Air rifles when it is cold out

[CUZZARD]

I read somewhere Air Rifles do not like the cold.
Can anyone confirm/deny?
If so is it a specific type, or is it all air rifles?

thanks

 

[Gas Can]

The CO2 airguns suffer the most in the cold. So does HPA(high pressure air) but not nearly to the same extent.

Don't shoot spingers in the cold.... I am a HPA snob.

GC

 

[Big Bad]

I'm told that nitro piston models are unaffected. Never had a chance to test it.

 

[cartwheel]

Beware the "lube tune" that some "experts" do to springers... in the cold they turn into complete slugs. A properly working springer should get a little more efficient in the cold. CO2 guns don't work nearly as well as in the heat of the summer.

 

[mephiskapheles6]

I'm told that nitro piston models are unaffected. Never had a chance to test it.

I have never chrony'ed my NP, but I have not noticed any velocity drop off in the winter.

 

[IanC]

The above posters are right i dont think you will run into issues with a pump up rifle. I dont like to shoot my springers in the cold due to all the condensation when i come back in due to all the moving parts but never had any problems when out.

Whats the issue with hpa in the cold?

 

[roadcarver]

Co2 cylinders gets cold when it used to fire a BB, the faster you shoot, the colder it gets and the less the fps it will generate. This is based on what I experience when I had my bb pistols.

 

[CUZZARD]

how cold is too cold for a springer?

 

[Gas Can]

T

Whats the issue with hpa in the cold?

Lets say you charge your gun to 3000 psi, it might drop to 2850 when you go out into the cold... or so depending on the temp. Not a big deal but still has an affect.

You still have to worry about condensation however.

GC

 

[kodiakjack]

CO2 performance drops steadily down until -78.5 Celcius, at which point it remains in liquid state.

 

[grauhanen]

CO2 air guns are most susceptible to a decline in performance in the cold. PCP air guns are much less prone to a decline in performance, but there is a caveat. The qualifier is that any air gun that uses lubrication for parts that must move such as hammer assemblies and pistons is going to be affected by the cold because the lubricants are affected by the cold. The hammer assembly on a PCP will move more slowly in the cold unless something is done to the factory lubrication. Often the factory lube is on very thick and it needs to be thinned and/or removed and replaced by a lubricant less responsive to the cold yet still provides sufficient lubrication. This problem is more pronounced in spring piston air rifles. The usual lubricants such as molybdenum disulfide can "slow down" in the cold and there's not much that can be done about that as the piston needs lubrication and lube like moly (used very sparingly) or Krytox must be used.