So I have been slowly working my way into long range stuff for about a year now. Unfortunately, due to farming being my occupation, I don’t get a lot of time to shoot in the spring and fall when conditions are fair. Winter is my best opportunity to shoot a lot since we are slow and the crops are out of the field giving me a larger option of shooting venues. So my question is, what are some things you guys recommend when shooting in the cold? I’m in Southwestern Indiana, so we don’t(usually) get any heavy snow or anything, just good and cold. Gets pretty windy at times too. I don’t need stuff for -5 degree weather, I love shooting but if temps get that low I’m staying home, but I do wanna shoot as much as I can this winter. What are some things you guys use to stay warm? What kind of gloves? Hats? Jackets? Anything you lay down to insulate yourself from the ground? I’ve got Carhartt jackets and bibs and things for working in the winter, but those seem like they could get cumbersome and not allow a person to get into a good prone position. Thanks in advance for any advice!
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Cold Weather Shooting Gear?
- Thread starter AHart76
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For any cold weather activity, layering is your friend. Carhart is good and purpose built, its tough thick and can handle strenuous work, abrasion and somewhat ripproof. The only issue i see is most of it is made of cotton, which will absorb and retain sweat. Part of staying warm is the ability to allow moisture to wick off your body then vent to the air through your insulating layers. Keeping you dry.
If you hunt, then you can work on building up some clothing that can serve both purposes (shooting and hunting) Most high end hunting gear are made of materials that vent moisture, have anti bacterial properties, are thinner and designed to keep you warm. Sitka, Kuiu, First Lite etc. Its expensive, but can be found on clearance after the season.
If you do not hunt, you can look at outdoor clothing built for hiking and mountaineering. Again like the hunting clothes above they are made of materials designed for activity, mobility and warmth. Merino wool, poly capilene or other synthetics. If you ever get to Indi you can stop by REI and they can help you with a selection, some of the basics are here https://www.rei.com/learn/expert-adv...ng-basics.html
Ok lastly, on the cheap, there are military surplus clothing that was designed for cold weather, made of sturdy wool and or poly blends. You can even find gortex jackets etc. Most that I have found were from Germany or East Germany, would be best if you can find them at a local surplus as the sizes usually run smaller or short.
as for laying down, you can get the shooting mat of your choice, just find a sleeping pad designed for camping in sub zero temps to put under.
Hope this helps
If you hunt, then you can work on building up some clothing that can serve both purposes (shooting and hunting) Most high end hunting gear are made of materials that vent moisture, have anti bacterial properties, are thinner and designed to keep you warm. Sitka, Kuiu, First Lite etc. Its expensive, but can be found on clearance after the season.
If you do not hunt, you can look at outdoor clothing built for hiking and mountaineering. Again like the hunting clothes above they are made of materials designed for activity, mobility and warmth. Merino wool, poly capilene or other synthetics. If you ever get to Indi you can stop by REI and they can help you with a selection, some of the basics are here https://www.rei.com/learn/expert-adv...ng-basics.html
Ok lastly, on the cheap, there are military surplus clothing that was designed for cold weather, made of sturdy wool and or poly blends. You can even find gortex jackets etc. Most that I have found were from Germany or East Germany, would be best if you can find them at a local surplus as the sizes usually run smaller or short.
as for laying down, you can get the shooting mat of your choice, just find a sleeping pad designed for camping in sub zero temps to put under.
Hope this helps
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Unfortunately I'm not much help. Living here in Texas we just switch out our shorts for a pair of blue jeans the 2 days a year it gets chilly.
^ dick.....
what Roggom said. I use a closed cell foam mat to keep myself warm lying down.
I prefer backcountry/mountaineering gear as it is built to stay dry and doesnt suck when as much when damp. This works best for me since I hunt in CO and spend a lot of time outside.
Carhart does make some stuff for wet weather too i think, might be good since that kinda fits with being a farmer.
