Shooting in the rain.

I like shooting in the rain as I usually have the range to myself. Though I bring one of those collapsible canopies and a small table for under the canopy. Keeps things relatively dry. It's interesting to see how POI can change between sunny and rainy days.

 

Yeah, just love the woods on a rainy day, or a snowy day. Something special, almost magical about the serenity one feels. No hunting dogs but we do have a big, white, squishy, derpie Boxer that would enjoy the adventure. No umbrellas, gortex is the only way to fly on inclement days. Boots, pants and jacket.

 

Bees wax? Interesting...

 

Years ago I intentionally took my '43 Springfield out into a heavy summer downpour and went through numerous clips of surplus ball, just plinking and blasting at targets of opportunity around the homestead. It was great fun and I was motivated by watching numerous WWII era flicks of GI's in rubber poncho's trudging through ankle high mud in the pouring rain with their Garand's out in front, ready for action.

I didn't spare my M1 a bit, water got into every nook and cranny as I thumbed in clip after clip. Later I pulled it apart and set it aside to air dry overnight, then cleaned as normal. Good times.

 

Hunted for over 33 years in rain, snow with the same Remington 700. Usually 3 days a week. Before and after each days hunt just wipe down with wd40. Every few days I would remove the metal from the wood so I could get between. Not a speck of rust. Does not affect bluing, no problem with finish. WD Water displacement. Wipe on. Lightly wipe off. Excellent stuff. Every gun I own gets wiped down with it after cleaning or every few months regardless to protect from humidity. Better than a dehumidifier. Never a single problem.

 

Oh my, that is sweet, she is beautiful. What is her story?
I want a Garand soooo bad.

 

Thank you sir. Got it off a co-worker around 2003. It was a Korean buyback and was imported by Blue Sky. By the time I got it the muzzle was so worn out from steel cleaning rods it was completely smoothbore in the first inch of barrel and would barely hold a clip on a pie plate at 50 yards. I sent it off to Fulton Armory in Maryland and they rebarreled it with one of their Mil-spec GI barrels. That really did the trick as after that I could put 8 shots into 3-4 inches at 100 yards, which for me is spectacular. I'm not sure who else is doing Garand work out there but they do a great job if you're looking for a rebarrel or tune up. Most of these old gals, especially the WWII era rifles, have seen a whole bunch of rounds downrange.

 

That brings back memories. Had a friend, a lifetime ago, who was a retired Marine. "Crazy Osteen" we called him.
To the point, WD-40 was the go to for his 700 BDL. No matter what we went through, he would shoot the entire weapon, optics and all, with WD-40 and set it in the closet. I followed his advice until I read an article, in Shooting Times I believe, stating that penetrating oils could work their way into optics causing damage. In the following ~32 years it has been Breakfree CLP for me. But everyone has their favorites. Got hard-sold into a tiny little bottle of some heavy duty gun oil for full auto and suppressed firearms, the last time I bought field pants. Asked for BF CLP and ended up with this product, which the salesman swore was a clean & protect all-in-one. Got it home, read the fine print and it is for lubrication only, no mention of cleaning. He was right about how little you need, a minuscule drop between the slide and barrel will lube everything barrel, slide, recoil spring, slide rail related. It lasts for... Well, on my EDC that one drop has never leeched off between range sessions. Also, the last few times I practiced at the range, I could not shoot hard enough or fast enough to cook it off. BF will cook off after a quick rapid-fire string.

 

This is the Remington 700 I was talking about.
I bought it in 1974-75. The scope on it today was put on it that same day. The only difference in the photo is a different sling. The scope was wiped down with wd40 every time the gun was. Never any problem. The gun and the scope are ready for another life time of great memories.

 

Another WD-40 fan here. I sometimes go to the range in the rain but the shooting points have a roof over them. Hunting is another story and I've spent lots of time in the woods in the rain. And yes; that W.D. in WD-40 stands for Water Displacement. I've sprayed down wet rifles & shotguns with WD-40 as temporary protection until they can be taken care of properly. Seems to work great and they also get wiped down with it before going out again.

 

That's an understatement.

 

All my guns are polymer, and either blued, nitride or phosphated. No issues here. I clean them as normal and keep them well-lubricated.

 

In the rain, not in the rain. I'm only likely to stop if the water is deeper than my boots, or if the mud becomes too awful.
The firearms, like myself, can be dried off, or treated appropriately. That's the purposes of the finishes on the various bits.

 

Obturation/OP: How long is your drive to the range?

Is it a moderate duration whereby you can arrive, and wait to see whether the rain is intermittent, as you hunker under a roof for a bit and wait on rain to stop?

None of my guns are taken "out" into non-stop drizzle, sprinkle, rain.

 

Half hour ride, not bad. Where I'm going is farm land, no buildings. Looks like it'll be clear from 11-3 or so , I'll bring what ive got and if it gets nasty I'll put the traditional guns away. I ordered some Renaissance wax but it hasn't arrived yet, I plan to use that in the future

 

As the seasons pass through the years and after 21 years in the military when I go to the range it is to have fun. I endured miserable weather that no human should have been in and now that I am retired from two careers if the weather is not to my liking I am staying in a climate control environment of my liking, whether it is A/C or heater. So for me I have become wimpy, and as my great grand kids say...fluffly.

As for your question about shooting in the rain I would recommend Ballistol for your wood and blued barrel. If you are in a monsoon, I would recommend Corrosion X HD, made for marine products and works great even with salt water.

 

I obviously need more stainless steel revolvers. Just in case.

 

You do . good thing you deserve them, go pick out some beauties and get to it!

 

Ahh, that is pretty, makes me miss my 700 ADL. Think it had a Leupold VIX-2 3.5 to 10? Geez, that was a long time ago.

 

.......Someday I intend to learn more about that, as I sometimes shoot groups when it's raining; but from a covered shooting point. Last few years I began taking digital pix of 100 & 200 yd. groups and downloading them with all the relative info., ( rifle, load, distance, date, temp. etc.). Don't have any of those pix that were taken on rainy days. Once I get some I will be able to compare results side by side on the computer with the stuff already on here that was from good weather shooting days.

 

Well...

It rained the entire time, I wimped out (sort of).
I didn't pull out any of my blued guns but I shot my 77/357 & my super redhawk.
See-

Oh, a little closer...


I know, not too brave because it's stainless and plastic but one step at a time. Going home to get it all cleaned up.

 

Blued and wood has only been used in the rain and snow and mud and much more for ? Well Over a couple hundred years now???? I don't think even the cheapest would have much of a problem in a days rain with just a little care.

 

I have hunted in rain, and I have shot for fun in rain. I don’t like getting wet though, so I tend to avoid it. I remember once throwing clays and shooting at them in a driving rain. I also stood out there in the cedars after a nice buck for a good while in a driving rain. On those occasions, I use wd40 and then clean.