest potential 4 legged threats in my area.
Regarding OC in the cold, I carried a 1911 for work. I used a mix of lithium grease and gun oil, and it worked well during qualifications in a heavy snow storm. I just added a little more oil each week, and it got a deep clean after every qual (quarterly). When warm, I just used regular gun oil. I just had to keep it wet and protected, so put a jacket over it to shield it during inclement weather.
Regarding OC in the cold, I carried a 1911 for work. I used a mix of lithium grease and gun oil, and it worked well during qualifications in a heavy snow storm. I just added a little more oil each week, and it got a deep clean after every qual (quarterly). When warm, I just used regular gun oil. I just had to keep it wet and protected, so put a jacket over it to shield it during inclement weather.
d2wing
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It is supposed to get to -14 F Monday here. -35 windchill. When deer hunting it doesn't usually get that cold but usually I carry a revolver inside my coat. Temp, humidity and lube all matter. Light synthetic lube or dry lube, and careful about bringing cold guns into warm moist air. I would use either, but a revolver has a slight edge for me.
Yep.....Revolver every time, as an old and inveterate handloader, I hate chasing brass when the temp's in the 80's, let alone with a foot of snow, (tho they may be easier to find what with the holes in the snow...but then you get into water filled brass etc.) Good thread, Armored....gunna be down in the single digits here tonight in KY.... we need some 40-50 Wx, I'm getting cabin fever....Best regards, Rod
Your gun might, but the ammo might not
entropy
Member
The ammo will. It's AAs, and it'll be in the Clubhouse until I shoot.
Anchorite
Member
I’ve had shotgun ammo in some very cold(-4) and muddy conditions duck hunting over the years and never had a failure.
Back to cold shooting.
19 degrees today. Garand lubed with 30 wt , not grease because I never rapid fire and G40 lubed with rem oil.
Firearms were out there for at least an hour while we loaded a three wheeler.
I don't use brass I'm emotionally attached to in a way to loose it.
Allegedly once used purchased brass is for losing.
Correct me if I'm wrong but wouldn't you have to try to mess up a Glock or Garand.
Next comment, shooting when gloves are a must represents work to me.
Any colder and I'm indoors on the weekends. Except for deer season.
Ŵhen I retire with nothing to do and all day to do it who knows what I may try.
19 degrees today. Garand lubed with 30 wt , not grease because I never rapid fire and G40 lubed with rem oil.
Firearms were out there for at least an hour while we loaded a three wheeler.
I don't use brass I'm emotionally attached to in a way to loose it.
Allegedly once used purchased brass is for losing.
Correct me if I'm wrong but wouldn't you have to try to mess up a Glock or Garand.
Next comment, shooting when gloves are a must represents work to me.
Any colder and I'm indoors on the weekends. Except for deer season.
Ŵhen I retire with nothing to do and all day to do it who knows what I may try.
Tallball
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- 8,169
I've lived in this part of the world since the late 70's, and it's only been down into the single digits once, so the lube thing has never been an issue.
Walking around in cold weather, a nice Bulldog revolver in my coat pocket is comfortable and very quick to draw.
Walking around in cold weather, a nice Bulldog revolver in my coat pocket is comfortable and very quick to draw.
Pocket carry in handwarmer pocket, Shield 9 lubed with Lucas XD, glove off to shoot. 9mm empties are expendable.
When running a trapline with my partner many years ago, dispatch gun was cheap revolver with 22 shorts. No drama.
When running a trapline with my partner many years ago, dispatch gun was cheap revolver with 22 shorts. No drama.
OP
OP
Armored farmer
Member
I've had my 1100 get draggy in cold weather....WD40 isnt a good lube.
never had a ammo problem of any sort due to cold temps.
never had a ammo problem of any sort due to cold temps.
I have in rifle. Ball powder not wanting to go bang… it was -26 I think
I'll not be testing that. I believe you!!!!
One of the first books I bought regarding firearms was Chuck Taylor's book on Combat Handgunnery. That was 20 some years ago.
There is a small chapter on cold weather reliability. It is a short, but quite interesting read. He tests several handguns and shows their performances.
Cold weather can affect springs, lubes and powder burn rate.
This is one of the many reasons why in extreme cold I would opt for a revolver.
The OP seemed to be concerned about reloading to which I say I hope none of us would have to reload in those conditions!
There is a small chapter on cold weather reliability. It is a short, but quite interesting read. He tests several handguns and shows their performances.
Cold weather can affect springs, lubes and powder burn rate.
This is one of the many reasons why in extreme cold I would opt for a revolver.
The OP seemed to be concerned about reloading to which I say I hope none of us would have to reload in those conditions!
Gordon
Member
Yeah , I figured you were talking about outside chores. Depends what style your outside garment is. A chest rig under a coat with holster position to draw when coat top buttons are opened works well in snow on ATVs or snow machines or jeeps and trucks or equipment. Yes on the slip off mittens with thin leather gloves underneath. It's pretty well know that a good single action revolver works better than any Double action revolver in snow, especially Blackhawks
. Personally a very lightly lubed sub 2 pound DA semi is my favorite for such duty. Sig or CZ or Beretta 92 types.
