Cold Weather CO2 Pistol Shooting

[Redleg]

I have a pet warming pad that maintains a 72* temperature while waiting for a pet to arrive.

CO2 pistols and cartridges like this pad very much.  I put in on a bench in my carport during cold weather and it keeps
things warm.  Two or more pistols can be ready and rotated so I can keep shooting.

The warmer I have, I found in a yard sale for $1.00 but a heating pad made for human use will work as well.  The pet warmer's heat is
not adjustable but the human pad is.  Both work well indoors and dry.

It is 30 degrees here this morning so this will be a good day for this approach - the high temp today is projected to be 58 degrees - marginal for CO2.

Note:  heating pads are something I see quite a bit of at yard sales but new ones can be had for $25 or so.

Maybe this will work for someone else frustrated by cold temperatures! 

[Multigunner]

I've been thinking on getting some battery operated heated socks. I remember  my older brother used these when duck hunting.
I often use heavily knit socks to protect air pistols I don't have cases or boxes for yet.

Theres also the chemical foot or hand warmers. I have a lot of those I bought on sale years ago. The foot warmers are no good for wearing while walking, its like walking barefoot on gravel. Only time these would be useful is when in a sleeping bag or kicked back taking a break with shoes off.

They would be useful for keeping a CO2 pistol warmer if both were kept in a shoe box while taking a break to reset targets and such.
No extension cord or batteries needed.

For smaller CO2 pistols that fit in a coat pocket, Gamo P23, Walther PPKS, etc, a couple of the small hand warmer packets in the pocket would serve double duty.

[Redleg]

Multigunner.  Yes, I agree about the portable ones for out away from home.  I use mine here at the house for target shooting and plinking.  I have electric at my shooting
area so that is pretty handy.

The pet heater pad only draws 15 watts so it is nearly free to use for this.

[arkmaker †]

30 degrees!!! Where do you live?

So glad the warmer weather is here. Hit 90 yesterday and today was about the same, but we had a lot of wind and it kept it feeling much cooler than it was.

Luckily, we get quite a few good days in the 60-70 range during the winter months here in the Great State of Tennessee, so I just wait for them when I get the itch to shoot the Co2's Last winter was extremley mild overall and we even had days in the miid 80's. Can't ever see myself livingin the White Mountains (NH) again, but I sure do miss them.

[Redleg]

I am located in the high desert country of Eastern Oregon at 4200 ft and above.

Not many mornings suitable for CO2 shooting in a year around here so I've been experimenting with ways to deal with the problem. 

There must be other CO2 shooters with similar problems.  Maybe some other ideas out there?

[mudduck48]

Move to where it is warmer. 85 here today.

[Redleg]

  Don't think my wife and I haven't spent a lot of time looking at warm weather properties.   If we were younger....... 

It is expected to be a blazing 44* here in the morning.  But very nice in the afternoon-evening.  Perhaps 77* or so.  I don't want to talk about/remember March, though.

John aka "Redleg"

[BillK]

The warmer the weather the bigger the crowds and the less space to shoot.

[Multigunner]

A bad habit to get into is laying your gun, either CO2 or cartridge guns, on the hood or roof of a car or truck on a hot day while taking a break from shooting.

CO2 normally operates at 900 PSI at temperatures of 70-80 degrees F, but pressure inside the gun can climb to more than double that ( I've read of up to 1,900 PSI) at 110-120 F and metal to metal contact with a sun heated metal hood can heat the gun that much easily on a very hot day.
Not long ago I ran across photos of a Daisy Model 44 left on a truck hood that exploded destroying the valve and blasting chunks out of the top strap and rear sight base.

The trunk of a car is another bad place to leave a CO2 gun on a hot day. It can reach temps of over 160 degrees in a few hours of exposure to sunlight.
Some cars have trunk ventilator fans, but its not that common.

Tool boxes and other containers can also get pretty hot.

I've been thinking on a method to put that sort of heat generated over pressure to good use.

[Redleg]

Multigunner:  Wow!  I'd never expose a CO2 cartridge to that sort of heat!

Putting the pistol into my waistband and zipping the jacket up is about the limit for me.  If I start out with a warm pistol and it isn't too, too cold....... works pretty well for
a time.  On a cold, sunny day I have lain my pistol in the sun  to offset the cold.  BTW, I tape a small aquarium thermometer to the pistol to monitor what's happening.

Lots of fun with my CO2 guns.

[George Schmermund]

I've been working on a powerlet heater arrangement for the Vigilante. Rather than double post the info, here's a link to the thread: https://www.crosman-air-pistol-owners-forum.com/board/index.php/topic,17594.0.html