Shooting a really cold pistol.

[Rickstir]

This could be silly......

I took a pretty long walk yesterday with one of my labs. Looking for deer sign and antlers mainly. Did find one spike shed. Better luck next time. Anyway, it was pretty cold out and I had my 92FS in my holster. When we got back and I was taking off the holster I noticed the gun was really cold. I got to wondering what the sudden change in temp would do to the barrel and action if say you fired 5 or 6 rounds in a very cold gun. I'm guessing the answer will be not much at least I hope that's the answer.....

 

[Politically Incorrect]

I don't think it do anymore than what your engine goes through in the cold weather.

 

[Owen]

shooting it shouldn't be a problem. The problem will be the moisture all over the gun when you bring it back inside.

 

[blades67]

It depends upon how cold the gun is, how many rounds you fire and how fast you fire them. If the gun is fired enough in cold humid weather it is possible to cause condensation which could then freeze and tie up the gun. This could also happen if you took a cold gun into a warm building just long enough that
condensation starts to form and then taking it out into freezing weather again.

A friend of my dad's ruined the blue finish on a S&W revolver shooting it in zero degree weather, but it was a "cold blue" finish.

Usually it isn't a problem though.

 

[greg c]

This thread made me remember this:

http://www.streetpro.com/usp/torture.html

Not to say that all guns will respond as well.

 

[Blackhawk]

Brrrr....

At first, I thought that was a bare hand on that H&K at -44 deg. F, but at looking at it with a magnifying glass, it looks like there's a glove on it.

"Normal" lube may well make the pistol inoperable long before cold metal is a problem. Dry lubes may be needed.

 

[CWL]

Cold pistol in Missouri? It ain't that cold in MO. Don't think you'll ever have any problems with any environment you'll likely encounter in CONUSA.

Likely places where extreme cold would affect gunmetal would be Arctic zone and places like Siberia. Metal has been known to shatter in sub-sub-zero temps. The Germans found out the hard way in WWII.

If you are still nervous, consider a simple-operation polymer pistol like a Glock. Polymer has better resisitance to extreme cold. One of the reasons why Austrian Govt. originally adopted it, still had memories of Russia...

 

[yesterdaysyouth]

i guess you've never seen a gun explode if you're brave enough to shoot a round into a bullet lodged in the barrel....

or you're just stupid

 

[WESHOOT2]

SIMILAR THOUGHTS

This past Saturday morning; I was testing some 38 Super for my new gun (and some secret crap I can't talk about yet).

But it was like -12F or so.

So I didn't chrono.

I have tested in sub-zero before, AND chrono'd, and my guns work.
Always.
So far.

But not always the chrono

Oh, BreakFree CLP.

 

[Peter Gun]

One of the tests i do on my guns to see if they will do for carry here in Vt is repeatedly shoot and drop in the snow. I let it sit in the snow for a minute or two, cock the hammer then shoot. The only consideration i give to the snow is to shake it out of the muzzle.
Results: glock 22-no malfunction, but the PT nite sites get ice all in them so you cant see the tubes or the notch
sig 229-no malfunction, nitron finish seems to be the most frost resistant (snow doesnt stick)
buckmark-fires round in chamber, but fails to function in temps under 20*, probably too much oil
colt king cobra- froze solid when I tried this at 10*
tommorrow is supposed to be the coldest day of the year, (@-30 windchill) so I'll try out the Super redhawk and the winchester 1300 and let you know!

 

[WESHOOT2]

Mr. GUN

Where you at?

(I'm near Waterbury)

 

[Peter Gun]

weshoot-
wow so far away...I'm in Stowe.
I see your posts once and a while and keep meaning to ask where you are...and keep forgetting! We should get together for a shoot sometime. I used to shoot a lot in that gravel pit up behind Stowe Hollow, but the new house I moved to has enough property for me to shoot in the backyard now !
I've got to run home now, but drop me an e-mail or Pm if you'd like to get together. I generally log on every evening.

 

[labgrade]

Lube's likely to give you the worst fits, if anything, but the "harder" lubes sure can. Me too = BreakFree & always a very light coating.

Best case in the most very cold is no lube at all.

I'd guess sights could be screwed up some due to thermal expansion (or lack thereof) of the whole platform.

I dunno. I've shot everything I own at -20+ & it all goes bang & hits what I can - while shivering my brains out.

 

[WESHOOT2]

TO OTHERS: NANNER-NANNER-NANNER

So we can both shoot where we live; I love Vermont.

Yeah, we'll be meeting up..............

 

[1badmagnum]

see your breath

I could see my breath last night at the range while the exhaust system was running.shot 100 rounds with no problems.I really dont think all wars were fought in summer either.
good question though,if using certain powders with loads developed in summer,and shooting in winter,this could cause high pressure and a dangerous situation.