The "Rain Rifle"

[Gordon]

Chet Brown was building ideal rain rifles in his San Jose CA.Garage in late 70s onward .they were NOT cheap then either, Kevlar was thru the roof as a stick material then .Any way A Metallifed or other industrial nickelchrome finish and a laid up fiber stock of proper dimensions with my favorite modified Remington 600 action in .308 of course as the ammo was free for this reservist. I fooled with many scope mounting systems until arriving at today's wonderful solution s to get to QUALITY set of back up irons . Ditto to scopes also, yes the Bushnell Elite Rain Guard is phenomenal. There are other recently released copies that should work as well, I have a new Leupold with this, I haven't tried it in field yet, but Leupold 100 percent guaranteed it. I use Warne QD mounts on their bases ( which are Pic spec) with 100 percent satisfaction for more than a decade . So there you have it: fiberglass and stainless finished rifle that fits on top of ponchos , which means a little shorter lop, high strenht return to zero scope mounting with well protected rain guard lens coating quality scope with known warranty, and a set of open adjustable sights that have been carefully sighted in at 50 and 100 yards. If you lose your chance with that combo it wasn't the tools fault.

 

[SamT1]

I understand - that's all well and good until the game high-tails it while you're taking the covers off.

"What about a skeletonized free-floating poly stock? Then you could just blow out most of the water w/compressed air or a water- displacing lube like silicone without having to dismount the action as often?"

Now that is an outstanding idea!

Ruger all weather skeleton stock.

 

[SamT1]

Close quarters/long walk rain rifle. (223)

Long range rain rifle. (308)


Keep the dust cover closed! I put tape over the muzzle of the suppressor, someone suggested a rubber and that sounds better. Pull the bullets out of the mag and any wet ones that went in the chamber when you get home and wipe any water off, that’s about it.

I’ve carried a 30-30 with a reddot in the rain several times. But there’s a lot of metal parts inside to clean as well as barrel bands and stuff that’s not fun. Any of the new cheapo rifles will be fine, ruger American should work well. IF it rusts it’s just $300.

 

[Laphroaig]

I carry my rifle muzzle down with a Butler Creek flip-up on the ocular, the cap on the objective open. Hit the red button and you're good to go in a nanosecond.

I'll put up with the potential bad stuff that can happen with a scope rather than the limitations of open sights. Try picking out a buck in a group of deer moving through the timber at first light, and get the sights aligned as he steps into a shooting lane. Been there, couldn't get it done.

 

[jmr40]

My rain rifles are the same rifle I use for everything else. I made the switch to a high end synthetic stock in 1983 when I bought a Brown Precision stock for a Remington 700. I haven't had a wood stocked bolt gun in the woods in 35 years.

SS is easier to care for, but blue steel or any of the modern coatings work well too. You can start the day with a wood stock and have it fail with no prior warning. If any of the metal parts fail it is due to negelct and SS will fail from neglect too.

When I was younger I had a cheap scope go bad because of rain. Since buying decent quality scopes I've never had a problem. Even if the lenses are wet I can see well enough for most shots. I'll still take a scope in bad weather. That usually means poor light, and that is where a scope has an advantage over everything else.

My go to, do anything, any time, anywhere, no excuses rifle. Winchester 70 EW 308 in McMillan Edge stock

 

[Jessesky]

My rain rifles are the same rifle I use for everything else. I made the switch to a high end synthetic stock in 1983 when I bought a Brown Precision stock for a Remington 700. I haven't had a wood stocked bolt gun in the woods in 35 years.

SS is easier to care for, but blue steel or any of the modern coatings work well too. You can start the day with a wood stock and have it fail with no prior warning. If any of the metal parts fail it is due to negelct and SS will fail from neglect too.

When I was younger I had a cheap scope go bad because of rain. Since buying decent quality scopes I've never had a problem. Even if the lenses are wet I can see well enough for most shots. I'll still take a scope in bad weather. That usually means poor light, and that is where a scope has an advantage over everything else.

My go to, do anything, any time, anywhere, no excuses rifle. Winchester 70 EW 308 in McMillan Edge stock


View attachment 811706

I have a very similar setup, though I do like that McMillan edge

 

[Casefull]

I hunt in the rain and snow all the time. Get a Good scope, leupold or better, and use flip up caps. A sealed scope is actually a lot better than many of the optics mentioned. Synthetic stock and stainless metal is nice also. No problem.

 

[shafter]

Why not get a pair of see-through flip up scope covers? I

I have a Redfield Revenge on my all weather Ruger Hawkeye. I've never had any problems with the scope. Lately I've been using it with no covers and it hasn't fogged at all.

 

[Legionnaire]

I hunted in rain and snow in NY and PA for years using a Model 7 in .308 with a Leupold 2-7X compact with Butler Creek covers fore and aft. They are designed well, in my opinion, so that both the front and rear caps pop open with thumb pressure as you mount the rifle. I never felt like I lost any time popping the caps while still hunting.