Thinking about investing in a Savage 301T for those spring days it's really calling for showers. I think it's cheap enough and simple enough to break down (and spray out completely with WD-40) if it gets wet, or break down in the woods and put under my poncho in case of a heavier rain. What do you guys and gals do to keep equipment dry or do you just roll with the rain and let em get wet?
I hunted with a Winchester 12 gauge pump for several years. Wiped it down and ran a patch through the barrel after hunting in the rain.
I bought a new Benelli M2 20 gauge last year. Did not have it in time for the Spring season but hunted a couple of dry days in the Fall. I won't have an issue hunting in the rain as it is very easy to take apart to clean/lube. I bought it to hunt with regardless of the weather just like my deer rifles, etc.
Mud, rain, blood none of it matters. I built mine to abuse all spring long.
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A gobblers life is worth more to me than any shot gun I own.
When season is done I tare it down and clean her up. Deep cavity and ever crack and crevice. The big girl is a BPS and stays surprising clean.
An extra turkey gun is always a welcome addition. If the weather is wet, I usually take my CVA single shot just for the reasons stated by the OP.
Get you Alpine innovations gun slicker, its waterproof camo sleeve - cover. It will pack within itself in a small little bag about the size of a baseball and it has carabiner to attach it to your vest or satchel and it's practically weighless. You can look at these on Amazon and cost around 25 dollars, it's money well spent.. I use them all the time during deer and turkey season if needed.
I use kroil silicon spray and it works great.
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I don't let rain scare me. Oil it and go.
Just use as normal, clean and oil afterwards.
Esse quam videri
All my guns have wood stocks and I've never babied any of them. I completely stripped down and seal every bit of unfinished wood with linseed oil when I get a gun. I've hunted here for over 25 years and we average 60" of rain. I haven't had a problem so far with swelling wood or rusted guns I just break them down, dry and oil them up immediately after I get home.
Oil before and after, and hunt. I use an "Alps waterproof slicker" on my predator gun. Opening on the end. You can shoot with it on. Maybe that will solve your concerns...
All sound advice above.
Dry them out. Oil them. Hunt whatever weather you want.
My BPS Stalker 10 gauge was the only gun I used for turkeys for a whole lotta years. Sunshine..........downpour.......whatever. It was also my duck/goose gun. That gun has been dropped in a beaver pond more than once. Totally submerged. It's as functional today as it was 30 years ago.
That being said................ There's NEVER a bad reason to buy another gun !!!!
If I owned a shotgun I was afraid to take out in the rain I would quit hunting. All my shotguns are for hunting, rain or shine, I always clean 'em after I use 'em. Never had a problem with any of them.
My most expensive gun is basically only used for waterfowl, literally submerged last week in the marsh, hunted for two days and tore it down completely when I got home, good as new.
I do not abuse my guns but they are tools for me, use them when needed!
Not a bad idea to keep a small can of wd 40 in the truck, if it gets soaked spray it down, and when you are back home or camp tear the gun down and make sure it is dried out.
I get the feeling that not many here hunt waterfowl.
Oil them before season and clean them after. Rain on a gun is something I never even think about.
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I'm either shooting my 870 with a rattle can paint job or maybe my old duck/goose gun the 1187 we call the trusty rusty. Both are uglier than a mud post and have seen plenty of crappy weather. If they get wet I'll break them down and dry them and add a little oil. I own some pretty guns but they're not work horses like those two
As a waterfowler I always remember the saying never take a gun waterfowl hunting that your not willing to use as a boat paddle if nessary.
No matter of the cost of the gun or weather, I hunt it as needed...can't take them with you.
I just keep them well oiled and cleaned before and IMMEDIATELY after a wet hunt.
My guns work for me, I don't work for them. My most expensive gun is an over under that has seen rain/sleet/snow/mud hunting waterfowl in 3 states and 2 countries. I just clean it when done. I told my son it was his when I die, but don't expect it to be pretty.
Heck, I have hunted several rainy days with my muzzleloader. If I am off and it is not a lightning storm, I am going hunting. Too many days at work to miss a day in the field.
Quote from: 2eagles on January 31, 2022, 01:09:02 PM
I get the feeling that not many here hunt waterfowl.
I've drowned a few shotguns, believe me. My duck guns still look pretty good in spite of it. I take them apart after a wet outing and wipe them down good. My turkey gun will handle the rain, it's done so before. But, since I have a red dot on my semi auto, I don't like taking it apart during season to wipe it all down after a good soaking. So I avoid carrying it in the rain when reasonably possible.
Besides, my single shot is pretty sweet too and it needs a little woods therapy too! :toothy9:
The only time I make a change due to weather is to take one that doesn't have a reflex site on it. Not necessarily due to the electronics, but because the lens can get rain on it and makes it hard to see through.
I use my Steady grip Super Black Eagle in rainy weather. It has a synthetic stock. After the hunt, I break the entire gun down, clean, and oil it with G-96 gun lubricant. The trigger assembly, magazine tube and spring also get addressed. Never had any rust issues or problems when I care for them. The only thing I try to avoid is using a gun with a wooden stock in rainy weather. Years ago I had the finish lift by the recoil pad on my Remington rifle when I hunted in heavy rain. The good news is Remington re-finished it free of charge. Thorough drying, lubricating, and care will prevent problems if addressed right away if you get caught in the rain.
I think I get from all these posts is there a lot of you I would like to buy a used gun from and most of you would not want to buy one from me! :toothy9:
Everyone has opinions on how to take care of their guns and equipment in wet weather, just do what you thinks best and live with the after effects good or bad.. Spring season isn't that far away... everyone is gearing up and thinking turkey's