In the tradition of the Dave Mc. threads I thought I would touch on shooting in the winter months.
If things weren't difficult enough cold weather throws added troubles the shooters way. The added thickness of a coat, jacket, or a combination of both can add considerable percieved length to the stock dimensions. This can be overcome by just being aware of the problem and adjusting shooting form.
Now I hate wearing hats when I shoot, I know that I am in the minority in this situation, but I have come to rely on just a fleece head band that covers my ears and forehead. This is fine untill it gets in the single digits on the thermometer, then the sock hat comes out and a bandana around my neck to keep the cold from migrating down.
Gloves are another thing I usually don't wear but need when it gets below freezing. I wear a Bob Allen insulated glove on my left hand and unless it is really cold nothing on my trigger hand. I have a glove with the trigger finger cut off for cold days.
A good pair of insulated boots is great if your going to be out with a full squad of guys standing in the wind for 20 minutes. It wouldn't be the first time I looked like I was going ice fishing on the skeet field. Decked out in insulated Carhartts with LaCrosse iceman boots on and a heavy shooting coat. You can't run very far with all them clothes on but you don't freeze your toes. Layering is a good way to control how many clothes you have to wear to keep warm.
Many shooters have a hand heater that they keep in their pockets to warm their fingers when not shooting. I occasionaly use one, or the disposable ones when handy. I even have seen some of the battery gloves used.
If shooting autos it may be necessary to completly clean all the oil out of the gas system and bolt and use a dry lubricant or a graphite to keep the oils from turning thick in the cold and gumming up the works.
Some powders can be adversly effected by cold and loose quite a bit of velocity. Green Dot comes to mind as one of the worst affected by cold temps, but there are others that are effected to lesser degrees.
Going in and out of a warm club house can build up condensation in and on guns that need to be attended to at the end of the day to prevent rust problems. Sometimes a complete tear down is in order to get into the actions to be sure. A good moisture displacing penetrant is good to use after such times. I prefer CorrosionX for this job.
It's kinda neat shooting in a heavy snowstorm and seeing your shot pattern tearing through the snowflakes. Just one of the joys some of you southern shooters don't get to enjoy.
I think I have covered most of what I can think of. Any comments or additions?
kudu, in the soon to be great white north, kinda.
If things weren't difficult enough cold weather throws added troubles the shooters way. The added thickness of a coat, jacket, or a combination of both can add considerable percieved length to the stock dimensions. This can be overcome by just being aware of the problem and adjusting shooting form.
Now I hate wearing hats when I shoot, I know that I am in the minority in this situation, but I have come to rely on just a fleece head band that covers my ears and forehead. This is fine untill it gets in the single digits on the thermometer, then the sock hat comes out and a bandana around my neck to keep the cold from migrating down.
Gloves are another thing I usually don't wear but need when it gets below freezing. I wear a Bob Allen insulated glove on my left hand and unless it is really cold nothing on my trigger hand. I have a glove with the trigger finger cut off for cold days.
A good pair of insulated boots is great if your going to be out with a full squad of guys standing in the wind for 20 minutes. It wouldn't be the first time I looked like I was going ice fishing on the skeet field. Decked out in insulated Carhartts with LaCrosse iceman boots on and a heavy shooting coat. You can't run very far with all them clothes on but you don't freeze your toes. Layering is a good way to control how many clothes you have to wear to keep warm.
Many shooters have a hand heater that they keep in their pockets to warm their fingers when not shooting. I occasionaly use one, or the disposable ones when handy. I even have seen some of the battery gloves used.
If shooting autos it may be necessary to completly clean all the oil out of the gas system and bolt and use a dry lubricant or a graphite to keep the oils from turning thick in the cold and gumming up the works.
Some powders can be adversly effected by cold and loose quite a bit of velocity. Green Dot comes to mind as one of the worst affected by cold temps, but there are others that are effected to lesser degrees.
Going in and out of a warm club house can build up condensation in and on guns that need to be attended to at the end of the day to prevent rust problems. Sometimes a complete tear down is in order to get into the actions to be sure. A good moisture displacing penetrant is good to use after such times. I prefer CorrosionX for this job.
It's kinda neat shooting in a heavy snowstorm and seeing your shot pattern tearing through the snowflakes. Just one of the joys some of you southern shooters don't get to enjoy.
I think I have covered most of what I can think of. Any comments or additions?
kudu, in the soon to be great white north, kinda.