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Rifles and rainy days #6599850 12/23/16 04:57 PM
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How many of you would carry your best, and most expensive rifle, on rainy days? I'm torn right now. I'm going to be hunting for three days and each day looks very wet. I have only one scoped rifle and its my heavy .308 target gun that I've got over $2,500 into. On the other hand I could take a Mosin Nagant with iron sights...or...acquire a 30-30 lever action with iron sights.

I expect shots to be no more than 150 yards, and I'm comfortable using iron sights; but with a scope it would be easier to ID the target (antler restrictions) then quickly take the shot. Maybe I'm thinking about this too much.

Re: Rifles and rainy days [Re: 7six2] #6599858 12/23/16 05:02 PM
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Take the scoped rifle and just wipe it down with a light coat of oil before going out and once you're back inside.

Re: Rifles and rainy days [Re: 7six2] #6599866 12/23/16 05:08 PM
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no you are not thinking enough.... I would be thinking wow I need a rainy weather rifle and head straight to get the the perfect all weather rifle.


"Anyone taking up handloading necessarily plays with unknown factors and takes chances. But so does anyone who drives a car,goes to a cocktail party,eats in a restaurant,or gets married."

Jack O'Connor 1963
Re: Rifles and rainy days [Re: 7six2] #6599876 12/23/16 05:12 PM
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Well.......

I would say that is a highly subjective and personal decision that only you can make. I know people who would never even consider laying their rifle on soft clean grass, and others who see them as tools to be used as needed.


A Democracy is when two wolves and a lamb vote on the dinner menu. That is why this country was specifically not designed as a Democracy. We are a Constitutional Republic.
Re: Rifles and rainy days [Re: 7six2] #6599877 12/23/16 05:12 PM
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I think you need another scoped rifle to hunt with.



Re: Rifles and rainy days [Re: rickym] #6599886 12/23/16 05:15 PM
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Originally Posted By: rickym
I think you need another scoped rifle to hunt with.


Originally Posted by unclebubba
Just to make sure that it is done thoroughly, I go both ways.

Re: Rifles and rainy days [Re: 7six2] #6599891 12/23/16 05:18 PM
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Yeah no one wants to ruin their pretty gun that you've invested thousands of dollars into. But as a hunter you know that you're not always going to be in the perfect environment and dings, etc. will happen.

As said above get another scoped rifle to hunt with.


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Re: Rifles and rainy days [Re: 7six2] #6599929 12/23/16 05:37 PM
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I always transport mine in a water proof gun case that my wife made me.

Re: Rifles and rainy days [Re: 7six2] #6599935 12/23/16 05:40 PM
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I took my wood stocked ruger (a "nice" hunting rifle) with me to Colorado.

A week of hunting, snow, 4 wheeler rides, ice, rain, mud....wiped it down with a silicone cloth after each hunt and it looked the exact same it did before I got there

Gun manufacturers sold us a lie about wood stocked and blued guns not being able to hold up in rainy or wet conditions

Don't leave it out in the rain for a week, but you will be fine using it to hunt.


For it is not the quarry that we truly seek, but the adventure.
Re: Rifles and rainy days [Re: 7six2] #6599942 12/23/16 05:43 PM
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I know my rifle can take it as long as I wipe with oil. Its just the thought of having to unscrew it from the bedding so I can clean/oil all the nooks and crannies...then having to carefully re-torque everything and worry about affecting my groups...She shoots SWEET right now. I'm just curious if other folks would use their top-tier rifle if they had a choice. I had a scoped "hunting" rifle for a while but I sold it to get something more precision oriented.

My wife just gave me the "ok" to get a 30-30 lever action, if I don't want to use the Mosin; but it would be iron sights also.

Re: Rifles and rainy days [Re: 7six2] #6599948 12/23/16 05:48 PM
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One reason it's a good idea to have bino's, scope is safest used as intended. Also, another reason both my main hunting rifles are stainless and composite.

As far as your question for right now, keep it wiped down as already mentioned, wont be the 1st rifle in history with a blued finish to see rough weather. I hunted the Rockies with blued steel for several years before going stainless, snow, ice, rain, I just kept those small packets of oil wipes in my pack and never had an issue, then a thorough cleaning when you're done.


