Lube for bolt action in extreme cold?

[Ganderite]

The biggest issue with bolt actions in the cold is making sure that you aren't carrying a decades worth of thickened grease, dirt, and the original packing grease around inside the bolt body. Once everything is clean the particular gun oil you pick wont matter as much. Most bolts have never been stripped.

Yes!

I have seen a bolt striker take about a second to fall, in cold wx. Swished it around in some gas and then it was perfect. Grease and little bits of brass came out.

After washing clean, a thin film of G96 or CLP protects against condensation and rust.

 

[Plasticman]

i use froglube, but all ive done with it is thinly coat all surfaces and let soak in. more of a rust preventative. so im running my bolt almost dry. but it doesnt have that dry metal on metal feeling.
I did get a drop of this in my sks firing pin channel the other day, it definately gets thick in cold weather, that thing was moving back and forth like a snail, had to blast it with g96 buster.

But lube viscosity really starts to show in cold weather on Semi-Autos.

 

[bearkilr]

Don't lube it... clean it and lube it indoors, then wipe it dry before taking it out... no binding, no stiffness.

This, and then leave it in the cold instead of bringing it in every night to warm up, that'll cause extreme condensation. If it's not completely dry the next morning, it'll freeze up immediately regardless of the lube you have on it.

 

[Ranger Dave]

Mobil 1 Dextron VI. Blow it off with compressed air. I never had issues in Northern Manitoba.

 

[zthou]

I have had good luck with a thin coat of snowmobile grease (very low temp. rating), or like ranger dave says mobile 1 works great too. i use mobile 1 also for full length sizing of my 50 bmg and .378 brass.

 

[Slooshark1]

One fellow I knew up in Labrador would keep the bolt for his 700 in his inside coat pocket until it was time to shoot. What about using Remington Drilube?

 

[SuperCub]

We used graphite powder back when I was a reservist.

Stripped all the oil using naptha then lubed with graphite. This kept our GPMGs going up near Flin Flon in January. Brutal cold!!!

This one.

 

[Johnn Peterson]

This one.

I have a 1 lb container of a product called 'MICROFYNE' by Southwestern Graphite and on the lid is DXGLMF 1. Available at/through some auto supply outlets and very similar to what we used on occasion when I was on the tools. With that 1 lb container, I think I have enough to pass on to the next five generetions of the family.
A very similar product in a more appropriate size can be picked up at hardware stores. Powdered Graphite Lubricant by Victor and used to lub in lock applications.
I also recall seeing a graphite in an aerosol spray which would be even better. Give the bolt a light spray and you're good to go. 'Playing' with the powdered form can be somewhat on the dirty side.

 

[medvedqc]

i used too graphite after cleaned in diesel but i used too winter chain saw oil ...

 

[SuperCub]

Playing' with the powdered form can be somewhat on the dirty side.

It is dirty, esp if one uses it too liberally. I have used for lubing case necks as well. I mix it with lead shot and dip the necks into it.

 

[Johnn Peterson]

It is dirty, esp if one uses it too liberally. I have used for lubing case necks as well. I mix it with lead shot and dip the necks into it.

That was the primary reason I acquired the 1 lb container.