Hunting in the Rain: Water Down the Bore?

[carnaby]

I've been meaning to ask this question for a while now, since I'm a noob hunter and I don't know the answer, but I keep forgetting to ask: what, if anything, should a hunter do to keep water from going down the rifle bore if it's raining out?

I've been lucky the last two years and had spectacular weather while hunting. Chances are this will change at some point

 

[pax]

.

 

[Chawbaccer]

A piece of plastic tape over the bore works, it will blow off with the first shot. Some use a finger out of a latex glove, others use a baloon, either toy or for grown-ups.

 

[dfaugh]

I generally take great pains to keep the bore down in inclement weather If you usa a sling, there's a techniqe for this, that allow you to sling on offside, and raise the gun, with the sling as a support. Hard to explain but easy to master.

As others have mentioned, tape, ballons and condoms (better for shotguns) all work.

 

['Card]

I've used a balloon over the muzzle with a rubberband to hold it in place. Of course, I get caught in the woods without a balloon more often than I care to admit, so on those occasions I usually make it a point to pause every once in awhile and pour the water out of the barrel.

In all seriousness, I don't think it matters all that much. These are, after all, pretty small holes we're talking about. Any water that's likely to collect down there would be vaporized so quickly that I can't see it affecting the path or power of the bullet in any significant way - at least not enough to be significant at common hunting-shot ranges.

I make it a point to give my gun a good cleaning after a day spent humping around in the rain, but other than that it isn't something I get too worked up about.

 

[Polishrifleman]

Worry more about your optics in rain and snow. I've seen a couple times where guys couldn't see anything in front of them because of this.

When you get back to camp dry it well, wipe with silicone cloth and run a couple patches down the tube. Hunting with your bolt gun you can remove the bolt and make sure everything is okee dokee and ready to go the next day. Water down the bore won't cause any issues while out in the elements for the day.

 

[22-rimfire]

A small baloon works. I personally just keep the barrel tilted downward and then swab it out when I get home. As was said, I worry more about my scope. Some scope covers would not be a bad idea, even some of those cheap bikini covers, but I only keep them on when it is actually raining or a problem. I generally don't like scope covers.

 

[Bill2k1]

I can't say I have ever worried about it. Now that it is mentioned, it makes sense.

 

[MDHunter]

Muzzle Cover...

Not a bad idea to cover the muzzle even when it's not raining, to keep sticks, leaves and etc out of the muzzle. Those could creat a much bigger problem than rain....

 

[vinpar092]

Water in barrels

I live in SE Louisiana and Hunt i alot of water, rain. My gunsmith states he regularly, before-during and after gun season, cuts 1/2 to 1 inch from barrel length and recrowns due to bullet speed vs. water noncompressibility. The general complaint is loss of accuracy and states he starts by checking barrel diameters 1'' from crown.
vince

 

[Byron Quick]

I just sling the rifle with the barrel down. I've got this attraction for water. If I've got on thigh waders, I find water waist deep. I'd probably drown if I wore chest waders.

During a few of my submersions my firearms were completely under the surface. I never had a shot after this as I said the heck with hunting and went looking for dry and warm. Disassembled and cleaned the firearms...no problem.