It sounds crazy, and an old Mil bivy sac with an old synthetic sleeping bag on top of said pad works to keep you warm and then less layers for walking around and driving. Cheap and easy.
what Roggom said. I use a closed cell foam mat to keep myself warm lying down.
I prefer backcountry/mountaineering gear as it is built to stay dry and doesnt suck when as much when damp. This works best for me since I hunt in CO and spend a lot of time outside.
Carhart does make some stuff for wet weather too i think, might be good since that kinda fits with being a farmer.
It sounds crazy, and an old Mil bivy sac with an old synthetic sleeping bag on top of said pad works to keep you warm and then less layers for walking around and driving. Cheap and easy.
Just a few of the things learned from cold weather hunting. Polypropylene makes a good base layer, after that wool is your friend, from your feet to your head. Synthetic fabrics will keep you warm, but they do not breath like wool. Wool is used in many fabric blends, anything with a 50% content on up is good. Good wool pants/sweaters can be had from many mil surplus outlets at reasonable prices. I've found many Pendelton wool shirts at thrift shops for a few bucks. Buy one size larger than normal for a easy loose fit. Avoid cotton. Period.
Insulated bibs will work just fine. If you have the front zipper style, so much the better, unzip to vent. 3M used to make a water repellent spray for clothes, something silicone base. It works, don't forget to spray the butt. Trust me on that one. A heavy windproof hooded fleece pullover should work for a top layer over everything. If it's to cold for that, like you said, stay home.
Dress for the stand, or the walk in? These days I dress for the stand and walk in at a slower pace so as not to get overheated. At my age, walking slower is not a problem.
If you can, shorten your butt stock some to allow for the extra layers. Have a bipod with feet that bite the ground, rubber feet on frozen ground are worthless. If you use a rear bag, keep it light. Try not to drag any more gear than possible, use a minimalist approach. All that junk gets heavy. I've gone back to mouth calls, one long range, one short.
Up here, survival is the utmost. Phone, knife, matches, tinder, etc., common sense things I'm sure you are aware of.
A light wool or fleece scarf wrapped over the mouth and nose will stop your breath from fogging the scope. If you wear glasses, fog proof them also.
Aviator gloves inside heavy mitts work great. When the shot is ready, just a slight tug of the mitt and you have a gloved hand for the trigger. When laying prone, I like to put the tip of my right mitt under the left elbow. Pull, shoot.
Just a few scattered thoughts from a scattered mind.
Insulated bibs will work just fine. If you have the front zipper style, so much the better, unzip to vent. 3M used to make a water repellent spray for clothes, something silicone base. It works, don't forget to spray the butt. Trust me on that one. A heavy windproof hooded fleece pullover should work for a top layer over everything. If it's to cold for that, like you said, stay home.
Dress for the stand, or the walk in? These days I dress for the stand and walk in at a slower pace so as not to get overheated. At my age, walking slower is not a problem.
If you can, shorten your butt stock some to allow for the extra layers. Have a bipod with feet that bite the ground, rubber feet on frozen ground are worthless. If you use a rear bag, keep it light. Try not to drag any more gear than possible, use a minimalist approach. All that junk gets heavy. I've gone back to mouth calls, one long range, one short.
Up here, survival is the utmost. Phone, knife, matches, tinder, etc., common sense things I'm sure you are aware of.
A light wool or fleece scarf wrapped over the mouth and nose will stop your breath from fogging the scope. If you wear glasses, fog proof them also.
Aviator gloves inside heavy mitts work great. When the shot is ready, just a slight tug of the mitt and you have a gloved hand for the trigger. When laying prone, I like to put the tip of my right mitt under the left elbow. Pull, shoot.
Just a few scattered thoughts from a scattered mind.
I really like wool.
When I was a kid I hated the material as I thought it to be itchy and scratchy but now I love it as it keeps you warm even when wet (within reason) and it breathes well. Itching and scratching are no longer a concern of mine.
