CaptainVane
Colt ‘51 & Remington ‘58 .36; Colt ‘48 .31
First winter with my BP pistols. Any tips, tricks, words of wisdom I need to know when the weather gets below 35-40?
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Winter at the range
- Thread starter CaptainVane
- Start date
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64Springer
75 Cal.
Make certain you're using lubricants that won't congeal in close to freezing temperatures.
Stay warm.
That's easy for you and me to say...
CaptainVane
Colt ‘51 & Remington ‘58 .36; Colt ‘48 .31
I use TC bore butter, a little dab over the ball. It gets hard when cold. I will keep inside jacket.
I was thinking like is the Uberti metallury more susceptible to cracking when brittle?
I was thinking like is the Uberti metallury more susceptible to cracking when brittle?
Proper capper if you don't already have one. Try putting those little bugers on with cold fingers 
. Im a no lube guy when it comes to round ball. I've done the bore butter under my jacket before, it can get harder than you think. Might wanna tuck it in before you leave the house, saw one guy tape hot hands hand warmers around his lube before. For cleaning i always have a small spray bottle with soapy water in my jacket, soap will help it from freezing. I have a nylon tube coming off the tip of it for easily spraying down the barrel. Then pull a patch thru tied to a string, like a bore snake. Also a glass bead on the other end so the string drops thru easy.
. Im a no lube guy when it comes to round ball. I've done the bore butter under my jacket before, it can get harder than you think. Might wanna tuck it in before you leave the house, saw one guy tape hot hands hand warmers around his lube before. For cleaning i always have a small spray bottle with soapy water in my jacket, soap will help it from freezing. I have a nylon tube coming off the tip of it for easily spraying down the barrel. Then pull a patch thru tied to a string, like a bore snake. Also a glass bead on the other end so the string drops thru easy.
This will be my first winter with black powder so I appreciate all these little tips.
Here in Wisconsin, I'm lucky if I can get to an outdoor range in weather I can stand twice a month Dec - Mar. I can't shoot black powder at my indoor range, so my BP shooting will be pretty limited real soon.
Here in Wisconsin, I'm lucky if I can get to an outdoor range in weather I can stand twice a month Dec - Mar. I can't shoot black powder at my indoor range, so my BP shooting will be pretty limited real soon.
Sam squanch
69 Cal.
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1- build a heated long shed. 2 - install an exhaust fan. 3- old wood stove in the corner. I refuse to venture outside when the mercury drops below 25 degrees. I shoot pellet pistols in my heated workshop….that’s it.
Coldest I ever shot my flinter was -15F...gun worked fine, hands not so much.
I can remember freezing my hands and feet off at the state range in Northwest Jersey. Suffered because I just had to get out. When it was all said and done and got home..the soup tasted better...the wife looked better....and the dogs loved me a little better....
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Don't use Pyrodex in really cold weather as it doesn't want to light off very well and try some winter grade windshield wash without peroxide in it for patch lube.
TDM
Cannon
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Just go easy on the lube. Maybe a crisco/olive or canola oil mix. Even straight olive/canola or Ballistol if it’s really cold. Never gets cold enough here for me to go to such extremes. Late fall and winter is the only time I can shoot comfortably, 40’s and 50’s.
Sean E Bug
32 cal. or less
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wear fingerless mittens.
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As you age you will find doing anything with your hands gets harder and harder when temperatures dip to around zero.
Enjoy winter camping/shooting while your young.
Enjoy winter camping/shooting while your young.
I love shooting in winter. BP seems more stable. nice and dry and cold. more consistent ignition compared to heat and humidity of summer. don't over dress if you have to run between targets. extra pockets are handy to stash gloves and hat if you over heat..
I often end up with no hat or gloves in single digit temps. YMMV . if you have a big snowbank to use as a back drop it makes for great easy harvesting of lead for re smelting in the spring.
I often end up with no hat or gloves in single digit temps. YMMV . if you have a big snowbank to use as a back drop it makes for great easy harvesting of lead for re smelting in the spring.
CaptainVane
Colt ‘51 & Remington ‘58 .36; Colt ‘48 .31
I wouldnt leave the house at zero, winter day temps in MD are typically in mid 30s to 40. Doable at outdoor range..
Im hoping it keeps the 9mm guys away.
Im hoping it keeps the 9mm guys away.
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We shoot indoors after October. Cold (below 25 degrees F.) didn't bother me much until I turned 60 or so but it's really starting to bother me now in my 70's having to work out doors . Shooting isn't much fun for me now in cold weather in general and muzzle loading with bare fingers in particular.
Man where did the years go to so fast !
Snowing here today. Planning a camp/shoot weekend in November.
At least 2/3rds of our primitive biathlon shooters are over 60... many over 70. must be a New England thing with the weather. On really cold days they have fire pits at the shooting stations to help keep the volunteers functioning.
