How cold is too cold for you to shoot?

[sportster73hp]

Was supposed to shoot a match this morning. Alarm goes off and then my phone rings. It’s my shooting partner/carpool buddy. He tells me it is 0 degrees F at the range and he is bailing out on me, staying home in front of the fire.
On the way home from the club last night my car said -14 to a+2 degree. I text the range officer for the club and tell her we weren’t coming.
My question is “ what temp is too cold to shoot a paper match “?

 

[Phil Coffins]

45*

 

[mooman76]

It really depends on where you are and what you are use to. I AK I shot at 13 below but you get use to colder temps there and if you don't get out when it's cold you go stir crazy.

 

[sportster73hp]

I was at range Wednesday sighting in a new rifle and it was 25. Cold but I survived .

45*

 

[Tom A Hawk]

When is it too cold to shoot? When I can't feel my balls.....

 

[tenngun]

I’ve shot at -15, generally 20 I’m not as comfortable outside

 

[Steve Martin]

When it's not comfortable enough to enjoy it. Our sport costs too much in time and money to go out to the range and then be hating it. Everyone has their own "pain threshold" Mine is 50 degrees, but then I live in Florida so I don't miss many days due to cold days.

 

[moose23]

I don’t go to the range if it’s below freezing. It’s just not enjoyable.

 

[The Crisco Kid]

It really depends on where you are and what you are use to. I AK I shot at 13 below but you get use to colder temps there and if you don't get out when it's cold you go stir crazy.

This is why I left Alaska after 41 years and am now happily shooting in sunny Southern Arizona. I just wish the dang wind didn't blow so much. It's always something!

 

[ord sgt]

If you shoot a caplock rifle or pistol, trying to handle #11 caps when your fingers are numb from the cold is very difficult. Cappers do help. Handling roundball and patching material does become more difficult when you can't feel them.
Working outdoors in winter, most times I was bare handed. I could not work with gloves on my hands and have the sensitivity needed to separate small wires.
If the temperature is below freezing, it's too cold to stand and shoot targets. Carpel tunnel adds to the difficulty too.

 

[B P Maniac Shooter]

I don’t go to the range if it’s below freezing. It’s just not enjoyable.

Me either, I'll pass.

 

[Sidney Smith]

If I have to use gloves, it's too cold to shoot for me. I don't shoot matches, but when I go to the club I don't enjoy shooting if my fingers are numb with cold.

That said, I did hunt yesterday evening and it was 16 degrees. It snowed,, and was the last day of our flintlock season in SE PA. But I was bundled up and had gloves on to keep warm. I will venture out to deer hunt cold or not, as I only need to remove the glove from my trigger hand if I get a shot opportunity.

 

[Bob Stager]

I just got back from shooting and it was 14 outside. We ended up with 29 shooters today and had a great time

 

[Des52]

When I was younger, me and my shooting buddy would shoot our pistols every day no matter the weather, at least 25 rounds. Some days it was a .22 some days our Reminton 58s. That was over 40 years ago and in my old age I prefer warm weather now. We did get to be dam good shots with pistols though. We kept this up for over five years till he took a job out of town.

 

[Phil Coffins]

Cold, no problem, target shooting on they other hand is for fun.
all 887 by Oliver Sudden, on Flickr

 

[andy52]

I have the good fortune of owning a range on my property. It's only 1.5 miles from my house so time and travel aren't a problem.
I usually don't go if it's, under 35-40, one reason is here in Missouri it can be 60 one day and 10 the next but none of it lasts all that long.

 

[Larry (Omaha)]

Was supposed to shoot a match this morning. Alarm goes off and then my phone rings. It’s my shooting partner/carpool buddy. He tells me it is 0 degrees F at the range and he is bailing out on me, staying home in front of the fire.
On the way home from the club last night my car said -14 to a+2 degree. I text the range officer for the club and tell her we weren’t coming.
My question is “ what temp is too cold to shoot a paper match “?

In the old days, temp did not matter. Now that I am a senior, about 35 deg will make me decline. High wind, no matter what the temp is also a big NO!
Larry

 

[ffg]

55, That's what happens when you live in Phoenix

 

[necchi]

My question is “ what temp is too cold to shoot a paper match “?

Well it's never "too cold" for the guns, powder and the paper is it? They'll work no matter,,
It's about the comfort of the shooter, and that's a relative thing.
I'm in Minn, so we know cold,, and 10 degrees in November, is a lot different than 10 degrees in March, we acclimate.
When I was 25 I didn't care what it was, just bundle up in layers and go (same with Ice Fishing).
But now 40yrs later, like Des52, I'm a bit more of a whimp.
Depends on the wind. There seems to be a line between 10-20 degrees, 20's fine, but at 10 with even a light breeze the cold creeps into these old bones pretty quick! Fingers get cold,, the olde ticker ain't pumping like it used too,

 

[sportster73hp]

I just got back from shooting and it was 14 outside. We ended up with 29 shooters today and had a great time

14 is more acceptable. What part of the country are you at?