That time of year again: Cold winter tips.

curseyou

curseyou

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Hi folks.

We are getting back into the cold season and the hardiest of us shoot no matter the weather. In this spirit, I'd love to hear cold weather tips that save the hunter their prize or the competitor their bragging rights.

Im always good to go in any weather. My equipment is not. Aside from the choice of lubricant. G96 and Eezox for myself. What tips and tricks do the hunters and competitors use to keep everything flowing smoothly? Despite my best efforts, heavy snow and wind have made range day awkward at best, some could say ruined because snow blows into your action melts and re-freezez. Shiat.

I cant tell you the cursing I've unleahsed due to snow build up in the action that has prevented me from closing the bolt.

I cant be the only one. So lets hear from the community your best tips and tricks to function in the cold. Both prevention and dealing with problems. I presume service folk and rangers have a lot to say. Lets hear it!

Cheers,

Curseyou. The insufferable a$$hole.
 
I run my semi-auto coyote gun almost dry of lube in the winter (it's a Swiss Arms so it's not recommended to to be dripping in sauce)
Don't take your gun out of the hot truck directly into the cold it will frost up and fog up/freeze over the scope lenses.
I usually put the cased rifle on the hood or tailgate while I get all my calls and crap organized which usually a lows the gun to "acclimate".
I also do that when I get home to avoid condensation build in the house.
 
A cold gun wont melt the snow that gets on it. Let your gun cool outside before you let snow get on it.

Run almost no lube.

We always have a big fire and some hotdogs as well. :)
 
K0na_stinky said:
A cold gun wont melt the snow that gets on it. Let your gun cool outside before you let snow get on it.

Run almost no lube.

We always have a big fire and some hotdogs as well. :)
Click to expand...

Agreed. Until you fire it. If hunting with a single shot you wont notice. If at the range the heat of a single mag will melt snow only to be followed by ice in the action.

Im tempted to think a gator of sorts might be warranted for the precision blizzard shooters.
 
curseyou said:
Agreed. Until you fire it. If hunting with a single shot you wont notice. If at the range the heat of a single mag will melt snow only to be followed by ice in the action.

Im tempted to think a gator of sorts might be warranted for the precision blizzard shooters.
Click to expand...

Ive never got my barrel hot enough to make my action hot enough to melt snow. I guess I gotta try harder. Lol

We shoot a lot in the winter but we have about a 30 minute snowmobile ride to get there and our guns are frozen solid when we get there.
 
If you haven't tried Under Armour gloves/glove liners they are the best cold weather gloves I have used. I wear heavy gloves over top and then pull them off and have enough dexterity to load magazines and what not. I hate shooting with cold fingers.

under-armor-cold-gear-gloves-lodozo.com.jpg


Mine are a bit more form fitting but something like this is worth the money!
 
K0na_stinky said:
A cold gun wont melt the snow that gets on it. Let your gun cool outside before you let snow get on it.

Run almost no lube.

We always have a big fire and some hotdogs as well. :)
Click to expand...

This...I've shot both my 260s at -35C, and besides a bit of light grease on my bolt lugs everything else is dry. Never had a failure to fire or extract in the few hundred rounds I've fired. It takes a lot to get me out in this weather but I've done it, I just make a fire in the stove we have at the local gun range shack. I was out today with my ACR and ran it dry as well, was -11C and it never missed a beat. Summer time I just run some light CLP in it.
 
jugi16 said:
This...I've shot both my 260s at -35C, and besides a bit of light grease on my bolt lugs everything else is dry. Never had a failure to fire or extract in the few hundred rounds I've fired. It takes a lot to get me out in this weather but I've done it, I just make a fire in the stove we have at the local gun range shack. I was out today with my ACR and ran it dry as well, was -11C and it never missed a beat. Summer time I just run some light CLP in it.
Click to expand...

In order to fully experience cold weather shooting and find out what it is all about, I am going to have to go shooting on the coldest day of the year
here in the Okanogan. Usually there is at least one day when it goes down to -11C and it gets announced on the news because they can then pick
the ice wine grapes!:wave:
 
I use Slipstream for lube year round. Worked good last winter down to -30. I also tape my muzzle with duct tape to prevent any crap from getting down the barrel. I use lens covers on my scopes to keep the snow off the lenses, and don't blow it off if it does get on them. Acclimatize my rifle before hitting the trail, and leave it in a padded case once home to slowly bring it back up to room temp and avoid condensation.
 
Robert Nicholson said:
In order to fully experience cold weather shooting and find out what it is all about, I am going to have to go shooting on the coldest day of the year
here in the Okanogan. Usually there is at least one day when it goes down to -11C and it gets announced on the news because they can then pick
the ice wine grapes!:wave:
Click to expand...

Only down to -11? The one year I lived in Kelowna, it was -20 for a week straight... And -11 feels like being in a sauna compared to -30, especially if the wind picks up any.

Here on the wet coast, I dont get to experience those sorts of conditions regularly, but I had no problems with checking my zero at -14 last week while on a hunting trip. The rifles didn't seem to mind the temps, but the pump shotguns were not so happy, the action was getting stiff/sticky with them...
 
All great advice so far.

I go out in all kinds of weather. -45 to -50 ain't fun but it's all part of it.

I'd suggest spend a day confirming your hits and record em all the way out at different temps.

- ballon on end of barrel while carrying (can shoot through it if need be, no POI change out to average hunting distances)
- all the previous advice on acclimatizing rifle
- all the advice previous on minimal lube (I use a really light wipe of Duralube... the oil treatment stuff. Very slick)
- don't forget your trigger, you want minimal to no lube on that as well.
- don't blow on scope lenses as stated above, also as above lens covers. Consider clear covers incase you have to make an emergency shot
- gloves or wool trigger mitt inside of heavy mitts. Tie the heavy mitts to the end of your coat arms... little kid style so you can pull glove/trigger mitt out of heavy mitt quickly and you won't drop it
- I use a Cdn. Mil snow scrim that is semi stiff. Attach it with ranger bands or the like to front and rear of scope. Drape it over your head/rifle action to help keep blowing snow out of action. Also covers it a bit while carrying.
- hand warmers help
- If you use a bipod carry something solid to place on ground for setting bipod on
- a chunk of codura or the like to set on ground incase you need to set something on it (data book etc...)

I know you were asking about the rifle operation and said you're GTG but hopefully some of the other tips might give some ideas.
 
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