When is HOT to HOT to shoot?

[Rockrivr1]

Last week I got out of work early and headed straight to the range. I got some new ammo and was looking forward to shooting some off. I packed the car in the morning and then headed to work so getting out early was great as I could get to the range before it got busy.

Well, in my rush and due to general neglect I forgot to watch the weather. Figuring it was cool in the morning things would be fine. Well when I got out of work, it was 93 degrees with stifling humidity. But seeing the car was loaded I headed to the range anyway.

Once there I didn't have to worry about it being busy as I was the only one there. By the time I unloaded and set up some targets I was drenched with sweat. Figuring I'm already here I start shooting.

And boy did I stink up the place. I could barely make out the targets with the heat radiating from the ground and I kept having to wipe the sweat out of my eyes. Not to mention it was dripping all over my rifle. I brought my CMP M1 Garand and I wasn't worried to much about the sweat seeing it was built in 1943 and most likely had seen a lot worse then a little sweat. But my new M4gery stayed in the bag.

Finally I gave up and packed it in. You know that feeling when you jump in the car and crank up the AC when your really really hot? Well that feeling hit me like jumping into a cool lake when I got the car started. Aaaaahhhhhhh!!!! Is all I could say.

So what's to hot for you to shoot?

 

[Kodiak AK]

I have no clue . But I do know that -7 with wind chill is too cold . I figure if I have icecles hangin from my nose , it is time to pack it in for the day .

 

[joegerardi]

If I went by your standards, then in Savannah, is almost ALWAYS too hot to shoot!

As an ex-NY'er I somehow seem acclimatized to the weather her better than most people. 100+ is when I start to think about not going. It could also just be stubborness. I have to drive 30 miles to get to the only range in the area, so iwhen I do go, I stay.

But then, Sunday I spent 11 hours on a tennis court (my other passion) and it was 94 degrees, and about 114 on the courts...

..Joe

 

[NRA4LIFE]

In Missouri, anytime during the months of May through September.

 

[MrMurphy]

As long as you stay hydrated and preferably in the shade you should be fine. I've been at the range when it was 100-105 degrees, and when it was 25 degrees. Proper clothing and preparation and you're fine.

 

[ClonaKilty]

I grew up in FL and would routinely shoot in 95* weather at 95%+ humidity w/out incident. Then I went to the desert to a firearms school when it was 110. Wound up in the hospital for heat exhaustion.

So for me, if it's the desert and over 100, I'm heading for the A/C. YMMV.

 

[biere]

At least you learned your level of shooting ability in hot sweaty weather.

So far this summer I have learned that wood grips on a revolver are no fun after I am all sweaty from working outside, they have no finger grooves and I don't know if that matters.

I really learned how to use my rifle's iron sights when I had sweat dripping off my forhead and I was trying to shoot a target that I normally considered not that far away. Actually my concentration improved, but so did my aim.

I stop shooting a lot when it hits mid 90s and lots of humidity with no breeze. But I can shoot on my land so it is easy to shoot for a bit and go inside and rest or go do something else.

Overall l think everyone should try shooting in all sorts of weather. But everyone also needs to learn when to push themselves and when to listen to their body and take it easy.

 

[Kevmo327]

Here in AZ I have been out when it is 100-115 and althought it was hot I still had fun (do not set your gun down in the sun and pick it up by the barrell though

 

[bpisler]

A few years ago it was 116 out,i had the day off so i went to rio salado out near mesa az.I had the range all to myself,the rangemaster knew me and after i paid he went back to his trailer with ac

 

[Smoke]

Lots of high temp, high humidity days here. You wouldn't catch me at the public range on a bet...they have no shade.

My own range is set up under some large shade trees. Usually has a decent breeze. Cooler full of water and other drinks and I'm fine. Even on 100+ degree days.

I usually have to work in it on weekends so shooting is ...well, play.

Smoke

 

[shep854]

[shameless bragging on range]
At the FOP range here in Birmingham (well, actually Pleasant Grove) we have an air-conditioned clubhouse/range shop, where I can duck in and cool off.
[/shameless bragging on range]



Regarding heat, though; can summer temps plus direct sunlight affect the ammo? In hot weather, I keep gun and ammo covered, as a precaution.

 

[Andrew Wyatt]

110 starts to be about the upper limit.

i take a metric ton of water with me and drink nothing but that, though.

 

[sumpnz]

In the desert, at least with the low humidity you don't tend to get sweat dripping in your eyes. I'll be out at the range this Saturday. It will probably be 105*, but only about 10% relative humidity. The rifle line is covered (baffels to keep stray bullets from idiots contained) so at least I'll be able to stay out of direct sunlight. I'll be bringing a lot of water with me too. I'll probably limit my time to not much more than a couple hours out there.

For those of you not used to the desert, you should drink a minimum of 8oz of water per hour, ideally every half hour if you're performing physically demanding tasks.