Yes on the throw away casing ammo in snow use, like blazer brass or good Berdan Primed . If your barn coat has large flapped pockets you could clean the pocket linings very well and drop a pistol in there IF the lining is rugged. Otherwise stick gun in a thin holster that fits in pocket. I prefer it inside coat jacket in a chest rig. If your wearing a bib set up outside other garment use the bib pocket.
entropy
Member
Not for guns. Tractors, sure.
doubleh
Member
I could do an experiment with cold weather shooting today. The cold front that was supposed to arrive late today came roaring in like a run-away train yesterday afternoon and I got up to see 10 degrees on my thermometer at the crack of dawn this morning. That is serious cold for here. Instead I am going to remain inside and not worry if lube slows down any of my firearms on a cold day. At my age I would be slower than any of them anyway and doubt I'm strong enough to move in all the clothes it would require to keep me warm.
Good test. People don't need a lube with a gun picture on it. 10w with a touch of diesel works in a deep freeze . A q tip with synthetic two stroke oil is great. 3 in 1 with a touch of kerosene is another option.
A Q tip with AW32 or UTF .
WD40 is handy for sure. Who dosent have some. Nut buster or control cable lube , no.
Machinery can be cold weather prepared and firearms are a machine. Prep up.
47 working winters and global warming can't happen soon enough.
There's many people farther north around here than us Midwesterners. Let's hear your secrets
.308 Norma
Member
Yep, my 1100 used to get "draggy" back in my goose hunting days. It's been a while (a l-o-n-g while) since I've done any goose hunting though, and I don't remember what kind of lube I was using back then - probably just Hoppes gun oil.
halfmoonclip
Member
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- Feb 4, 2011
- Messages
- 3,962
We are blessed with an indoor range, which is at least nominally heated, for handgun shooting in inclement weather.
For that reason, rarely have reason to visit an outdoor range in hard weather.
Handguns can be kept relatively warm, under a coat or jacket. Long arms, not so much. I recall hunting stories, from childhood, of frozen bolt handles. and the like.
With the M16, the last one fired, in really cold weather, was an M16A1 replica I'd just built. Couldn't wait 'till spring to shoot it, so to an outdoor range I went, 5* temps and all. Shot it enough to get a zero, and a minute of angle group (!). But the point is taken; if a rifle is in a prolonged cold soak, something thinner than the LSA we used would make sense.
Moon
For that reason, rarely have reason to visit an outdoor range in hard weather.
Handguns can be kept relatively warm, under a coat or jacket. Long arms, not so much. I recall hunting stories, from childhood, of frozen bolt handles. and the like.
With the M16, the last one fired, in really cold weather, was an M16A1 replica I'd just built. Couldn't wait 'till spring to shoot it, so to an outdoor range I went, 5* temps and all. Shot it enough to get a zero, and a minute of angle group (!). But the point is taken; if a rifle is in a prolonged cold soak, something thinner than the LSA we used would make sense.
Moon
doubleh
Member
I am going to disagree about the nut buster part. I have lost count of the number of frozen nuts, bolts, and dutchmen it has assisted me in removing over the years long ago. I say assisted because either a welding torch or arc welder did most of the work but applied right the WD-40 sure made it easier. Usually I cut the nuts off leaving the bolt intact but sometimes I could only heat them and then apply WD-40. let it soak in and start wiggling with a wrench until they came free. Same for the bolts. Try to get either red hot, let cool, spray liberally with WD-40, and give it time to creep into the threads before attempting to move. Weld a nut on the Dutchmen and do the same. Heating red hot makes the steel shrink upon cooling breaking the rust bond and WD-40 slicks things up.
Everyone has some in the cabinet. It works or it wouldn't sell. My earliest memories of my mechanic dads garage is of WD40 and Liquid Wrench . Oh the wonderful familiar smell. Two separate products for different reasons. Zep and Malco is my well tested first choices. There is quite a difference. But confidence in what you use is all that maters.
None listed are gun lube to me.
WisBorn
Contributing Member
One gun oil that I tried and had poor cold weather results with is EEZOX.
I have been using Rem-Oil for many years and haven't had any problems with it. Hoppes #9 solvent. Dried with patches and a light coat of Rem-Oil.
Model 1100 winter pheasant hunting days a little graphite went along ways.
Only -8° + wind chill thos morning. Ran to the grocery store with 380acp in my pocket. I should have carried my 44mag to penetrant the extra layers everyone was wearing
I have been using Rem-Oil for many years and haven't had any problems with it. Hoppes #9 solvent. Dried with patches and a light coat of Rem-Oil.
Model 1100 winter pheasant hunting days a little graphite went along ways.
Only -8° + wind chill thos morning. Ran to the grocery store with 380acp in my pocket. I should have carried my 44mag to penetrant the extra layers everyone was wearing
Rockrivr1
Member
I love shooting in the cold and preferably when snowing. Generally I have the whole range to myself when that happens.
