C7 Performance and what lube in sub zero temp?

Running the rifle dry or using graphite powder is what I have been what I have been taught. My only personal experience firing ball ammo (vs blanks) through the C7 in extreme cold was shooting up in resolute bay -45. Rifle had about 20 mags put through it in a half hour or so, which of course warmed it up... didnt really get hot though haha. No stoppages or parts breakage in that instance.
 
while im not a 'military guy' i do live in the high north and do run a couple AR's.
i was surprised when i had my AR freeze up on me while shooting one day.
i honestly never considered the fact that a gun would freeze up.
just never dawned on me, the whole heat and fire thing made me think they didnt freeze up for some reason.

anyways, rude awakening on my part.
i did some reading and got into a neat article about the RCMP testing cleaning stuff and oils for their guys.
one of the ones they recommended was G96.

i looked into G96 and liked what i saw so i picked some up and i havnt looked back.
stuff is great!
ive ran my AR's at -50 last 2 winters and didnt have any problems.
i know a lot of the guys up here have switched over to the G96 line as well and i havnt heard of anyone having any complaints.
if your planning on going colder then -50 i cant help ya, you'll have to get ahold of someone north of Yellowknife for that.

edit - just checked their webpage, they say this;

G96 Synthetic CLP gun oil is rated at -74F
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so in Canadian that would be -59/60
 
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One drop clp up to no lube. Graphite? Bah...

Reliability mostly depends on your weapon drills and storage/use.

There is a few things to do and not do. If they are respected a c7 will be extremely reliable up north.
 
sapper043 said:
Dry and store outside during use. Moving them in and out of a heated area will cause freeze up too.
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Exactly. It's a question of condensation. Leave it outside. If you fire it. Better make sure it does not create humidity inside out. If so. Wipe it dry. Cycle it a few times every hour to make sure the actions are moving.
 
Cpt.Flan said:
Exactly. It's a question of condensation. Leave it outside. If you fire it. Better make sure it does not create humidity inside out. If so. Wipe it dry. Cycle it a few times every hour to make sure the actions are moving.
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Keep a bullet in the chamber. If gun is frozen, un-freeze it by firing a shot.

: D
 
All of the above and also rack the action a few times every half an hour or so to make sure nothing sticks and freezes. Everybody seems to forget that except my bro Flan up there.
 
In the old pre-CLP days, the drill was for the section to leave the wpns to soak in the cold outside with the rucksacks and gear. Brrr! Right out in the wind. In the morning, brush the snow off and proceed with the day's activities. One weapon would be brought into the tent for local protection, but knowing full well, it would ice up in a heartbeat. We didn't have any fancy lubricants, but the instructors talked about graphic powder for the pieces that needed slipperyness.
 
I remember on a tasking some years ago we had no CLP available so we had what was called on the bottle "artic lube" and it was looking red like transmission fluid.
 
gato said:
I was taught Graphite or run it dry.....
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maple_leaf_eh said:
In the old pre-CLP days, the drill was for the section to leave the wpns to soak in the cold outside with the rucksacks and gear. Brrr! Right out in the wind. In the morning, brush the snow off and proceed with the day's activities. One weapon would be brought into the tent for local protection, but knowing full well, it would ice up in a heartbeat. We didn't have any fancy lubricants, but the instructors talked about graphic powder for the pieces that needed slipperyness.
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Dake21 said:
I remember on a tasking some years ago we had no CLP available so we had what was called on the bottle "artic lube" and it was looking red like transmission fluid.
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Let me guess, all this wisdom was taught in the military... No offence to those that serve but what is often taught is straight garbage and regurgitated rhetoric from senior members to junior. Graphite lube is a no no and ineffective, ATF isn't any better. Although being the military there isn't much in the way of options as the supply chain only offers so many choices. For that I applaud you guys for finding a solution where options are limited.

TDC
 
Dake21 said:
I remember on a tasking some years ago we had no CLP available so we had what was called on the bottle "artic lube" and it was looking red like transmission fluid.
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The red oil of which you speak is (or used to be) the issue winter, or cold weather, oil for the CF. I still have most of a can. It is very light, and doesn't thicken up in the cold. Having said that, I used to run my C7 dry in the cold. Instructed on many courses in the winter, and been deployed to the Arctic numerous times. Never had an issue running the C7 dry, just kept it as clean as possible.
 
Part of the reason for using lube is that it helps stop ice from sticking to the internals. ATF is one of the easier to find lubes in the field (well it sure is in most peoples trades), and at the rate things like machine guns go through lube availability is important.
Dry works, there is lots of testing to prove that, but all guns will work better and last longer with an appropriate quality lube.
 
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