Brrrr!!! It is really cold outside in the Eastern Seaboard of the United States, and for those who planned on going outside and do some airsofting in fields blanketed by snow, it might not be really advisable to that. But if there is a game on a somewhere, then airsoft players might want to take note of what the U.S. Army recommends to the soldiers when taking their weapons during winter.

Just like airsoft, cold weather can affect the guns of soldiers and will make them either not firing or not working properly. In airsoft we have issues with gas blowbacks and batteries as gas blowbacks don’t perform well in cold weather, battery juice usually run out faster and metal gets brittle especially if temperature goes below freezing. But there is always a common enemy to both real world weapons and airsoft guns: condensation. Here is what the U.S. Army advises in their press release last 2 January:

It is very important that you never let condensation form on your weapon. Condensation often referred to as sweating, forms on weapons when they're moved from extreme cold conditions to any type of heated environment. When the weapon is reintroduced to the extreme cold, the moisture refreezes and causes the internal mechanisms to freeze together, causing stoppages. For this reason, it's best to leave weapons outside during freezing temperatures.

When left outside, weapons should be readily accessible, guarded and sheltered to keep ice and snow from accumulating in the working mechanisms, sights or barrel. Because the condensation process will continue for about an hour after bringing it into a warmer environment, wait until the sweating stops before attempting to clean the weapon. Once you're inside the shelter, keep your weapon near the floor to minimize condensation. In addition, keeping the interior of the shelter close to 32 F will minimize condensation.

Once you move back into the cold, operate your weapon manually by pulling the charging handle to prevent the internal parts from freezing. Drop the magazine, ensure the weapon is clear and then charge the handle several times during the first five minutes after leaving a warm shelter.

Photo: New York Air National Guard in training exercise (Photo: By Master Sgt. Eric Miller)

Thus, you have to keep in mind that airsoft guns will also be affected by condensation so following the advice above can also help. Also do not forget to have enough layers of clothing to keep yourself warm in the field, but you might not just feel a BB hit you. But if the weather is just really too cold outside, and if you are not a soldier in the military, the best advice is to stay at home and keep yourself warm. You can play another day when the weather is warm enough and just play with Call of Duty or any shooter video games airsoft players these days.


Top photo: U.S. Army Spc. Robert Irwin in Afghanistan's Paktya Prrovince (Photo by: Staff Sgt. Jason Epperson, U.S. Army)