AR reliability below freezing

[rjmt]

I read a blog about the US military use of M4 in Afghanistan in the mountains in below freezing temps
some stated they experienced reliability issues in sub freezing temps
I watched a video from David Tubb on this subject - he recommended you test your AR springs, mags, ammo and lube at sub zero temps by putting your AR in your Horizontal freezer for 24 hrs, with mag an ammo
then pull out the AR and immediately fire it still frozen

so - I did just that
put all my ARs in the freezer - frozen down to ZERO temp with a 30 rnd mag loaded with IMI ammo
pulled them out and fired immediately from the porch, not allowing them to warm up
all my ARs have Tubb springs, Extreme Lub, Magpul mags and Gissele triggers
I didn't experience a single malfunction with any of my 8 ARs

anyone out there experience malfunctions with their AR is sub freezing temps?
now if it get to -35 deg, I'll just pull out my Finn Mosins- in the Winter War, they proved their worth down below -35 Deg F

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[P7M13]

Never experienced problems with any of my ARs or semi auto pistols, except one, down to 10°F.
That AR would jam no matter what the temperature.

 

[Andy54Hawken]

Never had any issues with any of the M16 , CAR-15 or M4 series I used in freezing weather
Andy

 

[Capn Jack]

It was snowing in Utah when I shot my buffalo. No problems.

 

[monkeybutler]

I have a hard time imagining a 14.5" carbine-gassed barrel would be particularly vulnerable to cold. Maybe a softer 18" rifle-gassed barrel. Maybe.

And thanks for doing the research. Good info.

 

[rjmt]

I have a hard time imagining a 14.5" carbine-gassed barrel would be particularly vulnerable to cold. Maybe a softer 18" rifle-gassed barrel. Maybe.

And thanks for doing the research. Good info.

according to Bill Geissle, the Army has issue with GI buffer springs on the M4
but I never used GI buffer springs

 

[drstrangelove]

I've had any AR fail to allow bolt retraction off an empty chamber… just from sitting outside in the subzero temp, waiting to get shot. Pretty sure the lube I had used frozen up. I only use FP-10 on the bolt now… no more regular gun oil or ballistol. Had to mortar the bastage open.

 

[rjmt]

I've had any AR fail to allow bolt retraction off an empty chamber… just from sitting outside in the subzero temp, waiting to get shot. Pretty sure the lube I had used frozen up. I only use FP-10 on the bolt now… no more regular gun oil or ballistol. Had to mortar the bastage open.

I use EWL on all my ARs, it worked fine at Zero

Slip 2000 EWL meets most and exceeds requirements of MIL SPEC: MIL-PRF-63460D (6)

Kinematics Viscosity (ASTM D445) -59° F...Pass
Falex Load Carrying Capacity (ASTM D3233) +4500 lbs...Pass
Corrosion Test (ASTM-B-117) 150 Hr...Pass
Rust Resistance (ASTM D-665) Test A...Pass Test B...Pass Modified Test C...Pass

 

[TTSX]

Way too many variables to make this test mean very much. Are YOUR guns reliable with YOUR ammo and YOUR lube in the condition YOU like to keep them in? Apparently, yes. How about someone else's rifle with different ammo, different lube and a different level of care/use/abuse? I would hardly say sticking a few rifles in a freezer and popping off a few rounds a piece in a very controlled environment carries much info on an entire platform at all.

Glad you feel good about your results, though

 

[GrayGoose]

Mobil 1 0W-20 is the only oil to use on guns in any temperature. And a quart of it, cheaper than any "gun oil", will last you a long time.

 

[bionic knees]

I don't have an AR, but my mini 14 didn't like the cold at all. The bolt wouldn't close on its own. I have since changed how it gets lubed.

 

[rjmt]

Way too many variables to make this test mean very much. Are YOUR guns reliable with YOUR ammo and YOUR lube in the condition YOU like to keep them in? Apparently, yes. How about someone else's rifle with different ammo, different lube and a different level of care/use/abuse? I would hardly say sticking a few rifles in a freezer and popping off a few rounds a piece in a very controlled environment carries much info on an entire platform at all.

Glad you feel good about your results, though

where i live, it has never gotten below 14 deg and my rifles are range guns stored in a controlled environment, not a trench in Afghanistan
it was an experiment after watching a David Tubb video on buffer springs
our 1911 froze up once in sub freezing weather, but it was only a week old and still had shipping lube in it
after cleaning and lubing with EWL, never had an issue with it again
wait, doesn't every on on this forum baby their ARs like I do?!?!

 

[Nosferatu]

I tried it several years ago with a few handguns. It was a big fat nothingburger and I realized these kinds of "tests" are just for added drama and word count in gun rags and now yooobietoobie videos.

 

[rjmt]

Mobil 1 0W-20 is the only oil to use on guns in any temperature. And a quart of it, cheaper than any "gun oil", will last you a long time.

that's what we run in both our Subaru

 

[orygun]

Never had any issues with any of the M16 , CAR-15 or M4 series I used in freezing weather
Andy

Info like this, from this man, I would treat as near gospel. Real world experience compared to some jaw flapper youtube guy.

Think about that.

Andy, given your experience, what would you use to lube an AR?

 

[Xaevian]

A couple years ago, I hunted out here at -12F. Me and my friend had bolt action rifles, though. We didn't have any issues except it sucked quartering a deer instead of moving around. We should've tried sticking our tongues on the barrels lol.

 

[Andy54Hawken]

Info like this, from this man, I would treat as near gospel. Real world experience compared to some jaw flapper youtube guy.

Think about that.

Andy, given your experience, what would you use to lube an AR?

Thank you for the kind words....
In my case most of my freezing weather and M16 / CAR-15 / M4 use was in Korea and Bosnia.
Lube...CLP. / Breakfree worked well
Andy

 

[Xaevian]

Thank you for the kind words....
In my case most of my freezing weather and M16 / CAR-15 / M4 use was in Korea and Bosnia.
Lube...CLP. / Breakfree worked well
Andy

Naw, we all know you use bear tallow...polar bear tallow for winter.

 

[Andy54Hawken]

Naw, we all know you use bear tallow...polar bear tallow for winter.

Well.....yeah...
Andy

 

[WAYNO]

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