Shooting in the rain

[Barbour Creek Long range]

 

[K22]

While I do not shoot at the distances this fellow does but in my varmint hunting obsessive days when I was a much younger man, I have hunted in moderate rain with a 222 Remington 700.

I discovered that it had no effect trajectory wise on my performance. Using those see through Bulter Creek scope covers kept the reticle clear and visible.

One of the most successful varmints hunts I ever had was after a moderate rain event. I was deep in the field during the rain and decided to remain posted up rather than walk back to the truck, several hundred yards away. After the rain stop, ground hogs came out places I had never seen them before along the tree lines and in the field. The action was fast and furious. Hogs everywhere!

However, I would not recommend it especially if there is lightning and thunder in the area. "Bad idea". But I was young, dumb, and fearless in those days.

Like most deer hunters, I have also hunted in the rain and snow. When you are deep into the woods far off the beaten path, sometimes you have no choice. Never found it to be an obstacle to success.

 

[1K6BRA]

We shoot in the rain quite often at Ridgway rifle club in Pennsylvania. Sometimes the snow! Out to 1000 yards I’ve never seen it have any effect.

 

[Bob3700]

Rain is just wind u can see.

 

[SKWERLZ]

We shoot in the rain quite often at Ridgway rifle club in Pennsylvania. Sometimes the snow! Out to 1000 yards I’ve never seen it have any effect.

 

[Will Henry]

I have shot a lot of matches in light rain, heavy rain, snow and rain, and just snow. Generally speaking, if I could see the target, I could hit it or miss it with the same frequency as when it was clear. I only saw one case where the rain directly altered the bullet's flight. In that case, about 48 years ago I was watching while another competitor was shooting. It was raining quite heavily and John (whose last name escapes me) had three shots in a decent cluster at 100 yards. Just as he touched off his fourth shot, an absolute torrent of water came off the roof. There was a cloud of spray, and the bullet hit about four inches out of the group. WH

 

[Big Mc]

Raun what is that. Tommy Mc Down here in South Texas.

 

[Rick in Oregon]

If you're a serious elk hunter here, rain, snow or sleet can be expected during season in the high country. The mamma's boys, Gen Z types need not apply. I think if they see any foul weather in the forecast, they stay home with their Play Stations.

I'm not sure any of those namby types hunt anyway. One thing for sure, the elk don't seem to mind, and all my .338 Nosler 210gr Partitions have hit right where they were aimed during rain, snow or sleet.

 

[expiper]

I must respectfully disagree,,, I have seen many bullets go astray while shooting in variations of rainstorms at 100 and 200 yard Benchrest events,,,, if you're shooting at a target as big as a bulls butt, you won't miss it but if you're trying to shoot groups quarter inch or smaller, you can see it affecting the group size distinctly..... Roger
I do agree that watching the rain angle is a good wind indicator and that the atmosphere conditions have a lot less to do with the flight of the bullet then what the wind does at any distance

 

[J.J. Coe]

My biggest group at 100. Extreme heavy downpour, 3rd shot went out last 2 went right into the group. Im thinking it could've been from the heavy runoff from the roof too.

 

[Bob3700]

I have shot HP MR and LR in the rain and have not had any shots that could not be explained.
Most of the time, the big issue with heavy rain is you cannot see the target well enough to shoot!

 

[Doug Casner]

When it starts raining I usually head for the house unless Im hunting waterfowl wth a shotgun. Used to hunt waterfowl with a shotgun. Doug

 

[ISS]

I used to shoot HBR. At a match in LaGrande, OR, one summer we had a day long very light drizzle. A Veteran shooter named Verne Johnson Sr was on the bench next to me loading. I made a comment about the rain, and he tells me "Rich, look thru your scope. What is the drizzle doing? I said, coming straight down. He says, that would mean a zero hold off left or right.". The light came on. I ended winning the 100 and 200 yard matches, and the aggregate. Beat Verne Sr on X-count, and his son Verne Jr in third. We tied 1-2-3 on score and whupped everybody.
It was a priceless lesson.

 

[Fire Dog]

I must respectfully disagree,,, I have seen many bullets go astray while shooting in variations of rainstorms at 100 and 200 yard Benchrest events,,,, if you're shooting at a target as big as a bulls butt, you won't miss it but if you're trying to shoot groups quarter inch or smaller, you can see it affecting the group size distinctly..... Roger
I do agree that watching the rain angle is a good wind indicator and that the atmosphere conditions have a lot less to do with the flight of the bullet then what the wind does at any distance

I saw a video by F Class John about shooting with damp to wet cartridges and it rather confirmed what you are saying…
His video did not fire projectiles through the rain but rather delt with the issue of damp/wet ammo.
It would be good to see a companion video that shoots through rain of different amounts.
I did shoot a 200.14 with a 6BR at 600yds in F Open in twilight and light drizzle {did keep ammo dry} and have found in the past, at least for me, overcast cooler weather always seem to give me better scores.

 

[Bob3700]

Overcast days have always been good shooting days. Bright sun creates glare off the target ( as well as mirage.