C7 Performance in Cold Weather?

y2k

y2k

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I know there is a lot of guys here that serve or have served in the forces. I was wondering how cold of weather has the C7 been used in?
And how did it perform?
What kind of lube?

I was told years ago that the forces up north on training exercises found best results with the FNC1 with No lube at all on the weapon.
 
I fired my C7 during a sovereignty exercise in the arctic and had no issues. We used arctic grade oil (don't know the stock number or mfr name). CLP isn't supposed to be used any colder than -18.

When I was issued the FN it was either the same arctic oil or graphite that was to be used.

Graphite shouldn't be used in D.I. guns as it turns into a messy sludge. Yeah I know I'll get flamed for that but I'll dig up the reference.
 
While it was only static shooting, we had the C7 out on the range for about 9 hours in 0 to -15 degrees Celcius weather earlier this month in Connaught. First it was snowing badly (sideways snow, always fun), then hail, then freezing rain, then regular rain. Ran like a champ and it was almost completely covered in a layer of ice on the right side. I even got some snow in the chamber a couple of times between shoots. I'm pretty sure no one on the line had a serious malfunction that day, only iced up C79 optics that might have caused some failures on the the test haha.
 
The C7 works great in cold weather, even with the BFA and blanks. We ran them with very light coat of CLP in Manitoba winters (-30 plus windchill) In Arctic conditions they have artic oil(thin stuff), we never needed it in Shilo. If in extreme cold you would run it almost dry.
 
Depends on the rifle! I was recently in AB doing field exercises at Wainwright and when the temps got low many of us found that our bolts would occasionally freeze up during use. The rifles issued were the old iron sighted C7's along with CLP.

On the other hand, I've been issued A2's that ended up encrusted in ice and snow that ran like tops with no malf of any sort. Again, CLP was all that was used.

If it were cold, and reliability were a concern, I'd prob pull out a Lee Enfield. After all, it's what our Rangers use and they're in parts colder than most of the world!
 
recce said:
I fired my C7 during a sovereignty exercise in the arctic and had no issues. We used arctic grade oil (don't know the stock number or mfr name). CLP isn't supposed to be used any colder than -18.

When I was issued the FN it was either the same arctic oil or graphite that was to be used.

Graphite shouldn't be used in D.I. guns as it turns into a messy sludge. Yeah I know I'll get flamed for that but I'll dig up the reference.
Click to expand...

100% agree

Graphite is the WORST thing you can use on a C8 or C7 "epic fail"

The cold weather lube is VV-L-800, NSN 9150-21-578-5863 "only uses in weather below -5 "As its very thin and makes a crappy lube in hot weather"
 
Just as aside while the term "windchill" makes the low temp sound more dramatic it has no effect on an inanimate object like a rifle, vehicle or any other piece of equipment. To a rifle whatever the ambient temperature is thats what the rifle will be. Granted the wind can, and does, drive spindrift into every every nook and cranny on small arms. Then firing the wpn, bringing the temp up to allow melting then refreezing is the biggest problem I ever came across.
For some reason the old C5A1 could not handle the cold worth a damn a tired old warhorse that should have been put out to pasture decades earlier then it was. The .50 I have fired caked in ice with even the belt snow/ice packed, ahh the good old days, now to go watch reruns of Matlock....
 
Dsiwy said:
100% agree

Graphite is the WORST thing you can use on a C8 or C7 "epic fail"

The cold weather lube is VV-L-800, NSN 9150-21-578-5863 "only uses in weather below -5 "As its very thin and makes a crappy lube in hot weather"
Click to expand...

Agree 100%

FYI the Graphite sucks ass in anything - it will gum up the C6 and C9 juest as it does a C7/C8

CLP absolutely sucks in the cold as it basically freezes, it will freeze a bolt shut that even firing will not always break it free.
 
Absolutely correct. No graphite and CLP sucks real bad. It begins to gel up around -14C.

The C7 and C8 have a few improvements over the US made black rifles. One of them is thicker (and slightly different spec) chrome specifically for cold weather performance.

The CF uses US MILSPECS in most cases, unless the CF requirements are greater, for example cold weather testing.

The RCMP did a cold weather lube test in 1995. Among others, Breakfree and Gunslick were eliminated right away.

I know Kevin likes TW-25B, and I used it last time I was in the 'stan with satisfaction, but it fails in extreme cold (less than -40C) as well.

I would suggest Burke's Gun Oil. Tested and passed on C7/C8 to -70C.
 
Stop writing about Cold weather your going to give me nightmares....lol.

Who sells the cold weather oil for our AR-15(VV-L-800, NSN 9150-21-578-5863) I have been meaning to buy some for over 4 years now, and keep forgetting.

Burke's Gun Oil is the best you think?
 
Went through battle school (Kapyong!) with the CIA1 in 86, transitioned on to the C7 in 87, used both in winter conditions. The most important thing to remember is to keep the rifle as dry as possible. If you put half a dozen magazines through it, it will heat up, melting any snow that you gathering on the rifle, and then promptly freeze solid 10 minutes later. Keep a towel (combat scarf works best) handy, after firing, give her a solid drying wipe down. And keep the rifle out of the tent, unless you plan to to totally strip and dry the rifle (and even then, better to do it outside.)
 
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Hey XRCD011, are you saying you're old or something?
Have your own personal autographed Bible or something?

Is my mind going on me or does anyone else remember whale oil?
 
2 years ago my C7's bolt froze shut on ex after firing a full battle load in about 15 minutes. We then had to move and the bolt froze. Couldnt rack it or anything. Had to wait for it to thaw out when we got back to barracks. If its dry youre fine. or if you have time to wipe it down right after you shoot it.

P.S. C8's For the Win!
 
One guy an RCMP constable/exinfantry officer said he never used the C7 in cold weather but was told to lube weapon with a lead pencil. :confused:
 
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