UpYoursPal Posted December 10, 2020 Share Posted December 10, 2020 This issue has been a constant thorn in my side for a long time. Essentially, when I go to a match where the weather might be a little chilly (not even that cold, like 30-40) my open guns experience a higher rate of malfunctions. However, as the day goes on and either the weather warms up, or the gun itself gets hotter with use, those malfunctions seem to all-but-vanish. The same thing happens at indoor ranges, which pretty much confirmed my thinking that cold weather is affecting some part of my guns' functioning. Now, I've been using Slip 2000 as a general purpose lubricant for years and it worked perfectly fine on my regular production pistols, but I suspect that it may be slowing down functioning just enough to induce a malfunction. The thing is that I have no real evidence to support this, and Slip 2000 is apparently rated for very low temperatures so that doesn't support my above assertion. Am I overlooking something? Is there something about moderately cold weather that just causes open guns to seize up like fainting goats? Am I using the wrong lube for the climate? Could it be something else entirely? I should note that this happened across three different guns, shooting 38 super and 9mm major. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChuckS Posted December 10, 2020 Share Posted December 10, 2020 gooey lube combined with light recoil springs will get you every time! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jstagn Posted December 10, 2020 Share Posted December 10, 2020 Use an oil, had similar problems even in normal temperatures. Listen to ChuckS. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gnhowell1 Posted December 10, 2020 Share Posted December 10, 2020 What about temp sensitive powder in your ammo that could run slower/lower PF in cold weather? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SGT_Schultz Posted December 10, 2020 Share Posted December 10, 2020 I don't know anything about open but any more all my pistols get lubricated only with PTFE dry lube with one exception: the sear/hammer/striker interface. That gets grease. My guns run 100% no matter the weather. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R.Elliott Posted December 10, 2020 Share Posted December 10, 2020 Metal contracts in the cold, parts get tighter, lubricants get thicker. Try some Mobil 1 motor oil, 5W20 or some such. See if that runs better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UpYoursPal Posted December 10, 2020 Author Share Posted December 10, 2020 29 minutes ago, gnhowell1 said: What about temp sensitive powder in your ammo that could run slower/lower PF in cold weather? I use SWMP, which doesn't seem to be temp sensitive according to discussions I've seen here. But it also happened when I was loading 3N38 for 38 super Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NOSHMJ Posted December 10, 2020 Share Posted December 10, 2020 I use Slip 2000 up here in NH all year, granted there isnt any matches after Dec, but Jan and Feb practice, the gun runs perfect. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
191138sc Posted December 10, 2020 Share Posted December 10, 2020 1 hour ago, jstagn said: Use an oil, had similar problems even in normal temperatures. Listen to ChuckS. This was exactly my problem during cold weather. I was using different types of lube and the thing would NOT run. Switched the oil in the colder temps and problem went away. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zzt Posted December 10, 2020 Share Posted December 10, 2020 I also had the same problem. If I didn't relube after every two stages the gun would not run. I switched to Weapon Shield CLP and the problem disappeared. At least down to 25. Clubs around me don't shoot when the temps are 25 or lower, because pasters don't stick. I love the stuff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silver_Surfer Posted December 11, 2020 Share Posted December 11, 2020 17 hours ago, SGT_Schultz said: I don't know anything about open but any more all my pistols get lubricated only with PTFE dry lube with one exception: the sear/hammer/striker interface. That gets grease. My guns run 100% no matter the weather. The spray can type? How often do you reapply the PTFE dry lube? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yagi Posted December 11, 2020 Share Posted December 11, 2020 If I use motor oil my slides really slows down and sometimes short stroke it. If I use grease forget about it. it will jam due to the tight tolerance of my slide, frame, barrel .... But ever since I use Weapon Shield... Any conditions any temperature... it just runs. and runs...as it should be. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stardust tommy Posted December 11, 2020 Share Posted December 11, 2020 I use FP10 oil in the cold Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SGT_Schultz Posted December 11, 2020 Share Posted December 11, 2020 (edited) 1 hour ago, Silver_Surfer said: The spray can type? How often do you reapply the PTFE dry lube? I reapply at the same intervals I clean guns, every 1000 - 1500 rounds or so. A little goes a long way. Edited December 11, 2020 by SGT_Schultz Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silver_Surfer Posted December 11, 2020 Share Posted December 11, 2020 Just now, SGT_Schultz said: I reapply at the same intervals I clean guns, every 1000 - 1500 rounds or so. Thanks! I use the same stuff but only on parts that I don't disassemble on a regular basis or hard to reach areas. