F-Class, Mid-Range / Long Range F-Open Shooting?

[foxguy]

When Shooting F-Open off of a Front Rest and a Rear Bag.
Shooting day it's raining or will be raining.

Is one Bag Type better for shooting in the rain, do you place some type of waterproof towel over your front / rear bags to protect them from the wetness.

Or,

The wet bags don't affect the rifles / shooters' ability to shoot, they shoot just as well as when shooting off of dry bag's.


I haven't Shot F-Class in the rain, so I don't have any Idea if shooters set up differently.

Thanks for sharing your experiences.

 

[rardoin]

There’s this rumor,…uh…legend about a couple of guys shooting a long range match up in the mountains of New Mexico during the worst thunderstorm in recorded history. The locals were felling trees and looking at some drawings on papyrus paper and building some sort of vessel. I understand there were some mighty fine scores shot. I think one fellow, who retreated to the truck, may have video. Mostly of the floorboards though. Paging @dskogman white courtesy telephone, please.

 

[dannyjbiggs]

I don't worry so much about getting rainwater on my front/rear bags...but rather getting rainwater inside my action port and on my ammo, soon to be fired. Below is a pic of my F-O "rain cape". It's a 3' x 22" piece of clear plastic (medium thickness from Hobby Lobby), wide enough to provide an addition inch of coverage beyond the OAL each end of my NF Competition riflescope...which pretty well also covers my front bag, too. The black line thru the plastic is a "male" 1" strip of Velcro (adhesive on one side) which mates and secures the cape to "female" Velcro 1" rounds situated on the front and rear of all my riflescopes. The left side orange strip is weighted edging that keeps that edge hanging in place near ground level in windy situations on left side action. The right-side extended plastic is sufficient to cover over and beyond my ammo box...that orange strip is also weighted. I carry two chamois cloths in my shooting bag. When shooting in the rain, one is placed over my open ammo box, shielding the ammo inside. The other is nearby under cover for me to wipe my usually wet hand on before removing ammo from the box to place in the chamber, all while under the plastic cover. (You will get your hand wet when operating the bolt.) A hooded rain jacket pretty well keeps the rear bag dry. I've weathered heavy downpours with this simple cape.

 

[Lbart]

Like Danny, my Team Berger mate, I use a large clear plastic cover just as he does. The main thing to do is keep your ammo dry! I shoot left-handed with a left bolt, right port and load my ammo with my dry right hand.

 

[randy x]

I don't worry so much about getting rainwater on my front/rear bags...but rather getting rainwater inside my action port and on my ammo, soon to be fired. Below is a pic of my F-O "rain cape". It's a 3' x 22" piece of clear plastic (medium thickness from Hobby Lobby), wide enough to provide an addition inch of coverage beyond the OAL each end of my NF Competition riflescope...which pretty well also covers my front bag, too. The black line thru the plastic is a "male" 1" strip of Velcro (adhesive on one side) which mates and secures the cape to "female" Velcro 1" rounds situated on the front and rear of all my riflescopes. The left side orange strip is weighted edging that keeps that edge hanging in place near ground level in windy situations on left side action. The right-side extended plastic is sufficient to cover over and beyond my ammo box...that orange strip is also weighted. I carry two chamois cloths in my shooting bag. When shooting in the rain, one is placed over my open ammo box, shielding the ammo inside. The other is nearby under cover for me to wipe my usually wet hand on before removing ammo from the box to place in the chamber, all while under the plastic cover. (You will get your hand wet when operating the bolt.) A hooded rain jacket pretty well keeps the rear bag dry. I've weathered heavy downpours with this simple cape.

I scored for him while he used it once.We were wet his ammo and bolt was not.

 

[dskogman]

There’s this rumor,…uh…legend about a couple of guys shooting a long range match up in the mountains of New Mexico during the worst thunderstorm in recorded history. The locals were felling trees and looking at some drawings on papyrus paper and building some sort of vessel. I understand there were some mighty fine scores shot. I think one fellow, who retreated to the truck, may have video. Mostly of the floorboards though. Paging @dskogman white courtesy telephone, please.

Fact !

 

[F Class John]

Your bigger worry should be getting any kind of water or moisture in your chamber when it's raining. The bag will be fine for the most part but any moisture in your chamber will cause all kinds of potential issues.
Here's s couple videos on how I do gear up for rain (although it's always subject to change depending on conditions).
I should say I learned a lot of this from watching those who figured most of it out long before me (some of whom are above).