Extreme cold and your edc

[voodoo304]

What precautions are people taking with their ccw with regards to the extreme cold temps (-35 wind chill) that's being predicted?
Are you worried about condensation and that condensation freezing?

Possibly the oil you use getting really thick inhibiting proper slide travel?

Do you switch to IWB carry only to keep it close to your body and warm?

Just curious what, if anything, people are doing.

 

[Snapdragon]

Good question. What about the ones that get left in cars? Does the extreme cold (or heat for that matter) have any affect on them?

 

[gregkl]

It won't get that cold next to your body unless you are in the process of freezing to death. Many a hunter have sat outside in temps like this with the firearm completely exposed to the elements with no problems.

The worst that could happen is when you bring it into a warm environment, it may create condensation. Dry it off and you will be fine.

 

[DoggyDaddy]

Don't let anyone talk you into sticking your tongue on it!

 

[Snapdragon]

Keep Miley Cyrus away from it, then. She'll lick anything.

 

[Tomc1947]

I'm more worried about my water pipes.

 

[Sheepdog Gear]

It won't get that cold next to your body unless you are in the process of freezing to death. Many a hunter have sat outside in temps like this with the firearm completely exposed to the elements with no problems.

The worst that could happen is when you bring it into a warm environment, it may create condensation. Dry it off and you will be fine.

+1

Use a higher end lube and you shouldn't have to worry about freezing. I use CLP. It's synthetic and won't realistically freeze. I've heard stories of Hoppes and even Rem Oil setting up in the cold.

 

[possum_128]

I'm keeping mine in a fur lined holster to keep it warm and happy.

 

[Donjr721]

I'm sticking toe heaters all over mine. It was shivering yesterday.

Just kidding, I have noticed my fobus holster gets really tight when it's cold.

 

[Expat]

I already carry in IWB, so no concerns at all.
Like gregkl referred to, I have kept shotguns in the trunk to go hunting way too early in the morning and they functioned fine in sub zero temps many times.

 

[Slawburger]

Keep Miley Cyrus away from it, then. She'll lick anything.

Ok, that was funny. That girl has gone off the deep end.

Regarding the OP, I don't plan on staying outside in temps so low that my oil would thicken. It is however, a good idea to wipe down your firearms if you take them from extreme cold to a warm area.

 

[HDSilvrStreak]

What I'm mostly going to be doing is keeping them, and myself, inside!

 

[The Keymaster]

Keep in mind, that wind chill, or real feel temperatures are relative to exposed skin. A firearm does not react to wind chill. Sure its going to be cold, but a properly maintained firearm should be fine.

 

[MCgrease08]

Am I worried about my Glock freezing up? No. Not really.

[video=youtube;dt_mUm75uoI]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dt_mUm75uoI&feature=youtube_gdata_player[/video]

 

[1775usmarine]

Now what about the ammo left in a car subjected to the extremes every yr will this effect anything?I keep mine in the car full time out of sight out of mind for you peeping toms. I have the same personal defense loaded in it for about a yr though I did a few months ago give it another cleaning and rotate the mag. I work midnights on the railroad so I will be cursing all of you snug as bugs in your warm beds or buildings these next few days.

 

[Jackson]

The best answer to this question is to go out and test your gear the way you carry it. In my opinion, if you are carrying a gun you should be trained and practicing frequently. You should be practicing in all kinds of conditions. Hot summers, freezing cold winters, mud, dust, clear sunny days, whatever. After you put 10,000 or so rounds down the pipe in all these various conditions, you will have a really good idea how your pistol performs in those conditions. More importantly, you'll have a really good idea how well you perform in all of those conditions (probably the more necessary lesson).

If you have a decent pistol, and you aren't over-lubricating it with cheap lube, it will probably operate just fine in any condition the average person will likely face in Indiana.

 

[churchmouse]

Do not leave it in the car at below zero. They will screw up if the oil gets stiff. Everything gets stiff below zero....Well, almost everything.

 

[printcraft]

I'm keeping mine in a fur lined holster to keep it warm and happy.

Eeeewwwwwwww

 

[DoggyDaddy]

+1

Use a higher end lube and you shouldn't have to worry about freezing. I use CLP. It's synthetic and won't realistically freeze. I've heard stories of Hoppes and even Rem Oil setting up in the cold.

I use CLP too. I tried Frog Lube for a minute, but I recently noticed that my guns that were lubed with it got "gummy" while stored in my safe which is in a cool room in our house. I don't know if anyone else has had that issue, but no more Frog Lube for me. The guns that were lubed with CLP had no such issues.

 

[DoggyDaddy]

Do not leave it in the car at below zero. They will screw up if the oil gets stiff. Everything gets stiff below zero....Well, almost everything.

Yes... you don't want your gun barrel to go "turtle" on you...