Cold Weather Shooting

[Sir Henry]

Cold weather can produce it’s own problems when it comes to cold weather shooting. Actions can jam and firing pins can stick if you lube them wrong. I might have trouble in sub-zero temperatures but it never gets that cold here.

I’m not quite sure what it is about cold weather but I’ve found I shoot better in cold weather. Maybe it’s because the barrel remains cold or because my eyes tear up just the right about which enables me to see better.

Or maybe it’s because I might be the only one on the range. What ever the case is I plan on going on Friday if the road down to the range is passable. The floors are mostly finished and I can return for short periods (bad smells from the finish) to be more thoughtful of what I want to shoot.

[JEBar]

Cold weather can produce it’s own problems when it comes to cold weather shooting.

the older I get, the more problems it creates for me .... simply put, the colder it gets, the more my joints hurt .... the more they hurt, the harder it gets for me to do much of anything .... tip of my cap to you guys who don't just function but do really well in handling cold temps

[BigAl52]

Not much of a cold weather shooter myself just because I dont like the cold anymore. That Cowboy up north is tougher than the rest when it comes to that in my book. Cold and 60 mph winds dont keep him from the range. Hope you are able to go Gene.

[Sir Henry]

Not much of a cold weather shooter myself just because I dont like the cold anymore. That Cowboy up north is tougher than the rest when it comes to that in my book. Cold and 60 mph winds dont keep him from the range. Hope you are able to go Gene.

I’m not nearly as tough as RR. I don’t like it when it gets into the teens. At least for shooting. I’ll camp in the cold.

[RanchRoper]

Think maybe the coldest range day I've had was around zero. Guns work fine but my arthritic hands don't.

[JEBar]

Guns work fine but my arthritic hands don't.

sadly understood

[fortyshooter]

Still mid 50's and foggy/damp around here in Central Va. and that is supposed to change come next week when normal Jan. highs will be upper 30's/low 40's. We just finished our evening dog walk and I saw a dogwood tree with buds already!

[Mistered]

I don't consider 30 ish weather to be 'cold' as long as the day is nice with some sun.

Here in Central Oregon we can settle into the 30's mid winter but it's easy to get used to and I'll go shooting if it's moderately nice.

A couple years ago a friend and I went out one day and it was 22 degrees and we set up and after only a few minutes we decided it was just too cold and packed it up. We could have started a fire but lunch at a local tavern sounded much better!

[clovishound]

Well, Sir Henry, this brings to mind a camping trip I made to Washington State when I was a young pup. Actually it was Air Force Survival training. The first night out in the field it was 17 below. Having been born, and grew up in central Florida this was quite a shock to me.

For contrast, we are having unseasonably warm weather here in South Carolina, and I am headed out to go hunting shortly. The high is supposed to reach nearly 80 today. I bought a short sleeve camo shirt on clearance yesterday in order to be appropriately attired.

The indoor range Clovispup and I visited yesterday was very comfortably in the 70s. It will dip down into 60s on cold days. Looking forward to a trip to the outdoor range later this month. Hopefully, we won't have to deal with sub freezing temps.

[cooperhawk]

OK, I'll put this out for what it's worth. I am in my eightieth year. Yup. old fart. About twenty years ago my hands started to hurt really bad. It was painful to even touch things let alone fire a pistol. My cousin's wife is a nurse and she told me that their dog got old and was crippled and they found a remedy. She suggested I try the same drug. I did and in a month it worked wonders. Twenty years later I still take it twice a day and my Doctor tells others to take it as well.
It is called Gluecosamine with Condrotine. Not sure on the spelling. It's over the counter and we get it at the local Walmart.
My Doc says it works on the membranes in the joints. Whatever I know it works.
I had an old black lab. She was my sweetheart, but she got really crippled so I started opening the capsules and sprinkling it on her dog food. It worked wonders for her as well.

Check with your Doc if you feel the need, but I have been telling old coots about this for years.

[JEBar]

my wife takes Glucosamine with Chondroitin and says she feels it helps her a little .... our orthopedists also gives her shots in her knees that really do wonders for her

[Sir Henry]

Well, Sir Henry, this brings to mind a camping trip I made to Washington State when I was a young pup. Actually it was Air Force Survival training. The first night out in the field it was 17 below. Having been born, and grew up in central Florida this was quite a shock to me.

