What preparation does your firearm need for a cold weather hunt?

In what way could failure to properly prepare it cause a blowup?

Cover the muzzle with a condom, barrel iceing is rare but can be a problem.

Trigger, bolt and firing pin clean and lubed only with a synthetic lube like CLP or Eezox is all I do. Cold to me is when ice or rain is no longer a problem, that far below zero is rarely snows and never rains.

If you barrel is going to blow up it's not because you didn't prep it for cold weather, it's because you have something in the barrel that doesn't belong there. Something like a bad load, a stuck bullet, mud or dirt. Clean dry barrels just do not blow up for no reason or simply because they got cold. I suppose you might have trouble with a clean dry barrel at somewhere well past 40 below, but I am not going to be out there in that cold.

quote:

Originally posted by miles58:
If you barrel is going to blow up it's not because you didn't prep it for cold weather, it's because you have something in the barrel that doesn't belong there. Something like a bad load, a stuck bullet, mud or dirt.

Barrel obstructions are problems regardless of temperature not because of temperature.

Let me rephrase. Is there anything about a firearm that is more prone to structural failure in cold weather. If so just what kind of "prep" can be done to alleviate that risk?

Petroleum based oil will thicken with colder temps. that will cause a stuck action, fail to feed, fail to fire, eject etc. Degrease and lube with a synthetic and use only a few drop here and there thats it.

As for structural issues... Over all None. The bolt action rifle has been in colder, dirtier climates then we ever want to go into for sport. Just keep it clean and protect the ejection port and muzzle from debris.

I just de-grease mine with a good cleaner and only lube it when done for the year.
Out here you can get so much dust in every nook and cranny so usually I lube sparingly.

I concur the need to degrease the firing pin, spring, inside of bolt, etc. I have a custom Mauser with a speed lock that has failed me twice in cold weather.

quote:

As for structural issues... Over all None. The bolt action rifle has been in colder, dirtier climates then we ever want to go into for sport. Just keep it clean and protect the ejection port and muzzle from debris.Cover the muzzle with a condom use Eezox or GunButter ,it's what we now use regardless of conditions .

All good advice .

Some years ago I was hunting mule deer in North Dakota when it was below zerro. The fireing pin dident move when trying to shoot a deer. The rancher only had some w d 40 . Took the bolt out and let it heat up then blasted the bolt with w d 40. Never had a problem since then when hunting in cold temps..I know that w d 40 is not the best gun lube ,but it worked for me.

quote:

quote:
Originally posted by miles58:
If you barrel is going to blow up it's not because you didn't prep it for cold weather, it's because you have something in the barrel that doesn't belong there. Something like a bad load, a stuck bullet, mud or dirt.



Barrel obstructions are problems regardless of temperature not because of temperature.

Let me rephrase. Is there anything about a firearm that is more prone to structural failure in cold weather. If so just what kind of "prep" can be done to alleviate that risk?


Howard
Moses Lake, Washington USA

Howard,

Specifically. You need to remove the bolt open it and make sure it is free of oil and gunk from dirt getting in the oil. The main problem cold causes is sticky firing pins due to thickened oil. Clean it squeaky clean then very light lube with CLP or Eezox. Same for the trigger. If the gun and ammo are colder than -20F the pressures will be much less too. The steel might be more brittle but with lower pressure it's not a problem. At -40 and below it become a lot easier to wreck stuff, but people don't function for shit at those temps either. The most extreme situation I could imagine would be an extended arctic trip with a rifle for polar bear defense. Keeping it clear of ice and snow is a problem you might worry about. If it STAYS cold (below zero) it should stay functional. Ice will sublimate away pretty fast at those temps and a few snow crystals will not be a problem. The biggest problems you will have environmentally will come from 32 degrees down to maybe 10 degrees or so.

I do not have a good idea about what happens to synthetic stocks at very cold temperatures. I would suspect some of the cheap ones might be more prone to breakage, The manufacturers would be the best people to ask about that.

Howard, I come from cold country, NE Minnesota; not quite as cold as AK but sdamn near. Deer season a few years ago opening day it was -19F.

The thing you need to do is disassemble the gun and make sure ALL the parts are oil and dirt free. NO OIL. You don't need it.

If you plan on getting into a warm place at night, don't take the gun in with you. It will start to frost up and sweat and cause moisture to accumulate. Leave it outside in the cold.

Jim, that is exactly what we do here when on traplines or winter traveling. Occasionally a firing pin freezes up and I've heard them just piss on the gun when it fails to fire...laughing, it works I hear. I break mine down at the first of winter and wipe it all clean and lightly oil with M-Pro or Break Free and wipe it down...never had a problem all these yrs. Electrical tape the bore and keep outside when away from home.