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Dennis

Re: Rifles and rainy days [Re: 7six2] #6599953 12/23/16 05:51 PM
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Pick up a Ruger American .308 with synthetic stock for < 400


If you wanna run with the big dogs, you gotta get off the porch!
Re: Rifles and rainy days [Re: 7six2] #6599954 12/23/16 05:51 PM
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Your rifle is a tool, use it as such. Just like any other tool, take care of it and you'll be fine. As mentioned above, oil or Corrosion-X is your friend. For your scope, I recommend flip open lens covers or a bikini cover. You're gonna kick yourself in the butt if you miss or make a bad shot with iron sights 100-150 yrds away.

Re: Rifles and rainy days [Re: 7six2] #6599957 12/23/16 05:53 PM
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No recommendation on what gun to take, but I recommend buying a few finger cots to put over the muzzle to keep water out of the bore despite what gun you bring.

Re: Rifles and rainy days [Re: 7six2] #6599965 12/23/16 05:58 PM
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Originally Posted By: 7six2
I know my rifle can take it as long as I wipe with oil. Its just the thought of having to unscrew it from the bedding so I can clean/oil all the nooks and crannies...then having to carefully re-torque everything and worry about affecting my groups...She shoots SWEET right now. I'm just curious if other folks would use their top-tier rifle if they had a choice. I had a scoped "hunting" rifle for a while but I sold it to get something more precision oriented.

My wife just gave me the "ok" to get a 30-30 lever action, if I don't want to use the Mosin; but it would be iron sights also.



You don't need to take anything apart. What I do is remove the bolt (lens covers on) put the bore on a folded up rag and spray down with Corrosion-X. Rest it on something safe and let the excess run off for a while. Then take a clean cloth and wipe it down good. I do the same thing with shotguns. Works good.

I don't spray any oil in my rifle barrels, only shotguns.

Last edited by skinnerback; 12/23/16 06:01 PM.
Re: Rifles and rainy days [Re: 7six2] #6599968 12/23/16 05:59 PM
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I pheasant hunted in the rain and mud (no comfy blind to get in) with a $2K shotgun. Didn't bother me in the least. That being said, I do keep a stainless 7 mag that's my go to rifle for nasty weather.


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Re: Rifles and rainy days [Re: 7six2] #6599969 12/23/16 06:00 PM
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So the real question being asked here is "should I take my target rifle hunting"?


For it is not the quarry that we truly seek, but the adventure.
Re: Rifles and rainy days [Re: 7six2] #6599980 12/23/16 06:08 PM
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Condensation can get heavy on any firearm on a cold, clear morning as the temperatures quickly rise in a deer blind or box stand. Still, I prefer to take what I consider to be my "utility" gun on those wet and muddy days.


"Some people will never like you because your spirit irritates their demons."
Re: Rifles and rainy days [Re: 7six2] #6599997 12/23/16 06:22 PM
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coat everything with johnson's paste wax.
(you should be doing this with any wood
stocked firearm regardless of the weather)

Re: Rifles and rainy days [Re: 7six2] #6599998 12/23/16 06:23 PM
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Quote:
Maybe I'm thinking about this too much.


Maybe you haven't thought about it enough? What good is a $2500 rifle that is now so expensive that you can't use it when you want to use it?


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Re: Rifles and rainy days [Re: 7six2] #6600008 12/23/16 06:32 PM
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Wait - everyone seems to be missing a key point here. His wife ok'd him buying another gun. Of COURSE go buy that gun. You wont have to worry about keeping an obvious investment perfect, & you get a new gun! Sounds easy enough to me.
Go get you that new hunting rifle!

Re: Rifles and rainy days [Re: 7six2] #6600011 12/23/16 06:33 PM
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Also, to answer the specific question - I'd def use another rifle for this purpose if there was a chance to use or buy a new one. I've been wanting to get a synthetic stock one myself to use in these kinds of situations in place of my early 80's 700. And thats nowhere near a $2500 rifle - just a nice pretty 700 I'd hate to scratch up.

Re: Rifles and rainy days [Re: 7six2] #6600015 12/23/16 06:37 PM
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Tikka T3 Stainless with a syn stock. The only drawback is that it may become your favorite rifle, like it did for me.


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Re: Rifles and rainy days [Re: 7six2] #6600051 12/23/16 06:59 PM
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What 603 said +1...or just buy identical duplicates of everything in SS/Syn & Wood/blue same caliber/scope same everything and you are GTG come Hell or High Water...but then m,y BH just giggled when I told of MY PLAN and said "Really???" Oh Well, just another mice and men story I guess. bang
Ron


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Re: Rifles and rainy days [Re: 7six2] #6600059 12/23/16 07:02 PM
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Nice thing about AR-15's, in my opinion, is not worrying about abusing them a little bit. If you got the ok for another gun I'd go get one.


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