Rifle ice/snow freeze eval 2025

[prm]

Any input on Kimber actions? They're a scaled down pre-64, but is the trigger the same? Looks like it's a different, enclosed design. Also interested in the Jard or Triggertech options for them. The Jard is non-adjustable and looks very enclosed.

Sent from my Pixel 6 using Tapatalk

My 84M froze one year after a couple hour hike in heavy snow and busting through snow covered willows. If my recollection is correct the rifle was then kept in the tent overnight when temps dropped way down. I went to chamber a round and it felt odd. It didn’t cock. A little heat from my stove fixed it pretty quickly. I now keep the metal dry and don’t keep the rifle in the tent.
A purpose designed scope cover could go a long way towards both protecting scope from drops and keeping moisture out.

 

[ElPollo]

A damn dust cover for one. I dont understand why no bolt action has one. A dust cover over the ejection port, tight fit on the top side of the stock, and simple gap filling piece on the safety and trigger holes would address all normal problems.

Now a rifle that can work after being submerged in a stream in sub zero temps? I'd have to be water tight. The whole thing will be a solid block of ice through and though and no mechanical device is going to function when frozen when slam full of water.

I would agree on the dust cover, but it would largely be directed at keeping the bolt from freezing up. If your dust cover freezes, you’d likely be in the same situation. The best approach to deal with this is a removable action cover that you put on when it’s raining or snowing. This is nothing new. People used to do the same thing with flintlocks.

I suspect the critical spot to keep the gun functioning is the hole for the safety lever and in some cases the bolt release. Both of these will funnel stuff right into your fire control equipment. The actions that seem to do the best tend to have enlarged heads on the safety lever to block entry of debris into the action or bolt-mounted safeties. The Tikka is a good example of that. Their bolt release is also mounted on the side of the action without a lot of space for debris to enter. Simple triggers like the old-school Mauser and M70 are also key factors for success. Complex cassette triggers with a lot of moving parts seem to be sensitive to debris and ice. I think that Mauser really got those parts right for reliability of function in the 1890s. Most of the stuff we’ve done to try to improve on his designs have not helped reliability in bad weather.

 

[Choupique]

Mauser really got those parts right for reliability of function in the 1890

Yes. I modern M1896 action would be tits. Cock on close, safety is on the bolt, very simple but very good 2 stage trigger, true CRF. Modify the shroud a bit for blown primer protection and viola, perfect hunting rifle action.

It'd never sell, because it would be fairly expensive, cock on close is disliked, trigger not readily adjustable, IE none of the "modern" features that sell bolt action rifles. IMO its the perfect hunting rifle action. You could even enclose it and put a dust cover and AISC magazine...

Man that would be sweet. It was designed for war fighting in the mountains in Europe. Handling backcountry elk hunting would be a walk in the park.

 

[ElPollo]

Yes. I modern M1896 action would be tits. Cock on close, safety is on the bolt, very simple but very good 2 stage trigger, true CRF. Modify the shroud a bit for blown primer protection and viola, perfect hunting rifle action.

It'd never sell, because it would be fairly expensive, cock on close is disliked, trigger not readily adjustable, IE none of the "modern" features that sell bolt action rifles. IMO its the perfect hunting rifle action. You could even enclose it and put a dust cover and AISC magazine...

Man that would be sweet. It was designed for war fighting in the mountains in Europe. Handling backcountry elk hunting would be a walk in the park.

All it would need would be a fixed 8x56 SWFA with good glass. I think you, me and maybe a dozen other guys in the world would be super happy. Everyone else would not even know it existed.