Certainly as the weather cools off it becomes more enjoyable to spend ever increasing amounts of time outdoors, whether shooting or otherwise.

 

[Andrew Wyatt]

110 starts to be about the upper limit.

i take a metric ton of water with me and drink nothing but that, though.

 

[stevelyn]

If the rounds start cooking off before you load the magazine, it's probably too hot to enjoy your range time.

 

[Farnham]

I normally shoot in the neighborhood of Twentynine Palms, CA, and it's too hot to shoot when the heat through my bootsoles starts giving me blisters.

 

[TechBrute]

You made me laugh by saying that you left a rifle in the bag because you're afraid to sweat on it. I thought you were joking. Then I realized you were serious. I stopped laughing. Good grief.

 

[1911Ron]

When is it to hot to shoot? where i work we have our own range with a covered line, with a tempeture gage under the over hang it was reading off the scale 120 something. I asked what was wrong with this picture and somebody responded with we're in it.Yes AR15 barrels get hot when left out!

 

[fjolnirsson]

Too hot to shoot?
When the gun starts to melt. Seriously.
Too cold? When the gun won't cycle, because it's frozen. Seriously.
You never know when you'll need to shoot. Emergency's aren't like baseball, they don't get called off for weather.
This may sound uber-tactical and over the top. It may sound like I'm trying to be a badass. I'm not. I am the farthest thing from a badass I know. But I train in all weather, the worst I can find. Really, it will help. We need to do it.
Besides, I'd rather be getting a sunburn and shooting, than in ac and not shooting.

 

[MAClarkWA]

A Vegas winter story

For about a year I lived in Las Vegas, managed to shoot in just about every type of LV weather. Though when it was hot, I tended to stay away, the one time I can recall was in the middle of winter.
I was working on some new home loads for my AR-15, I remember it was right before Christmas, and I had spent all day working on these loads. I really wanted to take them to the range. I was so eager that to get out to the range that I didn't bother checking how cold it was. I mean, its Las Vegas after all, who knew it got cold in Vegas.
Since I never had to leave my garage to get in my car I didnt realize how really cold it was until I was at the desert sportsman gate trying to get the lock off.
The wind chill nearly killed me. Anyone who lives in Vegas knows how fast those winds can blow off of the Red Rock mountains. So I too decided that I was already there and figured I could tough it out.
I drove out to my favorite part of the range, the part most of the time used for shotguns that overlooks a canyon, got out of my car and started to unfold my targets and walk down to set them out.
Please understand that I only wanted to go out about 60 or 70 feet, but it was so cold I couldnt even make it down the hill. So after thinking it over for a minute I decided to load up in the car and just settle for sighting in on the nearest Joshua Tree (was a real good one mid way down the range about 77m out).
As fast as I could, trying not to allow my fingers to turn to dense cold claws again I ran out of my car and in what could be best described as a psudo freezing cold fighting combat stance popped off five or six quick rounds and booked it back to my car. This was the last time I ever challanged the Las Vegas winter wind.
PS. To this day that Joshua Tree is still laughing at me.

 

[Sylvilagus Aquaticus]

I live reasonably close (in Texas terms) to where Smoke is. When the temperature and humidity gets near triple digits it's time to go inside and play Pong or whatever the kids play these days.

Of course, when I was a Young Swamp Rabbit (tm) I'd hang out most of the summer in the Sabine river bottoms under the thick canopy of 150 foot tall hardwoods, with almost no breeze blowing. I never trusted air I couldn't drink.

Regards,
Rabbit.

 

[Feanaro]

*sticks thumbs through over-alls*

I 'as born in Alabama un I sez it ain't ner' too 'ot fer shooin'.

At the FOP range here in Birmingham (well, actually Pleasant Grove) we have an air-conditioned clubhouse/range shop, where I can duck in and cool off.

Nice isn't it? Too bad it's forty miles away. But it's the only rifle/pistol/shotgun range that I can find nearby. Excellent facilities though.

 

[atek3]

I've shot two tactical courses in ~108 degree weather, but it was a dry heat. So my camelbak and I survived just fine. As long as I have lots of water dry heat doesn't bother me. However if humidity was above 90%... I might take a rain check

atek3

 

[Len_in_Phoenix]

I'll be out at the range this weekend also. The weather guy on the news just predicted 106 for Saturday.....should be a nice day.

I suppose if it got over 115-120 I'd stay home. Heat is ok........what bothers me is when it gets really really cold, like below 70.

Len in Phoenix (for too many years )

 

[sm]

Like CRSam says "one never knows the where or when of next encounter."

Take up Competetive Skeet, no shade, and the trap houses registers 125*+.
In the winter the wind chill makes it -5 and it is , raining , snowing, blowing sleet. So one acclimates to know self and equipment. Shooting a handgun I can run 100 rds quicker than a rd of skeet.