Deer hunting for a week of rain: Bring a stainless .357 Mag or a blued .44 Mag?

[Macchina]

I just confirmed a week-long island deer hunt that I've done in years past but before I owned a rifle. I used to bring my Remington 870 and not be too concerned if a bit of rust showed up because that gun is well used. We've been on the island in both great weather and also a week straight of rain. You can't really do anything but hunt through it and try to keep your gun oiled.


I have since purchased several blued steel rifles including a 7mm-08 Savage, a 30-06 Model 70, and a .44 Mag Marlin 1894 (JM Stamp). Last year I picked up a Ruger 77/357 in stainless took a small buck at 40 yards last season. I would never dream of bringing the Model 70 and the Savage may be getting loaned out. That leaves me with my blued .44 Mag Marlin and a nifty stainless .357 Mag Ruger 77/357 I picked up last year. I'm leaning toward bringing the Ruger but the added power of the Marlin keeps me from being sure.

Any advice? The leaves are all down on the island so shots of up to 150 yards are possible but most shots will be 20 to 100 yards. Both rifles are very handy but the Ruger is both stainless and lighter. I guess the question here is: Have you ever used a .357 rifle while hunting and regretted it? What was the shot/situation like?

 

[Sheepdog1968]

When it rains I bring out my stainless and polymer stocked hunting rifle. I just don't like getting my blued and wood rifles wet.

 

[sage5907]

Have you ever thought about using a rainproof rifle sleeve to put over your rifle in wet weather. They weigh almost nothing and it doesn't take very long to slip your rifle out and make the shot. A company called Rain-Buddy makes a waterproof rifle cover for about $25. One of those could come in handy no matter which rifle you choose. Just google Rain-Buddy waterproof rifle cover.

 

[HB]

Sounds weird but try waxing your rifle. I would've never believed it but did it to a few shotguns. Same affect as it has on your car, water beads off

 

[rcmodel]

This!

Johnson's Paste Floor Wax, heavily applied to the metal parts and you're good to go.

http://www.thehighroad.org/showpost.php?p=4110525&postcount=7

rc

 

[jmr40]

Water won't hurt blue nearly as bad as it will wood. After prolonged use in wet weather your blue guns will likely show some character, but it won't hurt a thing unless neglected for long periods. SS is a little easier to keep clean, but any water damage that will prevent you from hunting with a blue gun will do the same with SS.

A wood stocked rifle used in wet conditions may not be affected enough to matter, it could swell just enough to change point of impact or it could even split right before your eyes.

I've seen all 3 happen. I once found a small 1/8" long hairline crack in a rifles stock right at sun up in the rain. By lunch time it was 3" long and 1/8" wide. I've seen point of impact change when it rains by 2-4" even though the rifle never got wet. Just the change in humidity will cause the moisture trapped inside the stock when it was made to expand. I've seen other rifles not affected enough to notice.

I wouldn't use a 44 mag or 357 mag on shots longer than 50-75 yards unless I just had to. You have better options. I'd take either the 7-08 or 30-06 and hope for the best.

If they were my rifles I'd put both the 7-08 and 30-06 in a high quality synthetic and forget about wood. All of my go-to rifles, both blue and SS are in McMillan Edge stocks. If you don't want to spend that much money there are lots of factory take-off synthetics for sell on e-bay and gun broker etc. dirt cheap. They shoot just fine and often sell for $25-$50.

 

[Coyote3855]

This!

Johnson's Paste Floor Wax, heavily applied to the metal parts and you're good to go.

http://www.thehighroad.org/showpost.php?p=4110525&postcount=7

rc

My Dad used JPFW on his elk rifle for years on both the wood and metal. He was careful to make sure there was wax anywhere moisture could get between wood and metal.

 

[blue32]

Take that m70 into the rain and bust its cherry

 

[Glockpride]

Use this as an excuse to finally purchase the SS .44 Mag. -

 

[Captcurt]

Know your limitations.

Never had a problem with the 357 on whitetails and it is in a Ruger GP100. I would not feel under gunned but I would load 180gr XTPs and keep my shots under 75 yards. I am old. I can do that.

 

[TexasPatriot.308]

never owned a pistol caliber carbine till last 6 months, now own 2 .44 mags one a bolt action Ruger M77/44 and an old Ruger .44 mag carbine...fell in love with both for hogs in brush, normaly I need a long range bolt action like a .308 and I got a few...meanwhile the .44 mag has become one of my favorites.

 

[ECVMatt]

If the deer are close, I would go with the Ruger. I killed a nice 150 lb hog with the 158 XTP HP at about 50 yards. It did a great job and pretty much dropped the hog in its' tracks.

 

[Bobson]

Take that m70 into the rain and bust its cherry

Agreed.

An M70 is a hunting rifle. Take it hunting. If the water ends up messing up the wood, you could just get a quality synthetic like jmr40 said, and then you'll have the right tool for the job in the future.

I really don't understand why people shy away from synthetic. I mean, injection molded crap is just that, but there are many excellent options in synthetic (McMillan Edge, Manners T/TA, etc). A hunting rifle is a tool, and an impractical tool is like having a car with no tires. It's not gonna do you any good.

 

[CajunBass]

Good grief. My grandfather used to hunt ducks and geese on Chesapeake bay with his Parker and A.H. Fox shotguns. If that salt mist and spray didn't hurt them (not to mention the rain and sleet), I doubt a little rain is going to hurt a rifle. I admit he didn't have a choice in those days, but he kept his guns clean and oiled down.

I'd give the guns a good coat of wax, I do that with my handguns anyway, and take the best tool for the job. Sounds like you have several good options.

 

[wild willy]

The Model 70 will be a lot easier to take care of then the 1894 in the rain.If you get the 1894 soaked to be sure of no rust you will have tear it apart water gets everywhere in them. Under the forearm in the magazine tube the buttstock will swell up. That's why so many Marlins and Winchester lever guns that have been hunted with look fine but the barrel and magazine tube will rusted sometime badly under the forearm.