Cold weather shooting with AR ....need tips!

Is this repeatable with multiple mags? The first round on a semi is always the hardest to strip as it is under the most tension.
 
Former Infantry, can confirm in arctic/cold conditions you want to run everything dry. This includes buffer spring, barrel, trigger springs...everything.
 
Try leaving whatever grease or oil you are considering outside overnight when it is really cold. See what it is like in the morning.
With modern lubes there is no reason to run metal on metal without any lubrication.
 
ARMS EAST said:
Is this repeatable with multiple mags? The first round on a semi is always the hardest to strip as it is under the most tension.
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Yes it is, XCR-M 10 round pistol mags and Pmags. Same issue for both. To be clear this is a lube / cold issue for sure. My rifle is not a factory Stag10....only BCG, trigger group, upper & lower are Stag parts. The rifle strips the mag fine. Chambers the round even, just lubed up it loses the force to lock into battery....no fault of the rifle at all. Drop the mag let the charging handle fly and she locks up fine....insert the mag & fire a round. Every thing works perfectly as it should once the first round goes down the tube, till she's begging for more ammo ;)
 
I use Mobil 1 to lube my AR's summer or winter. Being synthetic oil, it doesn't gel when the temperature drops below freezing. Even so, use it sparingly when shooting in -30C.
 
Nope if works....properly...I'm not sure.....so, from what i understand forward assists closes the bolt in normal conditions.

In this case the forward assist is moving the bolt as you push the plunger but then it locks up. I'm not forcing any thing. Perhaps if i hit it hard it would lock up....but at - 30 i find forcing any thing is 50/50 chance of success.

So, i drop the mag and let the charging handle fly and lock up is achieved. Push the mag into place and it goes bang...no issues till I have to reload.

Going to be - 30 tomorrow again so I'm going to strip it dry tonight and take it out tomorrow to test. Already have some graphite, hopefully I can find some G96 Epoxy7 recommended. If that doesn't work...then perhaps atf and 5W20 as well as 0W20 if needed. Yes, its a .308 buffer spring.
 
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It cycles on an empty chamber though no problem? probably the extractor having a hard time getting over the rim.... there has to be a better way than plastic or 'rubber' o rings??
 
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Milcom tw25b grease
Milcom 2500 oil
G96

That’s what I use if the stakes are high and I need the gun to work. Otherwise I would just hit the forward assist and deal with the cold. The automotive lubricants are a cheaper option if you aren’t defending your life with the firearm.

You are having the same issue that I have in -30 or colder. In my experience with anything warmer than that and conventional gun oils work pretty well. I know it’s not the same, but I find -30s my Polaris ranger won’t work (belt doesn’t engage) but -20 it’s fine. 0 degrees is just the freezing point for water, and for mechanical devices I find -30 to be a threshold.

I won’t use anything else in the cold.
 
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FWIW, it was -16 this morning so I went out to the garage to check some oils.

15/40 was a bit thick, it don't think I would try this.
5/40 and 5/20 synthetic motor oil seemed to flow easy enough.
Synthetic ATF didn't seem like it was affected at all, it flowed like water.
 
G96 is the bomb. Been using it forever.
Just curious about the process you’re talking about after it fails to close the bolt on the round. You mention “dropping the mag and letting the charging handle fly”. Is this on a live round in the chamber? I could be wrong but couldn’t that cause an out of battery firing condition? I know I’ve read it can happen to M14s and even some other semi autos.
It has to do with the firing pin triggering the primer before the bolt gets into full lock.
Maybe someone with more AR experience can elaborate or correct me if I’m wrong.
 
McHoss said:
G96 is the bomb. Been using it forever.
Just curious about the process you’re talking about after it fails to close the bolt on the round. You mention “dropping the mag and letting the charging handle fly”. Is this on a live round in the chamber? I could be wrong but couldn’t that cause an out of battery firing condition? I know I’ve read it can happen to M14s and even some other semi autos.
It has to do with the firing pin triggering the primer before the bolt gets into full lock.
Maybe someone with more AR experience can elaborate or correct me if I’m wrong.
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I think he meant dropping the mag ie removing the mag completely and then releasing the charging handle, whether by the paddle or from pulling it back and releasing freely. The chamber is empty at this point so no risk of detonation.
 
Runt said:
Hello,

Been doing a bitt of - 30 C shooting lately with my modified Stag10 and noticed it having the odd issue when i let the charging handle fly. Strips the round and loads it up but has an issue closing the bolt fully. Only issue I have had yet with this rifle, figured it was the cold. Perhaps the CLP becomes to viscous at this temperature creating too much drag? when I drop the mag & let the charging handle fly again the BCG goes into battery with no issues. Goes bang till she's empty after that. So any of you have any tips for shooting AR's in these colder temperatures?
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Yes, in the CF as a EME'r you use a dry graphite lub in cold weather. CLP gets too viscous as you stated. I am sure there are other products out there.
 
In the military we switch to graphite when it gets really cold because clp gets to viscous. Also, if had been inside where it was warm then you went fire outside there is a good chance you would get condensation that freezes and causes stoppages.
 
So I didn't get a chance to update. But I have been to the range since. Stripped her dry and no issues. I also did the dry graphite spray treatment on the tailgate. Wow does that make a mess! But works really well...I'm guessing because, no issues as well. For sure was the CLP. I also lightened up the rifle by 4 Oz going to a minimaliststock.. suprising decent lop with the LAW tactical folder but...not worth it:
YC0JHhD.jpg
 
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