So I'm planning to go shoot IDPA at Austin Rifle Club again tomorrow (Saturday 11/27). But this will be my first time to shoot a match in cold weather. We're under a freeze warning here from 9 tonight until 10 tomorrow morning.
Any suggestions/tips from those who've shot in the cold before?
I'm planning to wear one of those UnderArmor long-sleeve shirts and I guess probably an actual winter coat as cover garment (instead of a short-sleeve shirt or vest). What about gloves? I RARELY wear gloves in my daily life - just don't like 'em. If the weather is cold enough to need gloves, I either don't go out, or keep my hands in the pockets of my jacket (where a J-frame revolver might be keeping them warm ) .... but being outside for 4 or 5 hours at a match, do I need gloves? I have some that I've used while hunting, but don't really like those for shooting a rifle and not even sure it's possible to shoot a pistol with them.
Any other tips? Extra warm up/stretching prior to shooting each stage? Loosen up the fingers etc? I'll either be shooting my Glock 17 or Smith & Wesson M&P9, so don't think I need to worry about any change in gun maintenance (but please make suggetions if there's anything you do for yours in colder weather).
Anyway, any thoughts/advice are appreciated as always.
I do not shoot in competition so others on here will have some suggestions. However my wife and I do shoot in cold weather and we wear Bob Allen shooting gloves. Light and thin enough to comfortably and safely handle your firearm but also warm. Academy and some Walmarts carry these gloves in the shooting section.
I wear a pair of ski-type gloves. I wear silk long johns (top and bottom) ,a heavy shirt with a medium to heavy coat and a wool watch cap. The silk long johns don't bunch up.
I keep toasty warm-- until it's my turn to shoot. Then off with the gloves. Depending on which coat I'm wearing I'll either shoot with it as cover or replace it with a vest.
I've tried shooting golves and thin driving gloves, but didnt care for them while comp. shooting. Target shooting's OK with a pair of thinner golves-- no hurry to get a good grip, ect.
I havent performed any special maintianance so far- no different oil or different cleaning on my G34.
Last edited by Piney on Fri Nov 26, 2010 1:29 pm, edited 1 time in total.
I pull my gloves off during a stage then put them back on after shooting. A few minutes exposure won't make your hands numb if you keep them warm otherwise. A pair of either the thin "mechanics" gloves or "finger tip" gloves will serve you if you want to shoot with gloves on.
Unless the temprature is hovering in the -0 range you won't need to do anything special to your gun.
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Dress up for cold weather with a long sleeved shirt, undershirt and gloves and all. You'll be outside for a while. Doing the hands-in-the-pocket thing only goes so far. You'll be out there taping, scoring, etc. Keep your hands warm with gloves. When you're up to shoot, shed the gloves and the thick jacket. Shoot your stage then bundle up again.
Hot Hand warmers -one in each pocket will do the trick for most cold shoots. I've used the gloves on/off routine as well, but still like having the Hot Hands to help keep the fingers toasty.
Food and Drinks
-Eat well before you go. Having a tummy full of food helps to keep your metabolism up and blood flowing so your body is producing the heat it needs.
-Stay well hydrated. Drink lots of water from the moment you get up. You often need more water in the dry winter air.
-Take a thermos with a hot beverage like coffee or hot cocoa to drink periodically.
-Avoid smoking when out in the cold because the nicotine negatively affects your circulation by causing your veins to constrict. The cold also causes your veins to constrict. The combo means not enough blood moving through your body.
Clothes
-Wear loose fitting clothes in layers to keep in the heat. Cotton as a first layer if you won't get wet (including by sweat) or synthetics to wick away the moisture if you could get wet. Wool as a second layer is ideal. The outside layer should be wind resistant.
-Don't dress so warmly that you sweat as that counteracts everything you're trying to do. Wearing a button-up wool shirt is often better than a pullover fleece sweater because you have more variability in degrees of exposure with a button up shirt, which means you don't have to choose between sweating or going cold.
-Don't forget to keep the feet warm and dry. Take a change of socks if your feet might get wet and change them as soon as your feet are wet.
-A scarf or other means of covering the face could be important depending on windchill.
-I suggest taking a few extra blankets, jackets, handwarmers, or gloves as you're able in case some others there came less prepared.
Actions
-Keep moving, even when you're standing in one place, to keep your blood flowing well to all your extremities. Don't forget to wiggle your toes quite a lot to keep the blood moving all the way down there.
-Use natural windbreaks as protection and if there aren't any, try to create one (the most minimalist option being to turn your back to the wind) so that you don't have exposed skin being hit by the wind in freezing temps.
Frostnip/Frostbite
-If your exposed skin starts to become firm or pale, or if it progresses past that point to become red, if your skin has a burning sensation when it is reheated or if it starts to feel numb, then you probably have frostnip. Frostnip can occur in less than 10 minutes in a typical TX winter--the harsher the wind chill, the faster the frostnip develops and the faster it then becomes frostbite. It most often affects the nose, ears, cheeks, fingers, and toes. It can take a year to heal from the nerve damage frostnip causes. And that isn't even bad enough to be called frostbite, yet! You need to take it seriously and start warming the exposed place immediately.
Hypothermia
-If your teeth are chattering, you are shivering, you are stumbling, or you're not thinking or speaking as clearly as usual, then you probably have the first stage of hypothermia. Keep an eye out for others who appear to fit this profile as hypothermia often causes people to not be able to recognize what's happening to them. Some will even start pulling off their clothes in their confusion. Get yourself or anyone else fitting this profile into a warm, dry place where they can be treated.
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Just dress warmly and always remember a stage rarely lasts longer than 45 seconds from time of taking gloves and jacket off to putting them back on. I rarely get cold while actually shooting. Plus there is always someone who is happy to keep my coat warm over their shoulders while I shoot!
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Dress in layers, it's always better to have too many clothes on than not enough. Hand warmers in your pockets and shoes help too. I've shot in single digits, and snow storms. As long as you are prepared it's survivable.
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If you don't normally wear gloves, take a lesson from Bob Hayes at the Ice Bowl. He kept his hands in his pants or jersey, unless he was the intended receiver. Handwarmers are a good thing.
If you wear gloves often, practice gunhandling and shooting with them. They do make a difference.
The sooner I get behind, the more time I have to catch up.
) .... but being outside for 4 or 5 hours at a match, do I need gloves? I have some that I've used while hunting, but don't really like those for shooting a rifle and not even sure it's possible to shoot a pistol with them. 
