My AK vs sub zero weather

[Nic]

Last weekend, I took my WASR to our family cabin near Cook's Forest. It was cold! ...sub zero overnight, and 2 degrees when we went out to shoot early Saturday morning.



I had left my Weapon Shield-coated WASR in the truck overnight, so on Saturday morning, it was ice cold. It put 300 rounds of Brown Bear ammo down range flawlessly. At one point, while loading magazines, it fell over into the snow and ice (unloaded of course) and steam hissed off of the barrel - Afterwards, I picked it up, loaded it and blasted the stuck-on ice chunks off of it without a problem.



Afterwards, I brought the rifle inside the cabin and wiped it down but didn't clean it. I stood it up near the fire, and left it there until we left on Sunday. I detail cleaned it on Tuesday, and it cleaned up perfectly. (still no rust)

I know some firearms can have trouble when they are frozen, so I was pleased that my WASR took on the frigid cold and won.

[Azzy]

Thats why they were designed to have looser tolerances, at least as best I can tell. Not fir dirt, but so differences in temperature would not stop them from working. teh USSR was big, and mostly cold. It probably shot better out in that.

[Yellowfin]

Precisely. The Russians couldn't use a rifle that wouldn't work perfectly well in the cold, so it was designed with that in mind.

[bogey1]

my gun of choice if the SHTF. i hope its yours also.

[Mr_Gixxer]

That is probably the most beautiful looking AK i have EVER seen.

[photoshooter]

At one point, while loading magazines, it fell over into the snow and ice (unloaded of course) and steam hissed off of the barrel - Afterwards, I picked it up, loaded it and blasted the stuck-on ice chunks off of it without a problem.

I thought that's how you were supposed to cool the barrel?
I love AKs. I love your AK. Everyone needs an AK or two.

[JohnDaniels2006]

That is probably the most beautiful looking AK i have EVER seen.

OP, did you sand it?

[Kaos]

Something to consider with transitioning a rifle from extreme cold to a warmer area is that the steel will "sweat" as the air condenses. Steel surfaces should be checked after doing so to prevent rusting.

Not saying you didn't etc, just some information to note.

[lilb93]

Prob saved it by putting it near the fire so the condensation would evap quickly??

[Emptymag]

Originally Posted by Mr_Gixxer
That is probably the most beautiful looking AK i have EVER seen.

OP, did you sand it?

I can't speak for the OP, but I think all the WASR's have been "sanded".

Here's mine:



More photos here:
http://forum.pafoa.org/gun-pictures-...-ruxandra.html

Looks like they sand off the finish from the outer surfaces, because when you look in the "vent holes" in the handguard, you can still see the original, glossy/lacquer finish on the parts that would need taken completely apart to access for sanding. Quick and dirty process from the looks of it.