Look at Filson overalls and their other wool gear as one of your layers.
Get some bison wool socks over a silk liner with properly fitting boots good to go.
The fly in the ointment is always the hands/fingers especially when needing trigger dexterity.
When I was a kid I hated the material as I thought it to be itchy and scratchy but now I love it as it keeps you warm even when wet (within reason) and it breathes well. Itching and scratching are no longer a concern of mine.
Look at Filson overalls and their other wool gear as one of your layers.
Get some bison wool socks over a silk liner with properly fitting boots good to go.
The fly in the ointment is always the hands/fingers especially when needing trigger dexterity.
I go with either goretex with a couple of layers underneath or carhart also with layers. Ground protection is a must though. Some kind of base with a waterproof too works wonders. I used to have a piece of particle board that was wrapped in a tarp. After shooting I would just hose the tarp off and let it dry and it was good for the next outing.
Arc’Teryx LEAF Cold WX SV jacket and pants. Spendy but worth every penny. Sat in the stand for 4 hours this morning at 22*F and 9mph winds without a chill.
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Get a tarp, then any cold weather clothing you want to run. Lay the tarp down, then whatever sleeping bag or pad you want, then pull the other side of the tarp over you. Then your barrel will stick out of the open end of the burrito. The scope should be covered to stop snow from getting on it. I have used it to -10f and its sweet.
I live in Montana and I'm going to just say this without trying to be a dick.....get tougher. Acclimatization goes a LONG way to doing anything in the cold. I'm outside in the wilderness most days this time of year and we do have snow, wind and cold. Today for instance it is about 28 and snowing. If I stopped doing when the weather was crappy I would never leave the house. A good skin tight base layer, t shirt and insulated pull over are about all I can wear and still have full mobility. Boots are THE most important part of your gear in cold weather. Nothing reflects upon your mood and motivation more than cold feet. I usually wear a polypropylene bottom base and a good winter BDU pants. Here's the point I was trying to make, get outside and get cold. Staying in the warm house only makes it worse. Get cold, get over it and go shoot. I tend to spend a good amount of time in the mountains guiding this time of year and I'm only cold when I have to sit still for long periods. I pack heavy emergency clothes but I rarely use them. Lack of circulation in the cold is the killer, so go shoot and when you get cold move around. Jumping jacks, push-ups....something to get your blood flowing. Go back to shooting. Don't get suckered into thinking you need something special. Carhartts are great with a coating of duck seal or silicone on them. Use what you have and shoot in what you are most likely going to be hunting in. Spend your money on more ammo....HA!
Ok, save yourself some time. These are hands down the best for cold weather gear money can buy.
https://www.sierratradingpost.com/ke...-rec-prod6098H
I use them for camping, hunting, work, etc. I can wear a pair at work with a long sleeve carhart shirt in freezing temps and be fine.
https://www.sierratradingpost.com/ke...-rec-prod6098H
I use them for camping, hunting, work, etc. I can wear a pair at work with a long sleeve carhart shirt in freezing temps and be fine.
I have looked at the Arc’tyrex stuff before. Man it’s just awful pricey. The sleeping bag/tarp idea sounds like a good idea. As for the get tougher comment, I take no offense to it and agree. As a farmer I work out in cold/wet/snowing conditions also. Climatization is a big deal, and when the time comes that I have a chance to go shoot on one of those extreme scenario days, I might go do it just to see how I fare. However, in southern Indiana, we will rarely get those kinds of conditions. Anything below about 15F is rare, even of a night. 6 inches of snow is virtually unheared of, if we get it it’s melted in 48 hours. So when I’m already on a limited budget, I don’t think it’s worth it to spend the kind of money on gear those type of conditions require, to get maybe 1 more day of shooting in. I don’t reload yet and am looking to upgrade from my Gen 1 PST scope. I feel money can be better spent elsewhere at the moment. Insulating myself from the ground was my biggest concern. I have base layer clothing already. Wool socks and such. What type of gloves do you guys recommend? Waterproof clothing would be a help as the Carhartt material is not very waterproof past a light drizzle. Would love to go on a Colorado Elk hunt in the near future, so stuff that would translate well into that type of situation would be a help. Actually also in need of a new pair of insulated boots so any suggestions on that would be appreciated also!
