4 Tips for Prepping Your Firearms for Winter

Winter is on its way. As temperatures fall, you take steps to get ready. You may have already unpacked your winter gear for the season or doing essential winterization tasks around the house. It’s also a good time to consider peppering your firearms for the season.

The cold can impact the performance of your M4 carbine or any other firearm. Just as you take care of them after a trip to the range, it’s crucial to take care of them as cold weather sets in. Here are a few quick tips for getting your guns ready for the cold so you can depend on them all winter long.

Bring Your Firearms Indoors

After a hunting trip or day at the range, you might leave your firearms in your vehicle or garage. The firearms may be cased and locked, but during the cold weather months, a case might not be enough—especially if a firearm is left in the cold overnight. You may intend to use the firearm again the next day, but performance can degrade over time with continued cold exposure.

Most notably, cold temperatures can impact a gun’s lubrication. Certain oils may harden or thicken, and some components might not function as fluidly as you’d like. At the same time, bringing a gun in from freezing temperatures into warmer temperatures may result in condensation forming inside the gun. Keeping guns inside and in temperature-controlled environments can help reduce these concerns.

Inspect Firearms After Use in the Cold 

While inspecting any gun after use is good practice, inspecting them after use in the cold can be extra beneficial. It’s also worthwhile to inspect any firearms that have been left in the cold—such as when hunting or spending time at an outdoor range.

Inspection allows you to address potential issues quickly. If you notice condensation on your handgun, you can wipe it away with a cloth. You may need to take apart the handgun to remove all the moisture, but it can be well worth it. If you have a striker fired 1911 style pistol you carry every day, regular inspections ensure it’s always ready to go.

Perform Routine Maintenance

Winter is a great time to perform routine maintenance, including disassembling, cleaning, and oiling your firearms. This allows you to easily address condensation, as well as hardened lubrication, and any other concerns that you may have. If you’re storing your firearms for the winter, maintenance before storage is essential.

Practice Cold Weather Shooting

While it’s a must to inspect and maintain your firearms when temperatures drop, don’t forget about maintaining yourself! Or, more specifically, shooting your firearms in the cold. Handling firearms in cold weather is a different experience than other times of the year. If you have a law enforcement or military background, you may already know.

Take your firearms to the range while you’re wearing a coat and gloves. If you don’t already have gloves that can be used with an M4A1 AR-style rifle or your favorite pistol, now is a great time to invest in a pair. Handling a firearm with gloves is different from bare hands. It can take extra practice to get a feel for it, but once you get it, you’re ready for winter!

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