Does crappy weather get in your way or do you use it . . .

Does crappy weather get in your way?

  • Hell no, I use it to my advantage

    Votes: 19 22.6%

  • What are you a hippy? if its crap outside I'm staying inside

    Votes: 10 11.9%

  • Depends on how crappy/temp/wind/etc

    Votes: 45 53.6%

  • Never gave it a thought

    Votes: 10 11.9%
  • Total voters
    84
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twofewscrews

twofewscrews

Member
Joined
May 19, 2021
Messages
310
Location
Rochester, NY
Due to high (20-40mph) wind and light rain I got the day off. I don't normally let harsh/not optimal conditions prevent me from going to the range for three reasons
  • less people/no people means I have the range to myself
  • I can test my firearms/equipment in various conditions prior to needing it for hunting/shtf/sd/whatever (for example last year I took my shotgun out in 15 degree weather or something super cold and lost my front bead, I loktited the replacement in)
  • learning to shoot in variety of weather conditions, particularly those common to your area of operations, is just common sense and has multiple benefits (shooting a bolt action in the high heat/extreme cold teaches one to ignore physical discomfort and focus without inducing stress)
As I see it the downsides to shooting in such weather are as follows
  • zeroing a firearm could be impossible and a waste of time/ammo/energy
  • if one does not properly care for the firearm prior to and after returning from the range damage such as rust is possible
  • while range training is good time would be better spent investing in a class
  • if you are not properly dressed your miserable
Have I missed anything?
Do you guys let crappy weather prevent you from going to the range/practicing?
 
Not exactly what you asked, but I do like to hunt in the rain. I just walk slowly through the woods and stop every couple yards, look, and move on. Most of the time, you'll see a deer bedded under a cedar tree and have a good opportunity to shoot it either in it's bed or when it jumps and runs. They tend to hold pretty tight. On the few occasions it snows here, it's a lot of fun to go out in a fresh snow and track up rabbits. A single shot 22 and a handful of shorts is perfect for such an outing, and it really tests your eyesight and off-hand shooting ability.

Mac
 
Weather is a two-edged sword. Some types of bad weather are better than others and some types of bad weather will keep me home.

My range is shielded from prevailing winds as it is comprised of a forest-lined sendero. Unless it is raining, range work is no problem.

Hog/varmint hunting is another issue. We avoid hunting in the rain as much as possible because of using electro-optics. Before or after the rain is great. One of my favorite times to hunting is during or just after it snows/sleets. Even during deer season, if we get a good winter event, I know that the number of hunters that will be out will be next to none and I likely won't hear anybody else's gunshots or see much traffic after gettting on the back roads.

I don't mind strong winds, though they can be a physical challenge. The downside to strong winds is that my chances for hunting success seem to plummet, but I have also had some of my best nights during the windiest weather, but these are few in number. At the distances I shoot, usually inside 200 yards, wind correction isn't usually much of an issue.

Aside from a good rain, the one thing that will send me home or keep me home is lightning. I don't like to be out in lightning storms. I hunt several properties and I think just about every one of my landowners has lost cattle to lightning strikes.
 
twofewscrews said:
Do you guys let crappy weather prevent you from going to the range/practicing?
Click to expand...
Rarely. Of course, crappy weather in Western Washington is pretty mild compared to, say, winters in Upper Michigan ...

Nevertheless, if one is committed to shooting outdoors up here, depending on the time of year, plan for rain. I'll usually be shooting in the rain, but if we're going through one of our regular fall/winter windstorms, I'll pass. 30-50 MPH gusts ruin a range day for me. Rain just means I won't be able to procrastinate about cleaning guns afterwards.

But, if it ain't raining, we ain't trainin'! If it's some (work or a gun school) cool training, I'll submit to the weather gods, but for just a session to put some rounds downrange for a tune-up or sighting in a new gun, I might sacrifice and head to the indoor range.
 
With load development I need good data to make good decisions, even though I always take good wind flags there are days when I just turn around and leave. Once my hunting rifles are dialed in they don’t need anything beyond a animal and a snowstorm.
 
I do like to get out to the range during winter conditions. I have seen cold weather break things and I like to know that my gear will stand up to the task. Plus it's hardcore. I definitely have plans for this winter.
 
twofewscrews said:
less people/no people means I have the range to myself
Click to expand...
I voted "depends." As I've said before, our "range" is a local county gravel pit a couple of miles south of the house. It "depends" on how much snow is in that pit this time of year whether or not the weather "gets in our way" of going shooting at the "range." We've just had a couple of major storms pass through, so while I haven't driven down to the "range" lately, I would have to guess there's a couple of feet of snow in it, and if I drove my pickup-truck down in there, not only would I have the "range" to myself, I might have to leave my pickup-truck there until next spring. :eek::D
On the other hand, this is perfect coyote hunting weather, and what snow we've had isn't enough to fowl (pun intended) up pheasant and duck hunting either. ;)
Edited to add: Your definition of "crappy weather" and my definition of "crappy weather" may differ, twoferscrews. My definition of "crappy weather" is daytime temperatures 95 and above.
Besides, the wind (usually slight) is a constant here. We just learn to deal with that.
However, I remember a time back in the '80s when my wife and I were at an IHMSA silhouette shoot, and the wind was a real pain - it kept blowing the darned targets down! :uhoh:
 