Regards aclimatization.
If you really want to be a hardy type the Army did a study into Reynauds disease and how to thwart its affects on soldiers in cold climes.
My understanding of Reynauds is that it is either an autoimmune disease or an injury brought on by operating vibratory equipment, possibly both I guess.
I think I got a touch from motorcycle riding. In moderately cold temps my fingers would absolutely go gray, waxy, numb with a livid appearance.
My body would shut down circulation to the extremities much earlier than it should have.
When the blood would come back it was stinging pins and needles pain as things began to go live again.
Not fun.
The Army found that a good training technique was to have soldiers sit outside with light clothing during moderately cold weather (think 40's) while keeping their hands immersed in mildly warm water.
They were trying to train the brain to recognize "Wait a minute these temperatures are not so cold" and by keeping the hands warm I guess the brain said "Hey lets keep the blood flowing because we are actually getting benefit from the extremities"
I havent done it but if I was a rock climber or a more impacted cold weather shooter it seems like it might be a good training regimen.
If you really want to be a hardy type the Army did a study into Reynauds disease and how to thwart its affects on soldiers in cold climes.
My understanding of Reynauds is that it is either an autoimmune disease or an injury brought on by operating vibratory equipment, possibly both I guess.
I think I got a touch from motorcycle riding. In moderately cold temps my fingers would absolutely go gray, waxy, numb with a livid appearance.
My body would shut down circulation to the extremities much earlier than it should have.
When the blood would come back it was stinging pins and needles pain as things began to go live again.
Not fun.
The Army found that a good training technique was to have soldiers sit outside with light clothing during moderately cold weather (think 40's) while keeping their hands immersed in mildly warm water.
They were trying to train the brain to recognize "Wait a minute these temperatures are not so cold" and by keeping the hands warm I guess the brain said "Hey lets keep the blood flowing because we are actually getting benefit from the extremities"
I havent done it but if I was a rock climber or a more impacted cold weather shooter it seems like it might be a good training regimen.
It's sort of funny as here in Montana it's "forced acclimatization". We are outside most of the time and as the temps start to fall we add a pull over, then maybe a base layer. When it gets into the teens and below, coats and bibs come out. Basically in the winter here when we get those days of 40 degree temps, we call them chinooks, it's like summer. We're outside in short sleeves and sweating. Especially in seasons past where it has been well below zero for days or weeks. We have seen -50 here without adding wind chill. The first season we bought this place the cabin was very poorly insulated. Only wood stove to heat and we weren't very proficient keeping it going all night. Woke up one morning and it was 18 degrees in the living room. We had pickles in the cabinet that were frozen in the jar.....LOL. So yeah, it gets a little cold here. Of course we have since done a good amount of work and learned a good bit as well.
Different Montana perspective: Aclimate for sure but be smart. Light weight merino wool base layer then more wool layers then a layer to stop the wind. One of the most versatile pieces I ever found was 100% silk cowboy scarf way better than a neck gaiter. I tried shooting a field precision match in a Carhart coat and found it to be warm but way to stiff. Socks and boots are critical but different metabolisms need different protection. I lost parts of 3 toes wearing wool socks and high end pacs while my partner was comfortable in liner socks in cowboy boots with over boots. Go figure. I made the decision after losing parts of my toes that I don't flinch on spending for good cold weather gear. Frost bite is slow to heal and painful for a long time after. Good luck on you quest Arizona looks really inviting in January. "pmclaine" I'll have to try the warm water trick for the brain.
