10/22 cycling problems in -30C

ozzy

ozzy

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Would freezing cold -30C weather cause cycling problems in my 10/22's? I tried the factory mags and also the promag marauder mags and lots of problems with ftf and fte. I ran in the shop reloaded and went back out and same problems. I was using cci standard . I also tried 2 different 10/22's.
I was hoping to get the marauder mags working but had to many problems and tried the factory 10rd mags also and had a few misfires. Both 10/22 ran fine in the fall with the factory rotary mags. Both guns are clean with only maybe 200 rds in them since last cleaning. Both have good extractors. One has a kid and the other is factory but fairly new.
 
.22 ammo typically doesn't work as good in the cold, so I would definitely think thats a potential cause of the issues you experienced. Could also be a lubrication thing, with some oils etc freezing a lower temperatures. Try lubing with Mobil 1 5W30 (or other synthetic oil with a low pour point) and keeping your ammunition warm if shooting in extremely cold temps.
 
The problem could be ammo related; the powder is temperature sensitive and will burn slower at low temps. It probably isn't developing enough pressure/velocity/recoil to work the action properly...
 
I dont use anything but dry lube so oil wont be a problem. Guns and ammo were indoors and I ran outside to shoot. Maybe just too cold but i had to try to get these marauder mags to work. I guess ill wait till spring to try them again.
 
BeerBaron said:
.22 ammo typically doesn't work as good in the cold, so I would definitely think thats a potential cause of the issues you experienced. Could also be a lubrication thing, with some oils etc freezing a lower temperatures. Try lubing with Mobil 1 5W30 (or other synthetic oil with a low pour point) and keeping your ammunition warm if shooting in extremely cold temps.
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digitalblue said:
The problem could be ammo related; the powder is temperature sensitive and will burn slower at low temps. It probably isn't developing enough pressure/velocity/recoil to work the action properly...
Click to expand...

This is the problem. CCI Standard is a weak round as it is. @ -30 it burns too slow to give you the pressure necessary to blowback the bolt.
 
Are you hearing the "crack" when you fire? Or is more subdued... in the cold weather like this, could be shooting subsonic
 
Utah said:
Are you hearing the "crack" when you fire? Or is more subdued... in the cold weather like this, could be shooting subsonic
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CCI standard velocity is already subsonic ammunition, albeit borderline. It never gives off the transonic crack. It is 1070 fps and the sound barrier is 1080fps...ish.
 
I've lived North of 60 for a lot of years. I've shot a LOT in cold weather over the years. The major problem with the 22 is the lube on the bullets, from wax in to what ever spit shine they put on them. It gets in magazines, shaves, melts, and sprays. Cold and that stuff really don't mix. Magazines have to be the single biggest problem area.

Cold you have to have a CLEAN firearm to start. NO crud, no buildup, no wax, no power residue. You have to make sure the lubricants you use are right, light, thin, and very very very little of it. If the lubricant can freeze or gel in the container you shouldn't be trying it in your firearms at -30C. I've had some great experiences with sparing application of ATF.

Cold contraction of metal parts aluminum shrinks different than steel, which is different than a titanium firing pin. Things will bind up, small imperfections in metal become magnified due to the cold. Pressure on a rifle action can be totally different from 0 or -10. Have a look at what's required for a cold weather biathlon rifle versus a summer one.

The biggest problem though is I start shaking too much at that temperature to shoot much, for very long, or very accurately. Though hunting hare can be good as they tend to hold tight, rather than running too soon, conserving energy.
 
Condensation in the magazine happens a lot. Warm mag into cold gun spells trouble. DIddo the previous feedback re. Dr lube. I remove as much oil from rifle receiver,trigger mechanism, chamber, barrel etc. And also rub surplus wax of my ammo... then have much fewer problems.
 
Any lube on the bolt will cause this problem in very cold. Field strip the rifle and wipe everything down. Run it dry and you'll be fine.
 
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