Planning to hit the range on a day that gets rather nippy? So it’s gonna be a cold weather range day, that’s something you can handle, right? You might want to zip up your jacket and take extra care with your gear, but you’re not gonna let a bit a chill slow you down!
Before you head out, though, you might want to put on your tactical thinking cap and consider any preparations you might have to make. gotta be tactical, after all. It’s like they say, tactical training never ends, it’s gonna be applicable to everyday situations of all kinds. And this is not an exception. Let’s get right to it, then! What adjustments should you make as part of winter range preparation?
PREPARING FOR SHOOTING IN THE COLD
Winter conditions can affect your performance when shooting, especially if you are doing it at an outdoor range. The cold can make weapon handling uncomfortable, and having to bear the freezing temperatures affecting your hands can cause issues—such as numbness, which can make clumsy. And you may find yourself a little less focused, or even a little shakier. If the cold is starting to affect you, take steps to give yourself adequate protection and warmth.
The obvious solution is to wear a pair of gloves. That does come with a slight complication, however. Gloves are good for keeping your hands warm, but they need to be fairly thick to do that. The thickness of winter gloves can completely change how gun handling feels. The sensations that you’ve been used to are no longer identifiable when your hands are covered in gloves.
As always, proper training can mitigate the problem. If you regularly experience a cold weather range day, and wear gloves while shooting, you will learn how to deal with the issue of weapon handling feel. Some things take patience and perseverance, but they’re worth it. You’ve gotta take your hands, but you’ve also gotta learn how to shoot under different conditions. When it’s winter and you’re wearing gloves, you’ve gotta be trained to excel in such a scenario. So practice shooting in the cold as regularly as you can.
TACTICAL GEAR WINTER ADJUSTMENTS
The cold weather can affect firearms as well, and introduce problems with functionality. Guns can actually freeze and begin having trouble firing properly. Even if they don’t freeze, the gun lubricant can become thick and “sludgy”. You can ensure that your firearms stay in proper form by storing them securely before use—we have suggestions on how to do that in the next section.
A graphite lubricant is generally quite effective in maintaining firearm functionality during a cold weather range day. It does not get too thick and sludgy. Your gun should fire and function much s you would expect.
On a snowy day, you may find that snow can collect in the bore of your firearm. That can end up creating an obstruction, which might prove dangerous. You don’t want to happen. If you’re gonna be out and about with your firearm in snowy weather, take steps to guard the muzzle and bore from obstruction. We suggest using a small plastic bag, balloon, or a finger from a latex glove. Use it to cover the muzzle, and bind it with a rubber band to keep in place. The thin material will not affect yoUr firearm accuracy while shooting in the cold.
ESSENTIAL COLD-WEATHER GEAR FOR THE RANGE
Effective tactical gear winter range preparation begins with securing your firearms against the cold. Insulation is the key method of providing the level of protection required. When preparing your firearms for transport, ensure that the insulation of the range bag you’re using will do a good job. In addition to the range bag itself, you can provide additional insulation by using smaller bags, compartments or pouches.
Aside from protecting your firearms for freezing temperatures, you also have to avoid subjecting them to swings in temperature. Moving from a cold environment to a relatively warm one cause issues, such as generating moisture that can affect that can affect your weapon. Moisture can be wiped off—keep a microfiber loth handy in your range bag to do just that. But if you can prevent it from occurring, that’s even better!
You can use the 14er Tactical Range Bag for this purpose. The material of the bag consists of extra thick 600D polyester, which is not only tough, it also offers excellent insulation. The bag is also water resistant, which can be a factor on snowy winter days.
EVERYDAY CARRY PREPARATION IN WINTER
Let’s consider a scenario other than winter range preparation. You’re not going to the range, but you’re gonna be outdoors in the cold, and you may be carrying your firearm. That’s what we call an everyday carry (EDC) situation. It’s another tactical gear winter scenario that you have plan for.
Your approach should largely be the same as what’s discussed above. Keep yourself warm—keep your hands warm, especially!—and protect your firearm as it is being carried. You’ll want your gun to be safe, secure and insulated, but not to difficult to draw when you need it! That can be tricky unless you’re using an everyday carry bag that is designed to suit these needs. Fortunately, it’s not hard to find a bag that can provide exactly that!
We are, of course, talking about the trusty 14er Tactical Backpack. While it’s not the only tactical backpack that can offer such functionality, it’s the one we can be sure of—and we stand by that! The 14er Tactical Backpack includes a built-in CCW pocket in which you can securely stash your firearm. It will be insulated from the cold and protected from dust, debris, moisture and rough weather conditions. You can also draw your firearm fairly quickly, if you must. When it comes. to quality, security and functionality, it’s a tactical backpack you can count on.
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