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Page AR-15 » AR Discussions
AR Sponsor: bravocompany
Posted: 12/13/2010 7:07:41 AM EST
Does anybody here have extensive experience with the AR15/M16 platform in sub freezing conditions? If so, what are your experiences and what sort of care is required in addition to regular cleaning and oiling? Also, what sort of lubricants seem to work best?

Thanks!
Link Posted: 12/13/2010 7:17:33 AM EST
[#1]
1. Use whatever you typically use to clean and lubricate your AR.
2. Store it inside soft or hard case of your choice, until spring.
3.Use AK...
Link Posted: 12/13/2010 7:36:10 AM EST
[#2]
Use slip2000 or CLP something rated for freezing conditions ARs will work just as good as AKs in the cold.It wouldnt make a difference wether you went from freezing to warm inside with an AR or AK once the cold weapon sweats and condensation builds up it needs to be cleaned before going back in the cold if not both an AR and AK will freeze up.If that condition could stop the mighty M1 rifle in Korea then any weapon is susceptible to this..

My dads a Korea vet 52 and 53 he knows it can happen and he didnt relish having to piss on his rifle to make it run again.AKs are not the do all end all of combat rifles.The same could happen to any weapon not maintained and cared for in any given climate and weather.Ask 10th mountain division or any special forces,seals,marines or troops stationed in cold and arctic climates or that operate in those conditions if their M16s work in the cold...because they do.I do alot of shooting in Maine during the winter up in Unity and my rifles never failed.I use slip2000 EWL and slip2000 grease on my DI ARs and Osprey piston ARs all perform fine when run hard.

Theres no denying the AK is tough an any climate but its not perfect and can and has failed and with that its still a 3rd world piece of stamped crap that can and will seize as well if not cared for.Over the years guys in the sand box will tell you stories of how they can and have failed when filled with sand or when it rusts shut from wet exposure and its not cared for.The M16 is way more corrosion resistant for sure.
Link Posted: 12/13/2010 7:56:11 AM EST
[#3]
Quoted:
Does anybody here have extensive experience with the AR15/M16 platform in sub freezing conditions? If so, what are your experiences and what sort of care is required in addition to regular cleaning and oiling? Also, what sort of lubricants seem to work best?

Thanks!


search the AK HTF, threads every year
Link Posted: 12/13/2010 1:52:03 PM EST
[#4]
I just use a light coating of CLP on everything, never had a problem even in sub zero temps.
If I am only going to be inside for a little while I just leave the rifle out in the cold so it doesn't sweat.
Whenever I bring the rifle in for a while I make sure it gets time to heat up and dry off before I go back out.
The big thing is to make sure your rifle stays free of water so the moisture doesnt freeze things up.
Link Posted: 12/13/2010 2:10:33 PM EST
[#5]
I have had my A2 carbine sweat going in and out from our cabin in MN. Never to the point of seizing it up though.
That being said I have never got it wet and froze it. If that is the case any gun could freeze up if it was wet enough and exposed to freezing temps.
Link Posted: 12/13/2010 2:14:10 PM EST
[#6]
I've never done anything different with my gun in the cold.  I've thrown it in the snow after getting it pretty hot, let it sit for an hour in the snow, and then went back to shooting.  It never struck me to treat it differently lol
Link Posted: 12/13/2010 5:14:56 PM EST
[#7]
I suppose that everything being equal you would want to use a lower viscosity lubricant in cold weather.  However this presupposes that there is a problem in the first place.  I do wonder about the fact that the aluminum upper receiver has a much higher coefficient of expansion than the Bolt carrier.  It would seem that the upper receiver is going to contract more than the bolt carrier as the temperature goes down, so the bolt carrier will get tighter in the receiver.  But again, that this could be a problem presupposes that the bolt carrier is as tight as it can be when at warmer temperatures.  Try sticking your gun in the freezer and see if anything gets really tight, or the oil you use gets really viscous.  If you have either problem then yo need to either change lubricant or slightly sand down the bolt carrier or inside of the upper receiver.
Link Posted: 12/13/2010 6:12:53 PM EST
[#8]
I brought mine out to my trapline a few years ago and left it outside for a week in -40 to -30 degrees below zero cold. I fired nearly 1000 rounds through it, through the week while testing a Geissele trigger and some PMags. I brought it inside a few times to see if it would thaw and freeze or if that would affect it and couldn't get it to malfunction. The only lube I used was some CLP and some kind of lube that Bill Geissele gave me... both worked great

BTW PMags rock in the cold!

Here's the video from the PMag test that I did a few weeks prior to leaving the rifle out in the brutal cold....

- Clint
Link Posted: 12/13/2010 7:24:26 PM EST
[#9]

Three good "known" cold weather lubes are:

G96 Synthetic Gun Oil

Weapon Shield

CLP

Link Posted: 12/13/2010 8:55:13 PM EST
[#10]
Besides the operation aspect of firearms in cold weather, it is advisable not to use stainless steel barrels in cold weather environments.
Something about stainless steel become brittle in the cold or something.

Though I have not heard of a bad situation with someone using a stainless steel barrel in cold environments as of yet.
Link Posted: 12/13/2010 11:17:45 PM EST
[#11]
Cold weather makes a good case for the Fail Zero BCG.

I have noticed that when I lube an AR as recommended a lot of the oil ends up in the firing pin channel.  For cold weather I clean the BCG and wipe everything down with Weaponshield.  No drops of oil in the gas key or vent holes, just a light film.  Also wipe excess lube out of the inside of the upper.

It's probably also a good idea to check that oil has not accumulated in the buffer tube.
Link Posted: 12/14/2010 2:21:57 AM EST
[#12]
Interesting and thanks for all of the feedback.
Link Posted: 12/15/2010 3:32:38 AM EST
[#13]
I'm in the Cdn military so I've been outside in temperatures well below freezing for extended periods of time once or twice in my life.  We leave our rifles outside of the tent to avoid condensation and I just stick with good 'ol CLP simply because it's issued to us.  The only problem that I've experienced in extreme cold (-20 to -40 celcius) is that the first round will sometimes freeze in the mag and I'll need to push the forward assist (who'd have thought, it does have a purpose) in order to chamber the round.  Subsequent mag changes don't normally seem to be a problem, possibly because the upper has warmed up enough to unfreeze the round?  If you're just going outside for the day you probably won't have any problems at all.
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