Warming Up a COLD Rifle

[Old No7]

Just saw this on a .22 website, and figured I'd share it here.

Here's the poster's 1st post -- we do this at deer camp, where the rifles are outside in the cold, but safe from the elements or theft. And it works...

"Another way was to just leave the rifle out in the cold. An unheated porch would work but I'd want a way to lock it up even if it was just a cable lock to a piece of furniture. But this method eventually needs a way to get the rifle back indoors. It just puts off the inevitable."

And his 2nd post with an interesting idea...

"I know what you're thinking, "Have you lost your mind?". No I haven't bear with me. I was reminded of this today as I used my accessory garbage bag to enter my home. As it gets colder in the top tier states we take our firearms outdoors and when we bring them back inside they sweat due to the moisture indoors. I came up with a solution decades ago and it works like a charm. The problem is our cold temps, but it's also the solution. Cold air is dry air. The colder it is the dryer it is. So before bringing the rifle indoors you unfurl the honkin' big garbage bag* and put the rifle in it. That traps the cold and dry air in the bag with the rifle. Seal the end of the bag and the bag needs to be big enough to fully contain the rifle. A seal can be a simple twist; just make sure the bag doesn't open before the rifle warms up to room temp. You can feel the metal through the bag. Of course handguns don't need a honkin' big bag. I've been doing this for decades and it works. Note that it might not work, probably won't, in humid cold temps, like maybe down south.

* I use the 50 gallon drum size"

Haven't tried it yet, but it's intriguing...

Old No7

[GunnyMack]

I used to leave my gun cased in the truck during the season. If it got rained or snowed on it would stay out. When the season is over I bring it inside, open the action and stand it by the stove to dry it throughly . A couple days of dry heat and clean and oil. Never had any rust issues.

[Malamute]

I have a carbine with me pretty much every day dog walking, regardless of weather. Its a dry climate, but theres still a fair amount of condensation that forms when I bring them in, sometimes the metal is cold enough ot makes frost on the gun for a few minutes until it warms up. I wipe them down with whatever cotton towel, dirty t shirt, or paper towel is handy to get the moisture off it, I dont mess with the bore as often as I should but so far theres minimal issues. If its raining or snowing heavily I may take the old beater 1927 made carbine, as its finish was mostly wrecked probably 75 or more years ago.

The new issue Winchester 73 carbine gets its share of inclement weather use but so far has not had any problems, other than the dumb ring is wearing the finish off the side of the receiver, I keep forgetting to remove it. I think its 4 or 5 years old at this point

[marlinman93]

If my rifle gets cold enough to start shivering I let it lay under the electric blanket until it's cozy.

[Walt]

[AJMD429]

.
If the rifle has a scope, I cover the lenses to prevent condensation there, then I put the rifle in our furnace-room (we heat with wood and that room stays cozy-warm - probably 100 degrees or so at the level the rifle is, but 140 at the ceiling). The heat and dryness in there brings the temperature up to normal quickly and avoids condensation.

I've never noticed any ill-effects from the transitions in temperature.

I think that HUMIDITY (at least on wood-stocked guns) would be the bigger issue.
When I leave tools outside (in unheated buildings or on the enclosed but unheated porch) they tend to get condensation in our Indiana winters, so I figure I don't want to do that with my guns. Perhaps in REALLY cold weather (when it is too cold to have much humidity) it would make sense to leave the gun outside though.