For contrast, we are having unseasonably warm weather here in South Carolina, and I am headed out to go hunting shortly. The high is supposed to reach nearly 80 today. I bought a short sleeve camo shirt on clearance yesterday in order to be appropriately attired.

The indoor range Clovispup and I visited yesterday was very comfortably in the 70s. It will dip down into 60s on cold days. Looking forward to a trip to the outdoor range later this month. Hopefully, we won't have to deal with sub freezing temps.

I’m going to check into this.

[Mags]

I read recently in Popular Mechanics that if you use heated forearm wraps, the warmed blood from your forearms going into your fingers keeps the lube in your finger joints warm enough that the joints won't stiffen.

[jkrijt]

I love cold weather shooting, only half the number of people at the shooting range so plenty of room and time to shoot

[Sir Henry]

I read recently in Popular Mechanics that if you use heated forearm wraps, the warmed blood from your forearms going into your fingers keeps the lube in your finger joints warm enough that the joints won't stiffen.

Never heard of them. I’ve been known to shoot a lot to warm my hands on the barrel.

[clovishound]

Well, Sir Henry, this brings to mind a camping trip I made to Washington State when I was a young pup. Actually it was Air Force Survival training. The first night out in the field it was 17 below. Having been born, and grew up in central Florida this was quite a shock to me.

For contrast, we are having unseasonably warm weather here in South Carolina, and I am headed out to go hunting shortly. The high is supposed to reach nearly 80 today. I bought a short sleeve camo shirt on clearance yesterday in order to be appropriately attired.

The indoor range Clovispup and I visited yesterday was very comfortably in the 70s. It will dip down into 60s on cold days. Looking forward to a trip to the outdoor range later this month. Hopefully, we won't have to deal with sub freezing temps.

I’m going to check into this.

What? Air Force Survival Training? I'm not sure they would let you in.

Unseasonably warm weather in South Carolina? I can send you a screen shot of our local weather page if that helps.

An indoor range? They are really great when it is hot, cold, raining, or frogs are falling from the sky. Their biggest downside is the cost and you rarely can find them that have 200 meter ranges. I'm really lucky in that there happens to be one within a few minutes drive of my house that runs me $125 a year for unlimited use. That includes a card for the Pup since she is family and lives at the same address.

[Sir Henry]

Well, Sir Henry, this brings to mind a camping trip I made to Washington State when I was a young pup. Actually it was Air Force Survival training. The first night out in the field it was 17 below. Having been born, and grew up in central Florida this was quite a shock to me.

For contrast, we are having unseasonably warm weather here in South Carolina, and I am headed out to go hunting shortly. The high is supposed to reach nearly 80 today. I bought a short sleeve camo shirt on clearance yesterday in order to be appropriately attired.

The indoor range Clovispup and I visited yesterday was very comfortably in the 70s. It will dip down into 60s on cold days. Looking forward to a trip to the outdoor range later this month. Hopefully, we won't have to deal with sub freezing temps.

I’m going to check into this.

What? Air Force Survival Training? I'm not sure they would let you in.

Unseasonably warm weather in South Carolina? I can send you a screen shot of our local weather page if that helps.

An indoor range? They are really great when it is hot, cold, raining, or frogs are falling from the sky. Their biggest downside is the cost and you rarely can find them that have 200 meter ranges. I'm really lucky in that there happens to be one within a few minutes drive of my house that runs me $125 a year for unlimited use. That includes a card for the Pup since she is family and lives at the same address.

I though I was quoting the post above yours. I agree the Air Force doesn’t want me.

[Sir Henry]

my wife takes Glucosamine with Chondroitin and says she feels it helps her a little .... our orthopedists also gives her shots in her knees that really do wonders for her

I’m going to check into this.

[JEBar]

I’m going to check into this.

my wife has been taking it daily for over a year .... she started out using the name brand Osteo-Bifex for the first couple of months .... when she ran out while we were traveling she ended up having to go with a generic .... she couldn't tell any difference so she's taken a generic every since .... she says positive results weren't instantaneous ..... it was more that one day she realized her joins felt better and has taken it every since

[RanchRoper]

If you guys remove that weird wooden fore end on your rifles, that barrel will heat up just like a little furnace...