Guns and Cold Weather: 5 Tips for Maintaining and Storing Guns in Cold Weather

Action movies show guns in the snow all the time, held aloft by goons on snowmobiles as they chase our brave protagonist. But what they don’t show you is the significantly more boring part: how those guns are stored and all the steps that are necessary to keep them fully functional.

If you’re someone living where it regularly drops below freezing, that’s the part you need to know — and that’s why we’re here. Keep your weapons in good condition with these five tips from MILSPIN.

1. Condensation is the Enemy

Condensation is the most common problem with guns and cold weather. When you take your gun from cold air into a warm room — like, say, unloading your CCW at home after a long day in the snow — condensation quickly forms on the metal. While the moisture on the outside of the gun is easily wiped off, the same can’t be said for moisture inside the gun. We recommend inspecting, disassembling, wiping down your firearm’s components, and adding new lubrication at least once a month. If you don’t, then over time, your gun will begin to rust.

It’s a similar story with ammunition. Unlike with guns and cold weather, there’s no concern of corrosion. Instead, the danger is moisture getting through the primer and into the powder. Contaminated powder doesn’t ignite, and when you’re in a life-threatening scenario and need your gun, a round that doesn’t fire can be a death sentence.

To mitigate the effects of condensation, storing guns in cold weather needs to be done in a safe, dry environment after disassembly and cleaning. You should exclusively use rounds with sealed primers, either with a sealant or tight factory crimping. Ammo should be stored in its original box or a sealed ammunition can.

2. Only Light Lubrication Needed

Lubrication isn’t something most people think about when it comes to guns and cold weather. However, many brands of gun lubricants become molasses in cold weather. To avoid gunking up your gun with chunky lubricant, lube lightly during your next teardown. That means minimal lubricant in all parts of the gun, and make sure no lubricant is in the firing pin channel, cocking block, or recoil spring.

3. Don’t Get Snow on Your Gun

This is going to be a huge surprise, we know, but getting snow on your gun isn’t good for it. Like with condensation, moisture on metal always leads to corrosion. However, unlike with condensation, snow leaves a lot more moisture on your firearm. More moisture means faster corrosion, which makes this an especially important consideration for guns and cold weather.

That’s why when storing guns in cold weather, never store them wet. If you do get snow on your rifle, disassemble the gun and dry it off as soon as you get someplace warm.

4. Be Wary of Cheap Parts

Saving money on attachments and components for your gun is excellent for your wallet — until you take it into the cold. Cheap imported firearm parts often don’t have high-temperature tolerances, so when they go from the warmth of your car or home into frigid temperatures, they can crack or warp. Your gun might not function properly, or if it’s an attachment, it might have bent in a way that makes it less effective.

Buying only high-quality gun accessories and aftermarket parts ensures you avoid this challenge with guns and cold weather. If your guns already have inexpensive parts installed, then store the guns in cold weather inside thick, insulated containers and avoid taking them out.

5. Add Traction to Your Gun

Thick gloves and numb hands obviously make controlling and firing your gun hard. That’s why you should attach something to your gun that adds traction and texture. For a rifle, textured tape like skateboard tape on the forestock makes it much easier to hold and aim. For a pistol, having a slide assist like MILSPIN’s Glock slide racker would make it easier to rack the slide with either numb or gloved hands.

Find Quality Glock Parts at MILSPIN

We’re not just experts on the challenges of guns and cold weather. MILSPIN is a USMC Recon Veteran-founded business that has been machining high-quality American-made firearm parts since 2017. Whether you’re looking for Glock back plates or EDC tools, you can find them here at MILSPIN.

Want to learn more about guns and cold weather? Contact us — we’d love to talk!