[Kayman]

Hello all.

This is my first post and I'm fairly new to the rifle world too, so, please excuse my ignorance.

I just bought a Savage Mark ll BV .22lr and I love this little gun. In fact I love it so much that I want to protect it from bangs and scrapes when I'm out in the woods hunting those little furry fellas. So, I'm thinking of wrapping the rifle from the top of the barrel to the start of the action with green strips of cotton cut from an old pair of combat pants to help prevent damage to the barrel and stock finish.

So, my question is this:

First off, is this a good idea?
Second, will this have any effect on the accuracy of the gun?
Third, is there any better material I should use and how tight should I wrap it?
Forth, how much material is too much?

Any help and advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks guys.

K.

[ugaarguy]

Kayman, scratches to the wood are easily fixed with sandpaper and oil. If the bluing gets scratched just use a little cold blue. Personally, I leave 'em alone, shows charecter thats earned from use. There's nothing like the look of a good gun thats been cared for, yet stills wears the evidence of years of use.

[4fingermick]

I personally wouldn't be bothered, I take real expensive rifles out in the rain and up hill and down dale. Bad luck if it gets scratched.

One way of avoiding damage is to get some camo tape and tape over the wood, etc. The loose material might get tangledup and actually be dangerous.

Probably the beats way is to get a ding on it and then relax and enjoy the shooting.
Mick.

[Shoney]

Kayman: Welcome!
The manner you propose to wrap your new gem puts it in serious danger of rusting and pitting the metal. DON'T DO IT!

When I was young and stupid, I purchased very expensive weapons (in retrospect, that wasn't so stupid I guess), and I felt the same way you do. I would go to extremes to protect the finish of the weapon. However, as time went by, utility of the weapon took on a greater importance than it's looks. I still cringe when I put a microscopic mar on them, but I also view the mars as character, each brings back many happy memories of the experiences of the hunt whereby those blemishes came into being.

Leave it alone and enjoy!

[hoghunting]

Scratches and dings are going to happen to every gun that goes into the woods. If you are going to worry about scratching your gun while hunting, you are not doing much hunting. Use it and after a few years, you can have the experience of refinishing your rifle, or you can use it as it is and enjoy it.

[Jackal]

If you are intent on covering your rifle, look at these. They are better ways to do what u want. http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/product/standard-item.jsp?_DARGS=/cabelas/en/common/catalog/item-link.jsp_A&_DAV=MainCatcat602007&id=0012943226652a&navCount=4&podId=0012943&parentId=cat601049&navAction=push&catalogCode=XG&rid=&parentType=index&indexId=cat601049&hasJS=true


http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/product/standard-item.jsp?_DARGS=/cabelas/en/common/catalog/item-link.jsp_A&_DAV=MainCatcat602007&id=0013526221066a&navCount=4&podId=0013526&parentId=cat601049&navAction=push&catalogCode=IG&rid=&parentType=index&indexId=cat601049


http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/product/standard-item.jsp?_DARGS=/cabelas/en/common/catalog/item-link.jsp_A&_DAV=MainCatcat602007&id=0028170226906a&navCount=4&podId=0028170&parentId=cat601049&navAction=push&catalogCode=XG&rid=&parentType=index&indexId=cat601049

[hossdaniels]

+1 on dinging it and getting it over with. i bought a dinged citori so i wouldn't be scared to use it. most of my rifles have syntetic stocks now, no worries.

[1911 guy]

I feel your pain, as a former president once said. There is something nice about a fine rifle than you hate to see get misused and abused. There is, however, hope.

It's pretty easy to spend a few years in the woods and not knock the tar out of a rifle. The biggest detriment to the looks of a rifle is lack of proper cleaning.

Scrub the bore every trip whether you shoot or not. Moisture hides in there. Wipe down the outside metal with solvent, dry cloth, oiled cloth, in that order. At the end of every season do the above, plus pull the action/barrel off the stock and clean out all the junk that gets in those little spaces. Degrease and re-lube the trigger mechanism and bolt. Wipe the stock down with either Hoppes gun oil or a wood oil. Don't do this too much because over-oiling a stock can make it too soft.

I'm not saying you'll have a new looking rifle ten years from now, but taking good care of one will keep it looking used and cared for, not abused and neglected.

[Skofnung]

Rifles are meant to be used. Honest wear is to be expected. It is a sign that the owner has been out doing as opposed to sitting at home polishing.