H
H
Merino wool is my favorite by far for an year round clothing type; specifically socks. It breathes very well to prevent perspiration but also dries super fast. Last spring I found wool/gortex jackets and pants for my wife so that she can hunt with me but also shoot in cooler Colorado weather. Base layers are crucial. Use a type or polypro/synthetic that vents to lets your body breath but dress in layers. Able to drop layers and add them as necessary. What I've learned from cold weather is to prevent sweating as much as you can. Dress light when you have to work or walk then base up when you will be stationary. I swear by Cabela's brand clothing based on the life time warranty; however, save your receipt if it fails and they'll replace it for what you paid. I've also found great deals from Sierra Trading Post for base layers; long underwear and socks.
Its a bit more involved than a day on the porch but if you are into the outdoors here is the gist of what I remembered....
http://www.nytimes.com/1988/01/19/sc...old-hands.html
The other end of the spectrum...reading about the early teams that climbed the Eiger there was an American climber that in order to train for his expeditions would walk around with snowballs in his hands all day.
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This thread has lots of great advice but MTFalconer's response leads towards the harsh reality... Cold is cold and no matter what you wear, you can't expect to be real comfy all the time.
One thing I do is to take a wind screen. After 80 knot winds shredded my old one, I picked up a new one at Cabela's. It's not on their site anymore but looks kind of like this:
http://www.cabelas.com/product/camp...c/104611680/kelty-cabana/2369867.uts?slotId=6
If you can block the wind, you're miles ahead around here (northern CO) because wind and cold tend to go together when I'm out shooting. Last time out it was cold rain so we cocked the shelter and shot out the corner and it made it tolerable. I take an 8x10' heavy duty tarp along to cut down on the snow getting tracked on to the shooting mat.
Pmclaine mentioned rock climbing. I've rock climbed down around 0F and have ice climbed down to -15. One trick is to get to where you are going then go put your hands on the cold stuff till you get good and cold, then put your gloves on and go walk around at a moderate pace. Your capillaries will dilate and for the next hour or two, your circulation will be a little better. But as was said above, get up, move around, pump blood. Drink warm fluids, use handwarmers, etc. Be ready to suffer and don't stress about it - your mind can be your body's ally or its enemy.
^^^^^^ exactly. I was lucky enough to attend a couple of cold weather schools in the military as well as Arctic operations and the acclimation to the local environment was key. It's tough to do anything in extremes, hot or cold but it's doable given the right prep work. I do have the benefit of being cold natured, mostly by happenstance but I love the cold. Mostly because I have to or my life will be a pretty sad state of affairs. Cold is tolerable, wind and cold isn't. Nothing chills the bones like 20 degrees and a stiff wind. That is where wind breaks and clothing are key. For stationary operations where you can't move around it just boils down to embracing the suck....LOL.
I'll give away one of my patented tricks for stationary work. Padded shooting mat on the ground. Stake down a poncho With the insulated poncho liner or of course a reasonable facsimile. Stake it loosely enough for you to crawl under it. Pile debris or even snow around the edges and crawl under. In a matter of minutes you'll be snug as a bug. Increase circulation in your hands by squeezing your fists tight and releasing. Same with your toes inside your boots. Wind proof sunglasses, balaclava and hat are standard affairs. Get out and practice like this no you'll find the weak spots that you need to improve on then buy a piece of kit to fill that void.
I'll give away one of my patented tricks for stationary work. Padded shooting mat on the ground. Stake down a poncho With the insulated poncho liner or of course a reasonable facsimile. Stake it loosely enough for you to crawl under it. Pile debris or even snow around the edges and crawl under. In a matter of minutes you'll be snug as a bug. Increase circulation in your hands by squeezing your fists tight and releasing. Same with your toes inside your boots. Wind proof sunglasses, balaclava and hat are standard affairs. Get out and practice like this no you'll find the weak spots that you need to improve on then buy a piece of kit to fill that void.
