How cold can it get and still shoot

+1 for the graphite grease. You can get great stuff as chain lube from a hardcore mountain bike store.

I also use a spray-on moly dry lube (non-permanent) which you can get at Canadian Tire in the Automotive section. IIRC, it's got a black and orange label with white writing (it's in the garage right now waiting to be used again - stuff lasts forever).

-M
 
Regarding no oil in the action, at all. Yes, that is how the homesteaders and the trappers of northern Saskatchewan did it during the years of the great deression.
When I was doing cold weather hunting and shooting in BC from Prince George and north, I took the Mauser bolt apart and cleaned it with kerosene, then didn't oil it untiol spring. A bit of running steel to steel, under such light loadings, can in no way damage anything. Besides, even if you think you clean it all off, there is probably a bit of lubrication remaining.
 
i use dry graphite powder from the key section in my local home depo run without any issues up to minus 40. colder then that i dont go out
 
stubblejumper said:
The effects of cold on making gun barrels brittle to the point of splitting when fired, have been greatly exaggerated by some people.
Click to expand...

It depends on the composition of the steel. Rifle barrels are high alloy steel and their transition temperature from ductile to brittle is much lower than low alloy steels.

I remember doing experiments with low alloy steels in subjected to about -40 and small bars snapped like an icicle using only a very small point force.

A lot of steels, even alloy steels, hit the ductile/brittle threshold from -50 to -70C. The drop in the strength (ductility) is VERY quick and dramatic as temperature drops. How the steel is manufactured (temperatures, tempering etc..) can also make big difference in the brittle temp of the steel.
 
Last edited:
Rinse bolt in kerosene or Varsol. Same for trigger. No lube is most relaible.

Velocity willd drop a few 100 fps.

If you are loading ammo for the cold weather, switch to a magnum, primer. That will help a lot.

We used to cold soak ammo at -40 for a few days and then test. It was supposed to be 100% BANG, Velocity drops were as much as 25%.
 
SandRoad said:
It depends on the composition of the steel. Rifle barrels are high alloy steel and their transition temperature from ductile to brittle is much lower than low alloy steels.

I remember doing experiments with low alloy steels in subjected to about -40 and small bars snapped like an icicle using only a very small point force.

A lot of steels, even alloy steels, hit the ductile/brittle threshold from -50 to -70C. The drop in the strength (ductility) is VERY quick and dramatic as temperature drops. How the steel is manufactured (temperatures, tempering etc..) can also make big difference in the brittle temp of the steel.
Click to expand...

I have seen a considerable number of steel products breaking from the cold. In the minus 40 to 50 range, steel will snap like a twig. Bushmen's axes often break a piece right out of the steel bit, when chopping into a frozen green tree.
I would guess that if you gave your rifle barrel a whump against a tree, you would have two parts to the barrel. But I have never heard of a barrel breaking from shooting. Likely the instant heat from the burning cartridge keeps it in one place.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom