Rifles, snow and rain

[Al Lu]

Looking at the last post of "Lets see those hunting rifles" I saw a rifle covered with water? Do you cover your rifle when snow and rain are hitting? Or don't care and carry barrel pointing down so water does't get into the barrel? I carry trash bag but was wondering what others are doing? Thanks.

 

[K9TXS]

Last year hunting sage rats with Tim Titus in Oregon, we had a drizzle of a rain in the morning. The rats were slow, but they were still out moving around. My buddy and I stayed with them. The other two shooters took a break.

We cleaned the rifles a couple of times that day due to the amount of ammo through it, not the water.

Water is not going to hurt anything. The stock should be properly sealed of course if it's wood.

If I thought a got a some water in the barrel by carrying it, I might run a couple of patches through it.

 

[MClark]

Clear package tape. I used to use Scotch tape but it is a bit narrow for the job.
I have never checked group while shooting through the tape as I hunt close, especially if raining.
I bought a rifle for the rain. I wanted stainless, synthetic stock and iron sights, ended up with a Ruger Hawkeye.
If I think it is going to really come down I sit in blind nice and dry.

 

[drover]

I put a piece of black electrical tape on the barrel of my rifles, it keeps out any moisture or in case of a tumble it will keep out mud or snow. It will blow off from the gas force of the powder long before the bullet encounters it. Cheap and Simple - a great combo.

drover

 

[Albany Mountain]

I run electrical tape over the muzzle (1 layer at the bore). I also found some muzzleloading condoms that work as well but you need to tape them on.

 

[Rick in Oregon]

We do the same thing we did in Vietnam....black tape over the muzzle, hunt normally. When elk hunting in black timber, it's often snowing or raining, so a cheap trick is all it takes to keep the bore dry.

 

[K22]

Masking tape over the end of the muzzle in iffy weather conditions.

After getting my $1,500 (in 2010 dollars) Weatherby Mark V Supervarmint master soaked three years ago in a rain storm while hunting ghogs I purchase a product called the "rain-buddy". It's a light weight, water proof cover that slips over your rifle. You can carry it your pocket. www.rain-buddy.com Never leave home without it.

 

[1CTShooter]

If I can take whatever the weather is, my rifle better be able to take it. I keep everything properly cleaned and oiled, never had a problem with weather. I do put a piece of oil cloth over the lock on my muzzleloader if it's really heavy.

 

[Field_2_Fork]

The rifle in question is mine, just pulled it out of the safe to have a look as it's been parked for 2.5 months since the elk hunt when the picture was taken.

I see nothing bad happening on the metal or the wood, maybe it's too soon to tell but I think if there was an issue it would be rearing it's ugly face by now. I do put electrical tape on the muzzle, mostly to prevent snow and mud in the event of a fall.

The evening of the picture, I dried the gun and gave it a good wipe down with an oiled rag and some patches, then a few days later when I got home I pulled the stock off and cleaned and oiled everything quite thoroughly.

I used to worry a lot about getting them wet, but after several experiences now I'm yet to have an issue. One sporting clay shoot in particular I remember water running down the barrels of my O/U, I was pretty freaked out but everything turned out OK.

It may catch up with me someday, but so far so good. I think a big part of it is keeping it well oiled the other 99% of the time as well. I like to wipe everything down with an oily rag before it goes back in the safe.

ETA: With that being said, I wasn't trying to monopolize the thread in anyway, and am looking forward to hearing any opposing views or thoughts on the topic. I'm relatively new to all this and here to learn. Cheers.

 

[Lonny in ID]

I don't worry about rain or snow. I do keep the muzzle taped though.

 

[Treerat-sniper]

I typically buy stainless/synthetic but have run fingers cut off of disposable rubber gloves over the muzzles on occasion.

 

[Albany Mountain]

The rifle in question is mine, just pulled it out of the safe to have a look as it's been parked for 2.5 months since the elk hunt when the picture was taken.

I see nothing bad happening on the metal or the wood, maybe it's too soon to tell but I think if there was an issue it would be rearing it's ugly face by now. I do put electrical tape on the muzzle, mostly to prevent snow and mud in the event of a fall.

The evening of the picture, I dried the gun and gave it a good wipe down with an oiled rag and some patches, then a few days later when I got home I pulled the stock off and cleaned and oiled everything quite thoroughly.

I used to worry a lot about getting them wet, but after several experiences now I'm yet to have an issue. One sporting clay shoot in particular I remember water running down the barrels of my O/U, I was pretty freaked out but everything turned out OK.

It may catch up with me someday, but so far so good. I think a big part of it is keeping it well oiled the other 99% of the time as well. I like to wipe everything down with an oily rag before it goes back in the safe.

ETA: With that being said, I wasn't trying to monopolize the thread in anyway, and am looking forward to hearing any opposing views or thoughts on the topic. I'm relatively new to all this and here to learn. Cheers.

I always enjoy disassembling, wiping down and oiling. You get to know the firearm better and your grandchildren may benefit from this practice. It sure beats taking one apart and seeing rust on a fine surface

 

[MQ1]

The rifle in question is mine, just pulled it out of the safe to have a look as it's been parked for 2.5 months since the elk hunt when the picture was taken.....

I see nothing bad happening on the metal or the wood, maybe it's too soon to tell but I think if there was an issue it would be rearing it's ugly face by now.....

....ETA: With that being said, I wasn't trying to monopolize the thread in anyway, and am looking forward to hearing any opposing views or thoughts on the topic. I'm relatively new to all this and here to learn. Cheers.

Once, I went groundhog hunting in a warm, light rain. Stainless barrel...Mcmillan stock...nothing really to worry about, and when the hunt was done I wiped everything down with light oil...cleaned the barrel as I normally would and called it good.

That happened to be the last hunt of that year.

The following spring, when I pulled my rifle out to check zero..I was surprised to find my go-to load was all over the place. I had a couple that I had put together for different purposes (243AI) yet none of them was close to being accurate anymore.

I thought it was the scope (nope). I thought it was the mounts (nope) I pulled the barrelled action to check the bedding...and there it was...plain as day, but hidden from external view.

The recoil lug was carbon steel...and water had gotten into and sat in the lowest point...for about 6-7 months...and had rusted enough to cause serious grief. It was easy to fix, but I sure felt stupid.

When I’m in a rain now, I take the rifle down further than just an external wipe.

MQ1

 

[stork]

Been putting balloons over the muzzle for over 30 years. Tested it on one of my bench guns when I started. Doesn't affect either point of impact or group size, just blows off the end.

 

[Roe]

For snow, I use a neoprene scopecoat and carry the rifle in an Eberlestock backpack.

 

[rayporter]

about 15 years ago my bud sat and watched an elk while he heated his bolt with a bic lighter. just at the last minute he got the shot and we had elk down.

10 years ago it rained hard the first 2 days of elk season and then went to single digits and snow. when we got up everything was frozen and it took a while to make coffee. while water melted i took my rifle apart and heated the trigger and bolt to get the ice to melt and drip out. the others laughed at me. but i killed and they dont know if their rifle would fire or not.

i tape too.

 

[Bojo]

I have a really nice 1964 ADL in 243 and a repaired stock but great blueing 88 in 308 then I have my faithful savage 116 in 3006...
The first two are nice weather guns. The savage goes the entire 5 weeks of deer season in whatever mother nature throws at her..
I use finger cots or rubber glove finger cut offs over the muzzle during shitty weather.
Once I take a rifle into the woods to hunt I as a general rule will not bring back into the warm to sweat up.
That stainless and plastic fantastic stock may not be considered pretty by many but it is definitely more worry free.

 

[FeMan]

I backpack hunt for a week or two at a time in the Rockies most every fall. Most of that is chasing mulies in September and there is more rain than snow. Ive been in downpours for 3 to 4 days straight and found there isn't any way of keeping water out. I therefore don't really try anymore. I do clean and lightly oil firing pin, bolt and exposed metal before I go. I also make sure my loads are low enough pressure to be safe in a wet chamber. The only thing I cover is my optics with scope caps and neopreme covers.

 

[searcher]

I shoot the rats in light mist, snow and rain - as long as they are out - I will shoot at them. My rifles are all synthetic stocked and while most are stainless actions and barrels - several are not. Those blued need to be removed from the stock and dried and apply rust preventative. I use Shooters' Choice "Rust Prevent" on all my guns before going back into storage. For the frozen trigger or bolt - apply an appropriate light lube (lighter fluid will work - but no grease) before going out. If a wood-stocked rifle was not at least pillar bedded and free-floated, I'd not want to get it soaked and expect it to remain "right on". If you seal the wood of a stock with a quality oil-based finish on the area surrounding the action and apply a liberal coat of carnauba wax to the rest of the finish, it can prevent your stock from absorbing excessive moisture on a bad day which can affect accuracy. Never had any issues with quality scopes, though I install the sunshade to minimize mist on the forward lens. I have made up a home-made "weather shield" by taking some Naugahyde about 14"w X24" long and folding an inch or so of the 14" sides over heavy sand so as to make a edge-weighted rectangular water shield that simply lays over the scope. It will keep the elements off the scope, rings, rail and the action, except for a bit of the rear. It does double-duty if I or another shooter forgets a brass catcher for a particular rifle. as you simply lay it over the scope and it allows the fired brass to stay in a relatively small area just to your side.