Shooting in the cold

[JImbothefiveth]

I may head out to the range later today, and it's cold, it was snowing earlier. It's probably above 32 degrees right now though, and above 20 with windchill. Not too cold compared to what we get in winter. My question is: Should I differ from my normal maintnence routine, and use less or more oil, lubricant, cleaner, etc? Also, I was going to oil a bit before heading out, to improve reliability. Should I use a different amount than normal? I don;t have any cold-weather specific oils or the like, just normal Hoppe's.

As an afterthought, can anyone reccomend a brand of gun oil for when it's pretty cold out(20 degrees or less, my favorite time to shoot) and when it's bitterly cold out?(10 degrees or less, before wind chill,)
Thanks!

 

[GRIZ22]

I've used Breakfree on every firearm for about the past 20 years with no problems from 0-100+ F. The only other lubricant I use on firearms is Mobil 1 Synthetic Grease on M1 rifles (M1s need grease) which has worked well in the same temperature range.

Keep in mind wind chill only affects living things and has no effect on your firearm. I was a LE firearms instructor and a lot of agents were fashionistas who would throw on a raid jacket over a sweater and freeze on the range and unable to manipulate firearms effectively. Those that layered and kept their core (torso and head) warm would have no problem even down into teen temperatures. If you keep your core temperature warm your extremities will stay warm. You didn't ask for this but I threw it in anyway.

 

[f4t9r]

If your normal routine is to keep your guns clean and lubed then you do not need to change a thing.
I use FP10

 

[JImbothefiveth]

Thanks for the answers!
GRIZ22, +1 on the layering, I've found it to be very important to staying warm.

 

[The Bushmaster]

Recommend an oil for extreme cold weather? Sure...Hoppe's #9 gun oil. An excellent choice.

Don't oil it anymore then you usually do. If it's raining at the range take a t-shirt that is lightly saturated with Hoppe's and put it in a zip-lock bag and take it with you to the range to wipe the gun down every once in a while...

 

[ByAnyMeans]

"Don't oil it anymore then you usually do. If it's raining at the range take a t-shirt that is lightly saturated with Hoppe's and put it in a zip-lock bag and take it with you to the range to wipe the gun down every once in a while..."



Great tip, thanks.