Last edited:
twofewscrews said:
Due to high (20-40mph) wind and light rain I got the day off. I don't normally let harsh/not optimal conditions prevent me from going to the range for three reasons
  • less people/no people means I have the range to myself
  • I can test my firearms/equipment in various conditions prior to needing it for hunting/shtf/sd/whatever (for example last year I took my shotgun out in 15 degree weather or something super cold and lost my front bead, I loktited the replacement in)
  • learning to shoot in variety of weather conditions, particularly those common to your area of operations, is just common sense and has multiple benefits (shooting a bolt action in the high heat/extreme cold teaches one to ignore physical discomfort and focus without inducing stress)
As I see it the downsides to shooting in such weather are as follows
  • zeroing a firearm could be impossible and a waste of time/ammo/energy
  • if one does not properly care for the firearm prior to and after returning from the range damage such as rust is possible
  • while range training is good time would be better spent investing in a class
  • if you are not properly dressed your miserable
Have I missed anything?
Do you guys let crappy weather prevent you from going to the range/practicing?
Click to expand...
Depends on what I'm doing. I do load development on calm days. If I'm shooting. I don't give much thought to the weather.
 
I hate wet, cold, rainy, and snowy conditions and triple digit numbers. After retiring from the military I promised all the fun things I do will be under severe scrutiny when it comes to weather. Call me wimpy but as I got old I realized "It ain't fun" if I'm miserable. Best time of year for me is fall with a mild breeze gently moving the hammock to and fro, while I struggle to drink my beer before falling asleep.
 
I go if it's raining and not much below 40. Also if it's very windy I won't go. It does slow down at my range this time of year but there's some of us that will go even if it's cold and rainy.
 
I generally make my plans and then make whatever adjustments to make them work. Such as go to a covered stand vs sit on a stump, add more clothes, ect.
 
MacAR said:
Not exactly what you asked, but I do like to hunt in the rain. I just walk slowly through the woods and stop every couple yards, look, and move on. Most of the time, you'll see a deer bedded under a cedar tree and have a good opportunity to shoot it either in it's bed or when it jumps and runs. They tend to hold pretty tight. On the few occasions it snows here, it's a lot of fun to go out in a fresh snow and track up rabbits. A single shot 22 and a handful of shorts is perfect for such an outing, and it really tests your eyesight and off-hand shooting ability.

Mac
Click to expand...
This is how my uncle and I hunted for years, walking quietly on the wet November deadfall and leaves, we saw plenty of deer over the last 15 years but no shootable bucks and I've yet to drop anything....

I did spook a few nice bucks walking this way when I was on my own walking in the November rain but I never was able to take what I thought would be an ethical shot.... it's irritating but I still "hunt" although when people ask me if I "hunt" I tell them I buy a hunting license and walk around the woods with a rifle.......;) I swear, some guys go out on opening day and it's like they've made an appointment with a 12 pt buck in advance and every year they drop a deer on opening day without fail. I guess I'm just not that gifted.....
 
Years ago when I hunted extensively in West Virginia weather was never a factor, I was out there rifle in hand. Well my old W.Va. hunting buddy died off and today at 72 my days of getting out with a rifle on a frozen icy tundra are done. Now it's just enjoying shooting on the outdoor range when the weather is nice and during the NE Ohio winters I am on the indoor range shooting handgun since a rifle is not much fun at 75 feet. :) Nope inclement weather keeps me indoors, well cold weather anyway. :) I also clean brass and reload quite a bit during the winter months.

Ron
 
Didn't vote, because none of the options really applied.

I don't pay much attention to the weather, well, unless I'm going flying. I will hunt/shoot in bad weather, it just means I have to put on my cold weather gear or drink more water. If it's too foggy, that makes it a handgun day.
 
I used to enjoy hunting snowstorms. Nothing kept me from hunting then. Now not so much. I still do hunt in snow and freezing weather but not blizzard conditions
 
It depends is what I said. But it’s less about how crappy it is than how it is I’m feeling.

If I’m feeling motivated I have and will shoot in well below zero or pouring rain. But other days I can’t be bothered if it isn’t sunny and warm.
 
Where we now reside I'd be hard pressed finding really decent weather ,shooting & Hunting go on ; unless it's blizzard condition's of which I pass .
 
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