Too hot to shoot

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smithman 10

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What do you folks do when it's too hot to go to the range?

I belong to a fine club with a 500 yard rifle range - but around here it has been mid 90s and is predicted to hit 100 degrees tomorrow.

Just too unpleasant to shoot outdoors. I got the time but not the constitution to put up with this kind of heat.

Hope those global warming guys are wrong and it cools off soon!
 
I have some temps of over 100 logged in my load log, so it was over 100 in the shade when I tested that load.

June, July, and August can be in the high 90's to low 100's around here. Oh yea, and HUMID!

So, unless one takes about a three month hiatus, they shoot in the heat.
 
No such thing as too hot to shoot!

I just make sure to drink lots and lots of water. I did a fun match this year that was in the upper 90's.

I was lucky nobody told me till after the match! I just thought it was hot, not almost-100-hot.
 
Not a big fan of the heat either. Guess I am getting old. I love shooting in the dead of winter, bring on the cold (except blackpowder can be an issue when my water based lube or spit patches freeze solid on the bench. Hard to swab between shots)
 
I just suck it up, wear a lot of dry fit stuff, and drink a ton of water or Gatorade.

Hydration is important whether you're sitting on a bench in the shade or doing active drills.

It doesn't take many standing-to-prone drills to realize you're dizzy and dehydrated.
 
Outdoor range I used to go to opened at sunrise and during summer months when it was over 100F, there would be a line at the gate at 4 AM to beat the heat! :eek:

Although each rifle shooting bench had shade cover, we shot until sweat burned the eyes too much or too hot to bend over to pick up brass (I seen shooters pass out at the bench from heat).

Hydration was definitely essential and we all took coolers with ice cold drinks and cold water to drench out head/shirts with and "man up" to do our shooting. I even wore sweat band on my forehead to keep the sweat from my eyes but when the RO announced the grilled sausages were ready for lunch, I stopped shooting and had lunch.

Once we got into our air conditioned cars/trucks, we would look at each other and said, "Dang, why are we here in the heat?"

Good times ... :D
 
I'm getting old and out of shape. However, I very distinctly remember 130 degree temperatures and carrying eighty pounds of crap. So sitting at a bench in the shade, sipping whatever soda or water I brought and having a snack isn't that bad.

Shooting doesn't have to be an all day thing, when it's cold, hot or raining I keep it to a few hours. When the weather hits the sweet spot, though, it"s all day or until I run out of ammunition.
 
While shooting in the heat certainly isnt my favorite (my pref is probably 40-60f), my opportunities to shoot are too limited to pass up due to heat. I usually try to go after dinner if possible, and bring lots of fluids as others have said.
 
I'm in Texas, it's always hot and humid in the summer. Drinking water and Gatorade along with light snacks, then finding shade makes 100* tolerable.
 
Here in central Florida it gets plenty hot and humid too. The long guns get a little break, will take them out a few times but mainly switch to handgun cause there is an indoor pistol range 10 minutes from the house. Then I spend my time reloading what I shot during the last fall,winter, and spring getting reay to go again.
 
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It has been over 100 degrees every day for over a week now in SC, and it is forecast to be over 100 for the next week.

So yes, it's too hot to shoot just for fun, as I don't care to drench my guns with sweat, or deal with condensation every time I carry them inside (I was raised to take care of expensive things - and guns are expensive).
 
Break out a couple handguns and truck down to the local indoor range, cool in summer- warm in winter.
Shooting is shooting. Nobody ever told me I had to only shoot at 500 yards.
Gary
 
I shoot outside every week, year round. Hot, cold, rain or shine.

Ive worked outside my whole life too, so its really not a big deal, as Im already acclimated and accustomed to being out in the weather on a daily basis. Shooting is a lot more fun than work too, even if it too, might be work. :)

The big advantage to shooting year round in all weather is, you know what to expect for your gun and yourself. Helps cut down on the surprises.
 
Too hot to shoot?

Seldom known the condition.

Now, me being too dumb to remember to place certain items in the shade... that pops up once or twice a year.

Of course, both retired and in the Army, the vast majority of my hot weather shooting was in arid environments.

However, summers on Forts; Devens, Bragg or Campbell... yikes. Range days were kept to a minimum... Or, siestas enforced!:D

Todd.
 
During the summers here when we do go shoot we try for early morning and only stay a couple hours. Late June and July is usually hits 100 around 10AM and then we call it a day.
 
Walkalong said:
I have some temps of over 100 logged in my load log, so it was over 100 in the shade when I tested that load.

June, July, and August can be in the high 90's to low 100's around here. Oh yea, and HUMID!

So, unless one takes about a three month hiatus, they shoot in the heat.
Click to expand...
Right as usual Walkalong. The bad thing is that the fans at our range make it feel like your in an oven.....
 
I wouldn't pass up the chance to stretch out a rifle but some of the guys I shoot with just cant take the heat. Lately I've been trying to improve off hand shooting at 25 yards indoors. It's working. Plus, I'm learning more about tradgectory and having a lot of fun.
 
I've been pheasant hunting at -2 degrees, fixing a roof at 113 degrees. Temperature doesn't bother me much. As long as the range is open and my work is done, I'm there.
 
I actually kind of look forward to the summer months, though it does reduce my range trips and time at the the range some what. But I like it, cause the range is often empty. But in truth, the heat is only a problem when in the direct sun, cause our climate is often very, very dry. When I do feel the heat getting to me, I pour some water over my head and arms. The water literally evaporates nearly instantly, leaving me nice and cool. I use this same technique when golfing also, works like a champ.

But, when I lived in the midwest it was a completely different story. I didn't do much shooting during the summer. Even being in the shade made little difference with humidity being so high. Pouring water over my head and limbs would only make things worse, acting more like a blanket cause it doesn't evaporate. I've visited Virginia before, and it's humid, so I doubt there's a viable solution, beyond just grinning and bearing it. It is, what it is.

I guess that wasn't much help. But this is the price one pays when you live in a humid climate, verses a nice dry toasty triple digit climate like S.W. Arizona.

GS
 
The heat I can stand. So long as I have plenty of liquids, im good to go.
What I can't stand are the freakin bugs that normally come with it.
 
It's always hot in the summer here, heat index over 100 just about every day. A few things to remember when shooting in the heat, or doing anything in the heat.

1. Hydrate the day before if possible. Trying to drink water when you're already thirsty doesn't work, it's too late.
2. Bring drinks with a low osmolarity. (Water or sports drinks) nothing will keep you hydrated as well as water. Sip them throughout your activity.
3. Bring a few towels. I like white towels to wipe sweat or lay on hot surfaces that my skin will touch, like a shooting bench in the sun or a black rifle that has been in the sun.
4. If you start to feel ill, quit! Nothing is worth heat exhaustion or worse, wrap everything up and get to a cool, dry place and sip water.

These are a few things I do. Hydration is key to everything.
 
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