Whether you prefer to keep your guns clean and lubed at all times or you only clean when you’re left with no other choice, it’s important to remember that certain seasons require different attention than others. Summertime, with its heat and humidity, can require attention to detail that other, cooler seasons do not. Of course, just how much attention must be paid depends on the part of the country you live in. For the purposes of this article let’s assume you live in one of the hotter states and/or one with more humidity than is typically found up north. Hotter climates and those with a combination of heat and humidity can require extra care for your guns, and we’re here to help you figure it out.
How does heat affect a firearm?
For our purposes, we’re looking at how the heat of summer affects firearms with a specific focus on handguns. That’s because the guns most likely to be adversely affected by the heat are the ones you carry, whether on-body or for use as a truck gun. So, how does the summer heat really impact your carry guns?
Because firearms are designed to withstand extreme temperatures, especially heat, the heat of summer isn’t terribly likely to cause excessive wear or damage. Your carry gun shouldn’t suffer ill effects related to heat alone just from being holstered on your body. It tends to be the humidity and sweat that causes a lot more trouble. For on-body carry, any heat-related issues you come across are most likely to have to do with components made from materials of lesser quality. For example, a gun with inexpensive plastic grips is more likely to experience stress from heat than one with well-made polymer, steel, or wooden grips. Quality does matter, and you’re going to find out why when you expose your gun to extreme climates.
The bottom line is that even the more extreme heat of Texas isn’t likely to harm your carry gun while it’s on your body. Leaving a gun sitting out in direct sunlight is another story.
How does humidity affect firearms?
It’s the humidity of summer that really causes trouble for firearms. When you’re used to dry climates it can be a surprise to find out humidity can cause guns to corrode and rust at a rather alarming rate. In some areas, leaving a firearm out instead of putting it in a humidity-controlled safe can mean an accumulation of corrosion practically overnight. It happens that fast.
Manufacturers typically suggest firearms be stored under 50% humidity, which is why dehumidifiers are so handy in safes. Of course, you can’t keep humidity that low as you go about your day. In Texas, humidity in July ranges from 51% to 92% depending on the part of the state. And if you check Florida, summer dew point averages between 74° and 75° (With 90° possible). Arizona, where residents often remark that it’s a dry heat, has humidity at levels as low as 17% in the summer. As you might imagine, how much humidity affects your firearms is going to depend on where you are and what you’re doing.
The top issue with humidity and guns is corrosion. There are ways to limit your gun’s exposure to sweat and moisture, and steps that can be taken to mitigate the effects afterward.
How do you prevent corrosion on carry guns?
The simplest way to prevent corrosion on your carry gun is to do everything possible to avoid exposing the gun to excessive moisture. That means you don’t put the gun in contact with exposed skin any more than absolutely necessary. You can wear an undershirt that keeps the gun away from direct contact with skin or you can use a holster with a back piece that more completely protects it. A holster with a level back piece that doesn’t extend upward to shield the back of the slide from your skin just isn’t going to cut it during hot, humid weather. Not only can direct-skin contact get uncomfortable in the heat and humidity but it can cause corrosion on your firearm.
Bottom line? Prevent corrosion on your carry gun by getting a holster that shields as much of the gun as possible from your skin (or by wearing an undershirt). Be aware that a raised back piece like what’s found on many hybrid holsters is also prone to creasing and folding which prevents a safety risk. Heat speeds that process up, too. Always check your holsters for signs of wear that could make them unsafe to continue using.
How do you clean your gun during the summer?
Usually, preventing corrosion is as easy as wiping your gun off if it gets damp. Generally speaking, there’s no reason to deep clean your gun frequently throughout the summer because if it gets wet you just need to remove the moisture by wiping it off. Of course, that doesn’t mean your carry gun might not benefit from more frequent cleaning and lubing during hot, humid weather.
Keep in mind that extra summer cleaning is less about removing fouling and more about making sure the gun is free of unwanted moisture and lubed enough to be protected and to cycle well. So if you’re imagining a summer filled with nights carefully cleaning and detailing your firearms, don’t worry. That isn’t necessary.
Certain types of guns are more prone to corrosion and rust, of course. You’ll need to be more attentive to a handgun with a steel frame than one with a polymer frame, such as a Glock. Before you consider switching out your carry guns by season, though, stop and consider how much time and training you’ve put into the guns in question. It’s certainly possible to be competent and accurate with multiple handguns, but you need to make sure you aren’t sacrificing a layer of safety by changing out carry guns. In fact, this might be a good argument for carrying polymer handguns year-round rather than heavier steel-framed guns.
Paying a little more attention to cleaning your carry gun when you’ve been sweating or it’s been wet outside goes a long way toward the gun’s longevity. Although it’s certainly possible to clean corrosion and rust off guns, it’s a lot easier to simply prevent the accumulation in the first place.
