Preferred shooting weather?

[The_Next_Generation]

Hey guys,

Yesterday I was out at the range again with my new CZ452 and my grandfather's Remington 740 ADL. I couldn't help but feel completely relaxed! It was a clear fall day (a rarity here in western WA) and there I was at the range.

The brisk air was pleasantly crisp, and for about two hours I was the only one there (besides the RSO).

It seems to me, that fall is my favorite shooting season. It just feels right to don a jacket, grab a rifle (or two), and head to the range for the afternoon.

What do you guys think? Any particular weather that begs you to go shoot for a day?

- The Next Generation

 

[Rail Driver]

I like shooting when the weather is bad. It keeps my skills up by letting me shoot with distraction that I have no control over (wind, rain, snow, lightning, etc). It also has the side effect of keeping the range fairly empty. I can't say I don't like those perfect early summer afternoons when it's about 80 with a light breeze and no clouds though....

 

[The_Next_Generation]

That is a good point Rail Driver, it is nice when the weather sends the less-dedicated shooters home

 

[parsimonious_instead]

I'd prefer no weather. Specifically the flat dark plains of Mare Imbrium on the Moon. The 1/6 gravity means a flat trajectory and the lack of atmosphere obviates adjusting for windage.

 

[ThatGuyHank]

Definitely the winter time, cold with snow on the ground is the best. Nothing like watching the barrel of your favorite blaster smoke as the snow comes down. That and it's interesting to see how certain weapons function in a different environment. The cold and snow breaks it up from the "Hot and dry and sandy/gritty" environment that has become the benchmark or even cliche proving ground of a firearm's reliability and durability.

Some guns just were meant to function in the snow as well. For example, I had my guns in the bed of my truck heading to the range and all were in cases except for my Mosin, which was just covered with a towel. It snowed a good 3 inches in the bed and once I made it to the range I found the towel to be missing and my precious 91/30 coated and caked with snow/ice. I saw it as an opportunity to give the rifle a chance at reliving its glory days in the snow covered battlefields of Mother Russia. Didn't clean her off and she functioned perfectly even with snow and bits of ice trying in vain to clog the action.

Yet I digress. Winter may be my favorite season to shoot but give me some free time and a box of ammo and i'll shoot anytime of the year.

 

[RNB65]

I shoot year around. Pretty much anything above freezing is fine. Don't care much for shooting in the rain.

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

I take it this is for shooting outdoors. In an indoor range the weather is irrelevant.

I definitely prefer good weather for outdoor shooting. After all, shooting is supposed to be a fun activity; why make yourself miserable? The best here is in early fall. The summer is a little on the humid side, and late fall and winter is often subfreezing. In the California desert where I lived for 20 years, the wind was a nuisance, causing difficulty in keeping targets up. I've often joked that southern California has four seasons: dry, rainy, windy and fire.

 

[husbandofaromanian]

No wind!

 

[HDCamel]

I love doing anything in the rain really. Shooting especially.

 

[ShawnC]

Funny story...when I was in the Navy we had to qual on the M16 and for December in Massachusettes you could not have asked for a more beautiful day. It was sunny and clear and right around 60 degrees out. For whatever reason I blew the qual and had to re-qual at a later date. A few weeks later at the re-qual, it was freezing and windy and overall miserable. No problems qualing that day.

 

[Ignition Override]

From about 50*F., dry air, no wind, sunshine, up to about 80* in a bright sky if the air is really dry, and a light breeze.

 

[303tom]

Does not matter to me, a day out shooting in any weather is better than a sunny day at the beach !

 

[Dnaltrop]

It's Oregon... Car accidents spike when the Sun comes out and dries the roads up.

I've shot in the rain so often I think sunlight confuses me.

 

[Tallinar]

No wind!

This!

I actually enjoy shooting rifles in light rain or snow sometimes. Just gotta be a little more mindful of drying them up and oiling them after the fact. As long as you're thorough, the gun won't care.

 

[Lubricant]

Rain,Snow,40 below.It's all good.Went shooting last saturday in an ice fog.By the way,that new/old 686 shoots real fine.