Calum you may find this interesting...
My previous PU sniper (which were not even available for Stalingrad - they were PE snipers as I recall) shocked me one day. I had driven from Terrace to PG and stopped in at my favorite gunsmith to show him my PU Tula Sniper. It was a long trip (about 8 hours) and it was about -35 C in PG at the time. The rifle was in my pick-up's aluminum dry box. I pulled her out. Knocked on the door and went in. When I showed it to him NO FOG OF ANY CONSEQUENCE ON THE LENSES! Everything else was coated in condensation though - especially the metal. The rifle was actually uncomfortable to hold it was so cold.
I don't know what the russians did to these scopes but what I do know is:
1. They are gas sealed
2. the lenses must be coated
The VZ-54 I have is the same. The Czech's know all about winter warfare and have excellent snipers. They ran heavy barrels and free floated them. The ballance on the VZ-54 is shocking. No full wood needed on this puppy - perfectly ballanced.
However going from cold to warm to cold would be a nightmare for wood warpage and barrel pressure points. It is very clear why the Finish Armourers finger jointed their stocks using captured Russian stock. Regardless one would not be able to escape frozen condensation on metal components without a thinned mix of diesel and oil or grease. If it were me I'd coat the bugger from top to bottom and stick it back in the stock as a regular maintenance regime. Certainly the bolt components would be properly greased (if it were me in sub-arctic conditions).
From a personal perspective I can vouch that as a Canadian Ranger my body warmth usually keeps the enfield slung over my shoulder perfectly functional. As soon as you strap it on the back of your snow machine strange things will happen to it. Bolts are much more difficult to manipulate and oil freezes. However I have never had one failure or issue with enfields regardless of the conditions. I expect something similar may be expected with mausers or mosins. Keep them close to the body - no problem.
Itsa like playing an acoustic guitar. They go out of tune very quickly after you pull them from the case. Body warmth moves the neck around until it stabilizes - after that no problems. Its the adjustment from one state to the next where you will lose your zero. If you know where your zero is under that condition then you won't take the shot until the rifle has had time to adjust.
SKIRSONS and 762RUSSIAN
You're both right.
Although this isn't the venue I have been enlightened by your (much appreciatedly) adult and respectful online conversation. For many people of Slavic Descent the Hammer and Sickle do not represent the time of Stalin. It is still however a period that happened and an entire state probably should not be defined by the Evil & Tyranny of that Nation's worst period.
I believe most Russians try to look at this logo as a time of when they were
most strong - most proud and try to forget the darkness. If for anything else for their sanity and justifaction of their existance as a Nation.
My opinion is that the Nazi symbol is certainly not an acceptable logo or philosophy regardless of the original Roman indications as a ward against evil spirits. It was born out of a German desire to opress and murder based along ethnic lines.
That is not the history born behind the hammer an cycle. The Hammer and Cycle was created to represent an equalization of wealth so that all can share on the nation's success (not the few because of their blood lines).
Regardless of the outcome the philosophies are certainly not aligned.
My council is that 762RUSSIAN not change his portrait logo. The Soviets did some good things for the world. Although I am not of Slavic descent I understand the roots of what it was designed to represent. What got twisted and warped is not true to the spirit of Communism. I should state that I personally detest what Communism turned into - an abhorence to human nature to improve itself.
