Will hot or cold outside temps affect firearms?

[Joewisc]

I seldom leave my guns in the trunk of the car and where I live it can get real cold -- like subzero temps are common. Likewise, in the hot weather, temps can rise to above 100 degree inside a vehicle. Was wondering if the extreme temperatures have any lasting affect on gun materials, whether steel, polymer or whatever.

 

[feralmerril]

Going indoors from extream cold outside might make a gun sweat and rust I heard. I was from your state. My dad had a BAR freeze up on him. Had to get degreased or whatever.

 

[LVSteve]

Some wood does not do well with extreme cold. The Finns went to a birch stock with a join in it to combat issues with single piece stocks. I don't know how that works, but apparently it did in two wars against the USSR in the period 1939-1945.

The Arctic testing of the original AR-15 turned up big accuracy issues and they changed the twist rate of the barrels.

 

[Rule3]

What Ferell said is definitely true a gun will seat going from outside cold to indoor heat. Wipe them down.

Temp will affect/effect ammo depending on the powder. Some are very temp sensitive.

Extreme cold will shrink wood, hot expand but this is real extremes.

One of the good things about polymer (Zytel by Dupont) is it is is almost impervious to temp changes, most chemicals and other things that would tear up metal.
DuPont sent me all the test data and more info for rocket scientists on Zytel and it is amazing stuff. The original Nylon 66 use in the Remington 22 rifles.

 

[4Js]

Long term effect? On a well maintain weapon I'd say no. I've got a Remington 870 that saw mostly trunk duty for 25 years in outside temperatures that ranged from 113 degrees to -20 degrees. God only knows what the temperature was inside the black trunk on that 113 degree day. I'd still bet my life on that 870.

Short term effect? Yes. Metal and polymer will expand and contract with temperature variations. If you go from inside to outside or out to in, moisture condensation will occur.

The expansion and contraction is hard on optics and mounts. screws will loosen up if not held in by an anaerobic adhesive such as Loctite. Glass and metal expand and contract at different rates, and this will make the difference in cheap and premium optics very apparent. Also a cheap optic with a lighted reticule may not work properly. I've used my Aimpoint when it was -36 one night.

Lubricants need to be addressed. During a long, hot summer in a vehicle, lubricants will evaporate. Some such as WD 40 will leave a god awful residue. I actually saw the piston on a Mini 14 'glued' to the gas block by the residue left from an evaporated lubricant.

During extremely cold weather cheap lubricants gel. This will effect the function of all the moving parts particularly the firing pin. It can actually freeze in place. I use CLP, but I'm thinking of changing to a synthetic engine oil.

Ammunition is also effected by temperature variation, much more so than the firearm.

 

[pownal55]

Whenever I bring a gun in from cold temperatures I put it in a soft case and let it warm over a period of hours before taking it out, no condensation.

 

[pinduck]

Mine all snuggle down in the safe in this weather, I have to offer +P rounds to even get them to show any interest whatsoever.

 

[Maximumbob54]

I know my grandfather's BAR froze on him on a hunt when I was a kid. It ended up needing to be detail stripped later on to get it right. He hiked back to get his backup and kept it in his coat. Years later I read how in the Korean War the soldiers used dry lube like powdered graphite to keep their guns running in the extreme cold as oil would freeze and grease would harden too much. I know from a buddy that Remoil will freeze up an action in the cold.

 

[Steve in Vermont]

Whenever I bring a gun in from cold temperatures I put it in a soft case and let it warm over a period of hours before taking it out, no condensation.

You got it. Just wrapping it in a (cold) blanket and letting it warm slowly will help prevent moisture from forming due to the sudden change in temp. You can also do this with cameras, powers tools, or any other objects that you don't want to expose to moisture. Going from warm to cold is no problem.

 

[HELLSING]

I have a question for ya guys. I have a pretty big garage detached from my home, and wanted to put a gun SAFE in there. One of the nice lined fire-proof ones than humanly can not be picked up. If I put my rifles and pistols in there will the temperature from the cold/heat mess with my scopes and red-dots?

 

[arjay]

I have a question for ya guys. I have a pretty big garage detached from my home, and wanted to put a gun SAFE in there. One of the nice lined fire-proof ones than humanly can not be picked up. If I put my rifles and pistols in there will the temperature from the cold/heat mess with my scopes and red-dots?

As long as you don't get rapid temp changes ,it should be fine.Bolt it to the slab as well as the wall.

 

[The Big D]

Temperature extremes...within a short time frame...would seem the only problem. (With condensation issues.) Not sure how that often that would ever occur in real life is the question; rarely, I presume/hope.

Be safe.

 

[TheHobbyist]

Greetings Joe--

Good question. Bring the firearm indoors; naturally, it will gradually rise to room temperature or your standard storage temp.

It's nothing to be too concerned about, but I understand. We spend a lot on our hobby and wish to protect our investments.

If it is a carry piece, I would recommend regular maintenance in the winter months as is the case for the summer.

I have friends that have been doing that for close to 50 years. I'm still a tenderfoot in comparison.

 

[TheHobbyist]

I would note, however, that you would obviously not want to take it from an extreme cold situation and throw it in a gun case--the resulting condensation would not be welcomed.