Lotta solid advice given hear. Almost has me looking forward to some of those extreme condition days! Sounds like what it boils down to is layer up(which is always rule number 1 in the cold), stay out of the wind(another obvious) and then after that, just get out and shoot because, I’m not gonna know till I know! I will be shooting by a building, so I plan on incorporating that into my wind brake. We are very close to being done with harvest and then a lot of time open up, so hoping to be able to start shooting some more in the next week or so!
Do like I do. Put on the Carharts, open the machine shed door, lay a canvas on the floor and shoot, or set up my portable bench I use when I go p dogging.
Good Evening
Winter shooting is a blast specially when you get stopped because it is snowing too hard to see the target.
Temp range 7o to 37o
I shot prone and this is some of the items i like to wear use
- Bibs are excellent when prone your arms are above your head and no jacket seems long enough which exposes your mid section. Bibs are great at covering this area, oh loosen the straps a bit or your pants will try and fold you in half when you lie down
- Boots where winter boots -40 boots (any kind) i wear pac boots or slip on insulated rubber boots I wear Schnee or Acton Adventure but any cold rated boot works...cold feet can affect your concentration having boots rated far in-excess of your activity really makes the day more comfortable
- Ear protection this is one of the few times i don't mind wearing ear muffs they insulate the ears from the cold keeping my ears warm
-wool or fleece cap appropriate for the conditions...shooting is static and you need to think of wearing warmer clothes
- Jacket i have an old parka 3/4 length that cover my back when prone. you can get one of these at Wal-mart or other box stores for a decent price
- Socks base layers mid layers... what ever you currently have at home. you are not doing technical or extended activity outside. fear of overheating sweating then freezing or needing to move perspiration to the outside isn't a big concern, when prone or sitting at a bench and walking to the truck. I wear wool the same wool clothes i use for hunting. I will wear long under under my pants/bibs when it gets colder.
-Gloves i wear insulated leather gloves. my trigger hand is ungloves my support hand always has a glove on.
- Tarp someone else suggested this. i bring an 8x8 tarp to lay over the snow/ground to keep my area clean and four large spikes or tent pegs to prevent the tarp from flapping in the wind.
- shooting mat.
- Thermos of hot beverage.
Do you have a Truck F150... a friend who shoots on his farm doesn't have a dedicated platform to shoot so he uses his truck bed. best thing he did was put in a piece of plywood. wood is warmer then metal and it gets him off the ground so he can see the target. prone on the ground my find you looking at a berm from turned soil or left over trash corn crops.
*** if you are shooting with a brake be aware of the muzzle blast don't want you cracking a rear tail light... you have been warned
Best of luck
Trevor
Winter shooting is a blast specially when you get stopped because it is snowing too hard to see the target.
Temp range 7o to 37o
I shot prone and this is some of the items i like to wear use
- Bibs are excellent when prone your arms are above your head and no jacket seems long enough which exposes your mid section. Bibs are great at covering this area, oh loosen the straps a bit or your pants will try and fold you in half when you lie down
- Boots where winter boots -40 boots (any kind) i wear pac boots or slip on insulated rubber boots I wear Schnee or Acton Adventure but any cold rated boot works...cold feet can affect your concentration having boots rated far in-excess of your activity really makes the day more comfortable
- Ear protection this is one of the few times i don't mind wearing ear muffs they insulate the ears from the cold keeping my ears warm
-wool or fleece cap appropriate for the conditions...shooting is static and you need to think of wearing warmer clothes
- Jacket i have an old parka 3/4 length that cover my back when prone. you can get one of these at Wal-mart or other box stores for a decent price
- Socks base layers mid layers... what ever you currently have at home. you are not doing technical or extended activity outside. fear of overheating sweating then freezing or needing to move perspiration to the outside isn't a big concern, when prone or sitting at a bench and walking to the truck. I wear wool the same wool clothes i use for hunting. I will wear long under under my pants/bibs when it gets colder.
