When is it too hot to shoot?

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Temperature and Humidity ... when they combine in such a way that it affects my ability to concentrate on accurate shooting and all I do is turn money into noise ... that's when it's too hot to shoot.:fire:

I've been shooting rim and centerfire since I was 10 (when Dad got me a Marlin 81-DL for Christmas ... still have it too). I stopped for a while to chase girls and play rock n roll ... went to college ... joined the Army and went to Vietnam just in time for Tet '68 ... and when I got out, started shooting regularly ... retired and now shoot even more. Since I can shoot 5 days a week (Sat. for the working guys who need the range, Sun. for God so He will continue to smile upon me and let me enjoy my later years) I don't get upset if life, wife or weather get in the way every so often ... there will be other days as late Summer/early Fall are close at hand and that's when the weather really gets nice. I'm ready and good-to-go!:D
 
Last week I think it was, I went out shooting in the desert in the afternoon when it was 112.

Just got to stay hydrated.
 
I played golf a few weeks back and it was 109 degrees, and I like shooting more than I like golf. It don't get too hot. Just take a cooler full of cold water. Our range is has covered benches so we are in the shade most of the time. Even the pistol range is covered.
 
In a recent trip to the range I decided some time during the 4th hour that it was no longer fun in the 105 degree sun and called it quits. I agree with oldbear. Once the fun is gone, so am I.
 
I shoot in 95 to 102 degree weather all summer long, with the humidity in the high 80's and 90's sometimes on occasion. I have to keep a towel handy to wipe dripping sweat from my hands, neck, and face. It is either that or not shoot.

As posted much earlier, hydrate before and during and after. Heat exhaustion, and especially heat stroke, are no laughing matter. Do not forget to hydrate before, as you cannot drink fluids fast enough (body cannot absorb it fast enough) to catch up when you are dehydrated.

Have fun, stay safe. :)
 
To add to Walkalong's comment, be sure to keep electrolytes replaced. Fruit, especially bananas, and well-salted meals will replace what you sweat out. Be careful with "sports drinks"; they can be over-used. Consider them a supplement to lots of water, not a source of hydration on their own.
 
Too hot 6 months out of the year to really do much outdoors. But the ranges are jammed packed from sun up till about 10AM. After that ghost town. That is when I go. Got to have a hat, and I use a cool vest that barely helps. Never pick up the cases sitting in the sun without using a glove or pick up tool unless you like burned fingers. Fully drenched when done.

Nice old guy that passed away a few years back used to watch me struggling with it. His comment - "You don't work outdoors much do you?" Found out that guy lived most of his life with no AC!
 
when it gets unsafe

Like others have mentioned, heatstroke and dehydration are real hazards.
When shooting matches on hot days, our squads make a concerted effort to stay hydrated. We keep an eye out for each other.

In July, we ended a 9 stage match after 7 stages. It was hot and humid. Some of the older guys were showing signs of wear and tear. I know that I wasn't fully 100% at that point. We figured better to stop early when things were still fun, than end up heatstroked or accidentally shot.
 
With a hat and plenty of water I sometimes shoot in the summer mid-day desert sun. It's a great way to have fun AND sweat the excess cosmoline out of a milsurp stock :)
 
When the barrel starts to droop....Oh, you mean when the weather is too hot.:D

I child-proofed my house, but they're still getting in!

U.S. Supreme Court Justice Joseph Story wrote;
 
Never for the gun's sake. Now I'm to wimpy to stay out in the 100+ long enough to make a range trip productive so I either go EARLY in the AM, or in truth not often enough this summer :)
 
I don't really mind the heat. The ranges I shoot at are covered. I take my small cooler and a few bottles of water. I'd hate to be in direct sun today. It's 96 with 88% humidity.
 
Y'all need to get a good palm sombrero with a sweat band, keep the glad rag handy to wipe off the overflow ,carry your own shade, one with a good wide brim 4" minium, with a loose weave to let the air flow through.

Most of the Zonies, N Mex, S Texas boys know how to keep cool!
 
The local indoor gun range is a tin shack. Since the near-end of June, to today, 08/31/11, the temps have been over the charts, triple digit heat indices with 100% humidity.
 
I've qualed in 105 degree heat with 80% humidity on Parris Island and in 110 degree heat with 5% humidity at Camp Pendelton, heat never bothered me much, but man I hated, I mean HATED the wind at Pendelton:what:
 
Well, my SSG said that it didn't matter that it was 137 Degrees. I had to qualify anyway.
So.......... maybe its 138 or maybe 139.
 
When is it too hot?

- When your hands are so sweaty the weapons slip out of your hands
- When the sun warms up your weapon hotter than firing 100 rounds out of it - and you start playing "hot potato" with it.
- When some of your tacticool accessories start to melt in the sun :evil:
 
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