71silverbullet
Sharpshooter
A recent thread about testing equipment in cold weather got me interested in seeing how a couple of my guns would perform in harsh cold weather conditions. So I sat 4 loaded guns, of three different styles outside in 23* air temperature for two hours.
The guns and ammo details are:
Colt Delta Elite 10mm. I used light ammo, PPU 180gr JHP, company claims 1083fps. I chose light ammo with this for two reasons. First, I am currently out of buffer pads for it and didn't want to run hot rounds in cold weather without them. Second, this gun has the most oil on it, and wanted to stack the odds against it a little. This gun has had a trigger job professionally performed, and is lubricated with Lucas gun oil.
Next gun is a Glock 20sf 10mm. This gun had 200 grain hand loads in it. Fairly hot at about 1100fps. Factory springs and trigger, no lube.
Next is a Smith and Wesson 642-2 loaded with Speer Gold Dot Short Barrel 135gr +P. Factory springs. Lightly oiled with Lucas gun oil at last cleaning.
Last is a Smith and Wesson 686-3, loaded with Federal 158gr JSP, 357 magnums. This gun has had some trigger work done to it, but I am unsure of the details of work performed. Lightly oiled with Lucas gun oil at last cleaning.
I have to admit that I was quite surprised at the results. Every gun functioned flawless. I was confident in the Glock, it was dry, the loads were hot, and its a Glock (hurts a little to say that, as I AM NOT A GLOCK FAN BOY). I also expected the 642 to perform well. I thought I may have some issues with the Delta because of the oil, and anemic load combination. Last, I totally expected a failure out of the 686 because of the trigger work that has been done to it. I have experienced light primer strikes form it before with Winchester primers in reloads, in warm weather.
I think I may do more testing later with the Delta with the skide "wet" with oil. I also want to try this with an AR.
While not really scientific, hopefully it was informative.
Oh, and one lesson I did learn, firing hot 10mm rounds, and 357 magnum rounds, in 23* weather, with no gloves on, hurts the hands!
*Edit: all guns were fired 6 rounds except the 642, it was fired 5 times
The guns and ammo details are:
Colt Delta Elite 10mm. I used light ammo, PPU 180gr JHP, company claims 1083fps. I chose light ammo with this for two reasons. First, I am currently out of buffer pads for it and didn't want to run hot rounds in cold weather without them. Second, this gun has the most oil on it, and wanted to stack the odds against it a little. This gun has had a trigger job professionally performed, and is lubricated with Lucas gun oil.
Next gun is a Glock 20sf 10mm. This gun had 200 grain hand loads in it. Fairly hot at about 1100fps. Factory springs and trigger, no lube.
Next is a Smith and Wesson 642-2 loaded with Speer Gold Dot Short Barrel 135gr +P. Factory springs. Lightly oiled with Lucas gun oil at last cleaning.
Last is a Smith and Wesson 686-3, loaded with Federal 158gr JSP, 357 magnums. This gun has had some trigger work done to it, but I am unsure of the details of work performed. Lightly oiled with Lucas gun oil at last cleaning.
I have to admit that I was quite surprised at the results. Every gun functioned flawless. I was confident in the Glock, it was dry, the loads were hot, and its a Glock (hurts a little to say that, as I AM NOT A GLOCK FAN BOY). I also expected the 642 to perform well. I thought I may have some issues with the Delta because of the oil, and anemic load combination. Last, I totally expected a failure out of the 686 because of the trigger work that has been done to it. I have experienced light primer strikes form it before with Winchester primers in reloads, in warm weather.
I think I may do more testing later with the Delta with the skide "wet" with oil. I also want to try this with an AR.
While not really scientific, hopefully it was informative.
Oh, and one lesson I did learn, firing hot 10mm rounds, and 357 magnum rounds, in 23* weather, with no gloves on, hurts the hands!
*Edit: all guns were fired 6 rounds except the 642, it was fired 5 times