-Gloves i wear insulated leather gloves. my trigger hand is ungloves my support hand always has a glove on.
- Tarp someone else suggested this. i bring an 8x8 tarp to lay over the snow/ground to keep my area clean and four large spikes or tent pegs to prevent the tarp from flapping in the wind.
- shooting mat.
- Thermos of hot beverage.
Do you have a Truck F150... a friend who shoots on his farm doesn't have a dedicated platform to shoot so he uses his truck bed. best thing he did was put in a piece of plywood. wood is warmer then metal and it gets him off the ground so he can see the target. prone on the ground my find you looking at a berm from turned soil or left over trash corn crops.
*** if you are shooting with a brake be aware of the muzzle blast don't want you cracking a rear tail light... you have been warned
Best of luck
Trevor
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Ok I admit it I'm old now and can't deal with that acclimatization crap! After years of motorcycling I have learned that nothing works as good as electricity. Get a good Gerbing 12v heated vest you will keep your core heat up. Good gloves, hat and boots will keep the rest warm but core heat is most important. The Gerbing heated vest is the cats azz! I use mine for hunting and can stay out much longer. I'll be using it for winter shooting days and be toasty warm. A full charge lasts 3+ hours on full heat and 8+ hours on half heat. I never use full heat unless it's brutally cold and your sitting in a deer stand and not moving. Moving around on a shooting day you will never need more than 1/2 heat so it will last all day on a full charge. Best $200 I ever spent. https://www.gerbing.com/mens-vest-liner
Nothing is wrong with cotton. Don't let people tell you other wise. For what your doing it's fine. In the twenties slight 10 to 20 mph wind this is what i wear shooting prone mid winter:
Below the waiste:
Thin cotton socks, and slip on work boots with a handwarmer tossed in the toe area first. Key to warm feet is having ample air space between your socks and your boots meaning thick wool socks in normal size boots ain't gonna help if they take up all the air space in fact they make it worse. Then I wear a thin cotton or poly long John with a thicker cotton long jon over that covered by fleece sweat pants. I put thin rain pants over that and I'm good.
For top I wear first a thin poly long sleeve turtle neck followed by a long sleeve cotton shirt covered by goose down puffy jacket (mines made by mountain hardware).
Add sock hat and mittens with flip up fingers and i can shoot for hours and hours in some pretty nasty conditions. Spent a 6hour day at the range last month in 20degree real temps with a 25mph wind and managed to have a good time other than the 4 and 5 mill wind holds! Clear safety glasses help keep your eyes from watering if it's bitter cold and blowing. Also having a shooting Matt or camp sleeping bag pad to keep off the ground helps a ton too. The one and only thing I always struggle to keep warm is my toes hence the toe warmers in boots.
Below the waiste:
Thin cotton socks, and slip on work boots with a handwarmer tossed in the toe area first. Key to warm feet is having ample air space between your socks and your boots meaning thick wool socks in normal size boots ain't gonna help if they take up all the air space in fact they make it worse. Then I wear a thin cotton or poly long John with a thicker cotton long jon over that covered by fleece sweat pants. I put thin rain pants over that and I'm good.
For top I wear first a thin poly long sleeve turtle neck followed by a long sleeve cotton shirt covered by goose down puffy jacket (mines made by mountain hardware).
Add sock hat and mittens with flip up fingers and i can shoot for hours and hours in some pretty nasty conditions. Spent a 6hour day at the range last month in 20degree real temps with a 25mph wind and managed to have a good time other than the 4 and 5 mill wind holds! Clear safety glasses help keep your eyes from watering if it's bitter cold and blowing. Also having a shooting Matt or camp sleeping bag pad to keep off the ground helps a ton too. The one and only thing I always struggle to keep warm is my toes hence the toe warmers in boots.
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