Pump shotguns and cold weather

Isn't the Nova a rotary bolt type action? I could see where it would be possible for the rotary style might could encounter lockup but any and mostly all problems can be avoided by using a good lube such as Eezox or Breakfree CLP. Never had a problem with a pump freezing up and I have had Winchesters with rotary bolts to Rems and Mossies with standard style bolts. If it's that cold out there. I ain't goin'! I have parts of me that'll freeze before the gun does! LOL:D
 
Watched a nova pump freeze today duck hunting in 15 degree weather. I never thought i would see that happen to a pump. But my friend brags on his benelli a good bit. I looked at him shot my maxus to test it and then i told him "your old 870 had never froze up on you". I don't like the material the benelli is made out of feels like polymer, even though the pump is smooth as butter, i guess im just an 870 guy. 870s will always be my go to pump/never failing gun.
 
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Well like I said that was the first problem I have had with mine in over 5 years and I could not honestly tell you how long it has been since I cleaned it. It still worked I just had to put some more effort into it was all.
 
ya this one also hasn't been cleaned in a while too. Which is most of the time the problem with shotguns malfunctioning, in my opinion unless your hunting in that extreme of conditions which most of us don't. If a gun is cleaned and ready to go it usually works. Or out of the guns i have. My maxus has had problems with horrible old ammunition but other than that it's been the ultimate hunting gun so far. I was honestly nervous when i fired it today. As far as my friends benelli freezing i couldn't figure it out cause i never saw water get splashed on the gun or anything. And it was cold, possibly the coldest weather i've hunted in. To get to the spot we need to get to, we carried an axe broke a trail then walked on the ice all the way to the spot, which was incredibly dangerous but it was about 3 inches thick which around here in northern Mississippi is strange even though we're having this week of a cold front.
 
I have repaired shotguns in the past for friends who bring them to me and tell me they are broken.

I get into them whilst repairng them and encounter sludge, burnt powder residue, dirt, vegatation of all sorts, some rust and the proper term for finding a gun in this condition is neglect!

I have been reticent lately to take on guns that simply just need a cleaning and as much as it is to be well versed and to understand firearms safety, one should also be familiar with the proper maintainance of their firearm.

Sludge and burnt powder are the main culprits found in neglected firearms.

It can be a show stopper afield at the wost possible moment and cost you a hunt or create an unsafe condition with the firearm.

Pardon me if I sound like I'm preaching here but gun maintainance is imperative to having a reliable firearm and will ensure proper function when afield or for that goblin who comes a callin'.

Ya don't want to get caught with your pants down.:)
 
There was more burnt powder residue in mine than you could shake a stick at. I usually go fairly thin on the oil just to keep it from building up junk.
 
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+1 for most of the above - keep it clean and dry, only the lightest of light lube in the most critical spots. Think when to bring your gun in from the cold and when not to. I've ran my Winchester 1300 in several events at around -30 Celsius with no problem.
 
Md doesn't get THAT cold, but it tries at times.

I've stood in swamps during the late season and watched rain turn into ice on the 870 I was holding more than once. No glitches.

Same with goose blinds, on days when sane folks stayed indoors.

The coldest hunt I can recall saw record wind chills of minus something. The shotgun worked, and I warmed up dressing and dragging a freezer trophy.
 
Gets so cold here in WI during the hunting season that I need big gloves or mittens to keep my hands functional. That basically makes a pump gun useless, which is why all my hunting shotguns are semi-auto. Pump action for HD though.
 
Gets so cold here in WI during the hunting season that I need big gloves or mittens to keep my hands functional. That basically makes a pump gun useless, which is why all my hunting shotguns are semi-auto.
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I'm sure it does get more chilly there than here, but when it is below zero here, I wear wool mittens (the fold back kind, with cut off fingers inside) with no issues.

I keep my pump hand fully mittened, and I have practiced to be able to get my trigger finger out quickly enough that I don't feel it is a hinderance to me. (At least, not too much of one not to use.) It does slow me up a bit, but maybe by a second. I've never not been able to take a shot I would have otherwise been able to take because of the mittens.

The wool does a good job of gripping the wood of the gun - much better than any other type of material I have tried.
 
I forgot to mention that I also wear so many layers of clothing that my pump hand can only reach the very end of the pump, making it even more difficult to operate.

I admit it ... although I was born up here I'm a total wimp when it comes to the cold :o

Anyway, that's the reason why I went with semi-autos and never looked back.
 
Nightsleeper, the sporting shotguns I use most of the time are long in the stock to match my over sized physique.

LOP on my clays gun is about 15 1/8", and the 870 I use for most wingshooting has been extended to 15".

But the 870 I use from a coffin blind or pit when I'm wearing everything I brought and wishing for more has a standard length stock of maybeso 14 1/4".

That works better then and there. Especially when I have to sit up in a layout and shoot.

Not new. I've seen old Model 11s used by market hunters on MD's Eastern Shore back when that was an honorable profession. Most had shortened stocks and I doubt they were all pixies.
 
freeze up

sorry to bring back an old thread but i had a problem yesterday with my rem 870 super mag 12ga froze up on me twice yesterday. the temps was about 9 deg. out with wind chill, wind was cranking and powder snow was blowing quite abit. first the shot that was in the chamber fired and ejected, but when i pumped it the last two stayed in the barrel. i pumped it a few times and gun started cycling again. about 45 mins later froze to the point of firing pin froze and would not fire the live shell in the chamber. i thawed it out and gun cycled perfectly. my 870 was bought brand new on oct 15th of this year and i dont abuse the gun in any way shape or form, and clean it regularly. what can i use to make sure this dosn't happen again. both times it froze up i lost my chances at the only 2 groups of geese that came in to my deeks.
 
i also heard that remoil is known for freezing up can anyone back that up also. i am willing to change to WHATEVER works better
 
"i also heard that remoil is known for freezing up can anyone back that up also. i am willing to change to WHATEVER works better"

I have tried Remoil, too thick for the innards of a firearm in cold weather, I have used it for the final wipe down on the barrels and receivers of some rifles/shotguns in the past but now strictly use clp.

bez44870-you may also want to consider the fact that your 870 has barely seen 3 months of use and may still need more of a break in period-you also stated you have cleaned it quite frequently in the same amount of time. Try to get at least a bare mininum of 100 rds through that thing before worrying if something is wrong-Ive owned 2 supermags and had a few "hiccups" with them until I had put some rounds through them, you will be able to tell a difference once that shotguns starts to break in-sounds to me like your problem might be your shotgun just needs some more break in combined with maybe you are overcleaning(excessive lube).

razo
 
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i clean it on an average of every 25 rounds if i am out hunting (few times of going, plus i use black cloud ammo which i am told it is great ammo but burns a bit dirty) or if i am shooting skeet every time cause i shoot about 100 rounds on average. another reason i clean it more frequently is i do alot of marsh hunting (untill water freezes up in ohio) and i just want to make sure this gun is gonna last and not rust up due to hunting conditions. this is my first gun i own and second year hunting so there is alot of stuff i dont know at this point and to all that commented i greatly appreciate the input.
 
Only time I've ever seen it is duck hunting in very cold weather when a good amount of water has frozen on the gun. Even then, when it was shot a light smack of the butt on the ground broke it free.
 
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