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nolan Posted December 11, 2020 Share Posted December 11, 2020 Before you leave home in the morning put two of these in a pistol sleeve along with your gun, one on each side of your gun DO NOT PUT ANYTHING IN YOUR PISTOL'S MAGWELL! Don't ask me how I know this! . https://www.amazon.com/Grabber-Warmers-Hours-Maximum-Heat/dp/B00743YX4U/ref=sr_1_5 https://www.shootersconnectionstore.com/CED-Pistol-Sleeve-P146.aspx Bag your gun with the Mega warmers between each stage. Happiness is a warm gun! Nolan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NMBOpen Posted December 11, 2020 Share Posted December 11, 2020 I've lined my gun bag with an electric heating pad, run off car 12v with an inverter of sufficient wattage. Low heat setting is plenty. Came in handy at 2017 Gator Classic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
regor Posted December 11, 2020 Share Posted December 11, 2020 22 minutes ago, Nolan said: Before you leave home in the morning put two of these in a pistol sleeve along with your gun, one on each side of your gun DO NOT PUT ANYTHING IN YOUR PISTOL'S MAGWELL! Don't ask me how I know this! I put one in the magwell at OR state championship this year and ended up forgetting and jamming it in with a mag during Make Ready Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yigal Posted December 11, 2020 Share Posted December 11, 2020 3 hours ago, Yagi said: If I use motor oil my slides really slows down and sometimes short stroke it. If I use grease forget about it. it will jam due to the tight tolerance of my slide, frame, barrel .... But ever since I use Weapon Shield... Any conditions any temperature... it just runs. and runs...as it should be. It is good that 80 years ago the German army did not know this in the Russian winter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zzt Posted December 11, 2020 Share Posted December 11, 2020 I bought a Li-ion rechargeable hand warmer that I intend to drop in the bag I keep my ammo in. I don't have to keep either Open gun warm, nor the ammo. However, I was told keeping 22LR ammo warm in the Winter eliminates a lot of problems. So I'll try it. Since I keep the Open ammo in the same bag, that will be warm too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UpYoursPal Posted December 11, 2020 Author Share Posted December 11, 2020 (edited) 3 hours ago, Nolan said: Before you leave home in the morning put two of these in a pistol sleeve along with your gun, one on each side of your gun DO NOT PUT ANYTHING IN YOUR PISTOL'S MAGWELL! Don't ask me how I know this! . https://www.amazon.com/Grabber-Warmers-Hours-Maximum-Heat/dp/B00743YX4U/ref=sr_1_5 https://www.shootersconnectionstore.com/CED-Pistol-Sleeve-P146.aspx Bag your gun with the Mega warmers between each stage. Happiness is a warm gun! Nolan I'll give this a try, as well as Weapon Shield that someone upthread mentioned Edited December 11, 2020 by UpYoursPal Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zombywoof Posted December 11, 2020 Share Posted December 11, 2020 We shoot in the cold all the time. 0-20 Mobil 1. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bakerjd Posted December 12, 2020 Share Posted December 12, 2020 13 hours ago, Nolan said: Before you leave home in the morning put two of these in a pistol sleeve along with your gun, one on each side of your gun DO NOT PUT ANYTHING IN YOUR PISTOL'S MAGWELL! Don't ask me how I know this! . https://www.amazon.com/Grabber-Warmers-Hours-Maximum-Heat/dp/B00743YX4U/ref=sr_1_5 https://www.shootersconnectionstore.com/CED-Pistol-Sleeve-P146.aspx Bag your gun with the Mega warmers between each stage. Happiness is a warm gun! Nolan Well now we need to know the story.....inquiring minds and all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barry Posted December 12, 2020 Share Posted December 12, 2020 Been running open for 30 years as low as -13 degrees f . Never had a problem. I use break free or whatever gun oil I have on hand. If you have same problem with 3 guns this should tell you something. Once actually had a gun builder tell me he fit guns so tight they wouldn't run in the cold like this is something to be proud of. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zzt Posted December 12, 2020 Share Posted December 12, 2020 3 hours ago, barry said: Once actually had a gun builder tell me he fit guns so tight they wouldn't run in the cold like this is something to be proud of. My first Open gun was like that. The firm that handled the hard chrome finish either did not allow enough clearance, or applied the chrome to thickly. Anything below 40 was a problem until I started using Weapon Shield CLP. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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