Shotguns in the cold... sorta question.

[bigalexe]

Well today I spent most of the day helping teach firearm safety and watching boy scouts shoot shotguns. Overall it went very well and we had no injuries or other incidents. Our two main guns were NEF Pardner Break-Actions, primarily for the purpose of simplicity.

However the day started at about 12 degrees Farenheit and was a dry sunny day. I had 2 issues occur and am wondering if they are common in such cold. I should note that both guns were outside for a few hours before being fired because they were not what we were primarily shooting.

-The first issue was that the PLASTIC magazine follower on the Remington 870 Express 20ga seemed to be frozen in place. I am wondering if this is because the magazine could have gotten cold and shrunk around the plastic.

-Second issue is that my Mossberg 500A was a little stiff in the action which it hasn't been for quite some time, however after running 6 shells through it under near-rapid-fire (its a pump) it seemed fine. Is this again due to the cold and then maybe the action warming up and running smoother?

 

[rcmodel]

Very likely both guns still have old dried factory packing grease in them.

For best extreme cold weather performance, it all needs to be cleaned out completely with solvent, and the guns re-lubed with a light synthetic gun oil, or Dry Lube spray, that will not turn to thick gummy glue in cold weather.

rc

 

[oldpuppymax]

Twelve degrees? You're a better man than I am! The older I get, the more I like to be warm.

 

[bigalexe]

Actually both guns are worn-in. The 870 is some years old and has a record including quail and deer. The Mossberg has been used for a year by me, shot trap weekly during the warmer months. Both guns just got cleaned this last weekend, however the Mossberg did just get a new 24" Barrel that had a liberal amount of grease on it of some sort and that may be causing the issue. I did not clean the 870, it's not mine and I have remembered that it has a duck plug in it which increases the stiffness of the spring considerably.

Oldpuppy thanks for the complement, does this mean I can share a table with Gunga-Din?

 

[AcceptableUserName]

Not reeeeeallly, in my experiences at least. I shot my 870 in colder than that and I didn't have any of the issues you stated. In fact come to think of it, I've shot quite a few guns in that kind of cold...rifles, handguns, shotguns and they do pretty OK.

 

[Virginian]

Unless someone put the plug in wrong, it shouldn't increase the spring tension noticably at all.

 

[CajunBass]

It was cold. Your lube, whatever it is, got cold and slowed things down until it warmed up a bit. I've seen it a lot with fishing reels, although it wasn't that cold. Takes a few casts to warm them up enough to get them working right.

 

[bigalexe]

Alright thanks, there is no guarantee the plug was installed correctly. I saw how my friend's dad installed the plug on his 870 and it was... incorrect (lets just say don't point the magazine at your face when you take the cap off).

You guys have been a good help and I guess the lesson is that when I take guns out into bitter cold, I need to be prepared for hang-ups.

 

[rcmodel]

duck plug in it which increases the stiffness of the spring considerably

A plug just drops inside the mag spring and has nothing at all to do with stiffness.

bitter cold, I need to be prepared for hang-ups.

Cold should have no effect on a guns operation either if correct lubes are applied sparingly.

If your guns don't work in cold weather, there is something wrong with either them, the oil you used, or the ammo.

What can happen in extreme cold weather is condensation / ice freezing up the gun if you keep running inside to get warm and take the gun in & out with you.

Once it's cold, leave it outside so it stays cold and condensation won't form on or in it.

rc

 

[Tim the student]

Not reeeeeallly, in my experiences at least. I shot my 870 in colder than that and I didn't have any of the issues you stated.

I agree with AcceptableUserName. I have also shot my 870 in weather colder than that with no issues. Seen other guns shoot fine in that weather too.

For me personally, before winter, I clean them up, with a tiny bit of CLP on a rag. I use just enough that you can feel it on your fingers. I haven't had any issues yet.