Maybe a dumb question, but figured it could be a good topic of discussion!
A coworker and I were talking about going out and doing some target shooting in the local State Forests that are open for it once firearm season comes to an end around where we’re at (central MN), as I, myself, am not opposed to getting outside and continuing to do some shooting when the temps start dropping, to an extent (not trying to go out and freeze my butt off when it’s -40f).
He brought up that he’d be up for going and joining me come Spring when temps start to come back up, as he won’t do any outdoor shooting when the temps fall below freezing as it’s hard on the guns, specifically the barrels, do go from dead cold, to hot, and then the rapid cooling off the cold temps around here bring.
I don’t know. I see where he’s coming from, and can get behind the science of it, but I just don’t know that it’s that big of a deal. I’m also no expert in firearms, or metallurgy, but the tinfoil hat side of me figures if my firearm can’t function for half the year because it’s too cold and will just break from using it, then maybe it’s not that reliable of weapon.
Now, for some context, my AR is just a basic PSA upper kit with the Freedom Barrel, and not the nicer FN barrels or anything, so maybe there’s some weight to the argument, but one would think it this was THAT big of a deal, then half the worlds militaries weapons would be useless for half the year as well.
The other half of me also thinks, my rifle build came in at only about $450, so I’m also not that concerned about treating it like it’s some gucci gun that can’t see the slightest bit of abuse because I have too much invested in it. I also have my own threshold of what I’m willing to go out and tolerate as far as cold goes, and likely wouldn’t be out if temps are below 0-10f, but I do have interest in testing the tools I do have, to see how well they’ll actually hold up, in the, hopefully unlikely, event I’d ever need to rely on them to protect myself/family, regardless of what the weather is doing! Not that I’m ever just out and about with a rifle strapped to my back anyways, but I would assume all the same logic could apply to handguns, as well!
What do you guys think? Do you have your own temperature threshold you’re willing to go out and shoot in? Is it because of reliability/shortening of lifetime of components concern, or more just personal “I don’t want to be cold, it doesn’t sound fun” reasons? Do you have weapons you’re willing to subject to more “adverse” conditions over others?
