How Extremely Hot Weather Can Affect Airguns –Â When the sun comes out, many airgun enthusiasts take the opportunity to spend more time outdoors practising, target shooting or pest control. While warm weather is generally great for shooting, periods of extremely hot weather can have a surprising effect on your airgun’s performance, accuracy and long-term reliability.
Whether you own a spring-powered air rifle, a PCP (Pre-Charged Pneumatic) rifle or a COâ‚‚-powered air pistol, understanding how heat affects your equipment will help you get the best performance while protecting your investment.
COâ‚‚ Airguns Are Most Affected
COâ‚‚-powered airguns are the most sensitive to temperature changes.
As temperatures rise, the pressure inside a COâ‚‚ capsule also increases. This can result in:
- Higher muzzle velocities.
- Increased power output.
- Changes in point of impact.
- Reduced shot-to-shot consistency.
- Faster gas consumption.
On particularly hot days, a COâ‚‚ airgun may shoot significantly more powerfully than it would during cooler weather. While this may seem like a benefit, it often reduces consistency and accuracy.
In the UK, shooters should also remember that increasing temperatures can affect the legal power output of an airgun. Although manufacturers design their products to remain within legal limits under normal operating conditions, extreme temperatures can influence performance.
PCP Airguns and Hot Weather
PCP airguns are generally much less affected by high temperatures than COâ‚‚ models, but they are not completely immune.
Hot weather can:
- Slightly increase the pressure inside the air cylinder.
- Alter regulator performance on some regulated rifles.
- Cause lubricants to become thinner.
- Change barrel harmonics very slightly.
Most modern PCP rifles will continue to perform exceptionally well in hot conditions, although competitive shooters may notice small changes in velocity or accuracy.
If you’re shooting over a chronograph, it’s worth checking your rifle’s performance if temperatures change dramatically.
Spring-Powered Airguns
Spring-powered air rifles are usually the least affected by ambient temperature.
However, prolonged exposure to excessive heat can:
- Soften certain lubricants.
- Affect synthetic seals over many years.
- Cause wooden stocks to expand or contract slightly depending on humidity.
In day-to-day use, most spring air rifles will perform almost identically whether it’s 10°C or 30°C.
Protect Your Scopes and Accessories
Your optics can also suffer during extremely hot weather.
Leaving a rifle in direct sunlight or inside a parked vehicle can expose your scope to temperatures well above 50°C.
This may lead to:
- Heat haze affecting your view.
- Fogging if moved quickly between temperatures.
- Damage to adhesives or seals in cheaper optics.
- Premature ageing of rubber components.
Quality scopes are designed to withstand a wide range of temperatures, but avoiding unnecessary heat exposure will help extend their lifespan.
Never Leave an Airgun in a Hot Car
One of the biggest mistakes shooters make is leaving their equipment inside a vehicle on a hot day.
The temperature inside a parked car can easily exceed 60°C during summer.
This can potentially:
- Increase COâ‚‚ pressure to unsafe levels.
- Damage seals and O-rings.
- Warp synthetic accessories.
- Dry out wooden stocks.
- Shorten the life of lubricants.
Always store your airgun in a cool, shaded place whenever possible.
Heat Can Affect Accuracy
Even if your rifle is functioning perfectly, hot weather can influence accuracy in several ways.
These include:
- Mirage (heat shimmer) making targets appear distorted.
- Changes in pellet velocity.
- Shooter fatigue affecting consistency.
- Warm barrels expanding very slightly during extended shooting sessions.
If you’re shooting at longer distances, allowing the rifle to cool occasionally and taking regular breaks can help maintain consistent results.
Looking After Your Airgun During Summer
A few simple precautions will keep your airgun performing at its best:
- Keep it out of direct sunlight whenever possible.
- Store it in a cool, dry location.
- Never leave it inside a parked vehicle.
- Check zero if temperatures have changed significantly.
- Keep seals lightly lubricated using manufacturer-approved products.
- Wipe away sweat and moisture after handling to prevent corrosion.
- Use quality pellets for consistent performance.
Final Thoughts
Most quality airguns are designed to operate across a wide range of temperatures, and the occasional hot summer’s day is unlikely to cause any lasting problems.
However, prolonged exposure to extreme heat can affect performance, particularly with COâ‚‚-powered airguns, while also accelerating wear on seals, optics and other components.
By taking a few sensible precautions, you can continue enjoying accurate, reliable shooting throughout the summer while helping your airgun remain in excellent condition for years to come.
Whether you’re shooting in the garden, at the range or out in the field, treating your equipment with care during hot weather is one of the easiest ways to protect your investment.
Looking for your next airgun or accessories?
Browse our extensive range of air rifles, air pistols, optics, pellets and shooting accessories at Just Air Guns, where you’ll find products from many of the world’s leading manufacturers, expert advice and competitive UK prices.
About This Blog
Blog Title: How Extremely Hot Weather Can Affect Airguns
Author: Mark Watts
Shop Address: Just Air Guns, Trimex House, Pier Road, Feltham, TW14 0TW
Website: www.justairguns.co.uk
Phone: 0330 999 5224