Is it safe to shoot wet guns?

No, not with a barrel full of water.
Yes with a soaking wet gun.
If you have been carrying muzzle up and get water in the bore.
Point the muzzle down and crack the bolt back far enough to let air in and water out before shooting.

But it's best to carry slinged muzzle down when its raining that hard.

Wet won't hurt anything.
Full of water will.

rc

It depends on if there any water in the barrel.

So does anyone know how much water in the barrel actually creates a safety problem? I don't mean if the gun is underwater, but just getting water in the barrel one way or the other.

alfon, I'll share my completely unscientific experience with this. I have fired all kinds of guns from .22 L.R. to 90MM cannon in the rain, sometimes very heavy rain. I suspect some water must have been in at least some of the barrels. I admit, I never worried for one second about water in the barrel. Nothing unusual ever occurred in the operation of the guns...ymmv

There are enough videos of submerged guns firing to remove any question of this being a problem.

See?

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencet...K47-underwater-actually-make-work-BETTER.html

There are enough videos of submerged guns firing to remove any question of this being a problem.

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It has got to push up pressures though. I wouldn't fire a gun I cared about with a barrel full of water.

Cosmoline said:

So does anyone know how much water in the barrel actually creates a safety problem? I don't mean if the gun is underwater, but just getting water in the barrel one way or the other.

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A few drops or a film of water shouldn't matter, just as long as there is not a big slug of water. When in doubt, tip the barrel down, and let the water run out.

On YouTube, there are several videos of pistols and revolvers being fired completely submerged in water. Don't recall ever seeing a rifle similarly fired.
I would not care to do so, however due to the difference in barrel length and cartridge power.

Video of EXPLOSION at 1:29

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AGwkHktkTxU

I've fired many very soaked rifles. Totally safe

Don't recall ever seeing a rifle similarly fired.

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The video I linked to features an AKM firing 7.62x39.

Sam1911 said:

There are enough videos of submerged guns firing to remove any question of this being a problem.

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Except that has absolutely no bearing here.

He's not talking about a gun that's completely submerged where pressures are equalized, he's talking about one that might have standing water in it. WAY different dynamics.

If you don't believe me, stick the barrel of your gun only 1/2 way into water and pull the trigger.

Yes, David, I've shot with half submerged barrels too, many times. All good

People have been hunting and fighting with firearms since the days when they fired them with a burning stick.

I'm sure at some point in that time, a gun has been damaged by water in the barrel. I'm sure a few have been damaged by being struck by lightening during that same time period.

I'd worry about as much about one as I would the other. And the same precautions would no doubt help with both. Keep the muzzle down.

once I fired my gun while the tung oil on the stock was wet. besides having my face stuck to the stock for a while no other harm

Rain should not be an issue, carry muzzle down like recommended by RC. A much bigger problem is people not cleaning their guns properly after being carried in a heavy rain.

taliv said:

elephant man, that video is pretty sketchy. i mean it looks like they set them up for failure. the guy is wearing normal goggles when he tests the HK. then he puts on a giant welding mask or something when he tests the other rifle. why?

also, they cut out for no good reason between the dunking and the firing. e.g. bolt is locked back when dunked but is closed when they cut and bring it up to fire. why?

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And notice the HK vents water from the buffer tube plug while the Colt doesn't. Rigged or an HK feature to relieve pressure?

We should mention that when draining water from a barrel that is submerged or even partly filled with water, it is advisable to point the muzzle down, and extract the cartridge enough to let air get around the bullet and case to allow the water to drain out. This was a standard practice in RVN, especially with the "new" 5.56 rifles. Smaller bores are more affected with water than large bores. You can guard against water in your barrel by taping over the muzzle before trekking into monsoons and such. The first shot will blow the tape off the muzzle. Condoms can be used to cover muzzles with flash hiders, etc.

There is a simple solution. I keep tape over the the muzzle and spare tape on the barrel. Pressure building up in front of the bullet blows the tape off before the bullet gets to the end of the barrel. Accuracy is not affected and it not only keeps water out, but any dirt, snow, and pine needles even if you drop your gun muzzle down.

I'm often asked by hunters/shooters when I meet them in the field or range about it. I always start off by telling them it is to hold the barrel together because of the hot loads I use. Then I tell them the truth.

taliv said:

elephant man, that video is pretty sketchy. i mean it looks like they set them up for failure. the guy is wearing normal goggles when he tests the HK. then he puts on a giant welding mask or something when he tests the other rifle. why?

also, they cut out for no good reason between the dunking and the firing. e.g. bolt is locked back when dunked but is closed when they cut and bring it up to fire. why?

Click to expand...

Yeah, I can't trust a video of someone trying to sell me their product by showing why the competing product is not as good.

All of these "As Seen on TV" product commercials crack me up. They show people struggling to do the most mundane of tasks in order to sell some cheap bauble which supposedly makes it easier.

I'm just fuzzy on the physics. IIRC, water can't be compressed. So I suppose on the one hand that enough built up water pressed hard enough by the advancing bullet will slam into the air in front of it, creating a "water bullet" down the bore and spiking pressure likely causing a bulge. But does this actually happen outside of submersion? The video would suggest so, but it's not clear what they did there. And on the other hand, bits of raindrops and even lots of condensation in the bore have never to my knowledge caused any harm. The water is going to be heated to steam almost instantly presumably, or just shoved out the end.