ways to protect your rifle in the rain (or

[savageT]

Ron,
I got my '99T out and waxed 'er down with Butcher's Bowling Alley Wax this afternoon in preparation for a few rainy days in the woods....ahh the sweet smell of hardwood leaves and softpine.  Enjoy the brotherhood, and share the joy with a youngster.  Remember to give thanks to God's creations great and small.

Jim

[Ron T.]

Amen, Savage T… I’ve done that.

Funny thing is… I also just got my Savage Model 99 (a 1953 model “EG” in .300 Savage caliber) out of the rifle cabinet and turned my padded sling around so that the “pad” was at the bottom rather than the top of the sling.

I had just finished reading an article called “Sling Shot” by David E. Petzal in the November, 2004 issue (page 36) of “Field & Stream” magazine about how he recommended a right-handed hunter should carry his rifle on his left shoulder with the barrel pointing “down” rather than “up”.

In case you’re not familiar with Dave Petzal, he is a well-known and highly-respect gun-scribe I’ve read for years… and I’ve found his stuff is usually pretty darned good, so I was surprised when he suggested we sling our rifles on the left shoulder in order to speed up getting the rifle in a shooting position much faster than if we carried the rifle in the conventional manner (slung on our right shoulder).  Rather than doubt him, I decided to change my rifle’s sling around and give his suggestion a “try”.

After 10 or 15 minutes of practice, I can see how it would be faster (with even more practice) in bringing the rifle’s sights up on the game… but I’m concerned about the rifle’s muzzle pointing “down” and “out” slightly in front of me as I sneak along in the woods.  It’s a perfect “invitation” to get mud or other debris in the rifle’s muzzle… and, of course, you KNOW what that would do if a shot was fired out of the rifle without first clearing the mud or debris out of the muzzle.

I thought about this “problem”… and one possibly solution would be to “cover” the rifle’s muzzle with a single strip of Scotch Tape.  This would eliminate dirt, debris or mud getting in the barrel under all but the most dire of circumstances… and a single layer of Scotch Tape shouldn’t restrict the bullet leaving the barrel.

But the tape over the end of the barrel “bothers” me.  Whatta you think, Savage?   (BTW, I’m three years OLDER than you… “KID”… hahahahahaha).


Strength & Honor…

Ron T.

[savageT]

Well alright old man.....ah, Sir!
Yes, I use a party balloon over the muzzle of my M/L to keep out the elements and I don't see why taping over the muzzle isn't a bad idea either.......but I suggest electricians tape instead.  It stretches tightly and won't disolve in the wet weather.  

I've always shot lefty, (left eye dominent) but I guess I have always carried mine over the right shoulder.  Somewhere along the way I got screwed up genes.....I batted righty (couldn't hit Schmit though!) and played guitar and bass righthanded???  Just seemed to make better sense.  So let me know how it works out for you.

Jim

[leverfan]

(snipped big time)I thought about this “problem”… and one possibly solution would be to “cover” the rifle’s muzzle with a single strip of Scotch Tape.  This would eliminate dirt, debris or mud getting in the barrel under all but the most dire of circumstances… and a single layer of Scotch Tape shouldn’t restrict the bullet leaving the barrel.

But the tape over the end of the barrel “bothers” me.

Air rushing out the barrel ahead of the bullet will completely remove the tape from the crown before the bullet gets there.  It will not harm a rifle or mess up your accuracy.  Electrician's tape works the best for this.  Never tape over a shotgun barrel.  I've heard that the thinner barrel steel doesn't react well to even the tiny impediment of tape.  I don't intend to test this out for myself.

[Ron T.]

Ahhhhhhhhh... "electrician's tape"... sounds good... and that "balloon idea" isn't bad either.

Sureeeeeeee... I'll let you know how it works out.  Right now, it's not a lot faster getting the rifle up and off my left shoulder than it would be to get the it off my right shoulder, but perhaps with practice...      :wink:

Thanx for the advice...     :-)

[MSP Ret]

Hey guys, just checked this forum and saw the talk of muzzle down left shoulder carry. I am right handed and have done it this way for years, just as described with the sling reversed. I have never had a problem with crap getting in the muzzle with the exception of a couple of times I tripped and took a header into the snow. When you carry that way just keep your left arm hanging down naturally with your left hand on the forearm, that way just lifting and turning the gun up in front of you the sling falls off your shoulder and grasping the action with your right hand puts you in the proper position to point, aim, and shoot. You can get to be very quick with a bit of practice, much faster that the conventional barrel up right shoulder carry. It is now second nature to me and it feel odd to carry muzzle up. Try it for a while, you might like it....<><.... :grin:

[leverfan]

These posts deserved their own thread, and I hope nobody minds the move.  We were getting pretty far off the topic of manufacture dates, anyway.

[IntrepidWizard]

Condoms,something every GI knows,also Dry Clearners bags.

[quickdtoo]

I've used duct tape on the muzzle for as long as I can remember, works well and nothing sticks better as long as it's not put on really cold. Anything that works in Washington state will work anywhere it rains. :wink:

[leverfan]

Condoms,something every GI knows,also Dry Clearners bags.

Even better than a condom, little rubber finger tip protectors used by people in banks when counting cash.  These things are like little Tom Thumb sized condoms, and they work very well (on rifle muzzles).  If you don't know any bankers, electrician's tape is still my favorite.

Scraps of sandwhich bags held on by rubber bands are good, too.  They can also be used as see-through scope covers in a downpour.  Of course, better options are available these days.  

I used to wrap a piece of saran wrap around the lock area of my muzzle loader.  It kept the rain out, but it was thin enough to operate the gun without bothering to take it off when a quick shot presents itself.

I hunt western Washington, and the only dry hunting season is early archery (sometimes).  It's good to see fellow Washingtonians posting here.

[Flash]

I have used anything from electrical tape to baby bottle nipples for covering rifle muzzles and shot through them all without problem. A shotgun is a different story. I've seen bulged barrels from shooting too close to snowy branches

[quickdtoo]

Leverfan, I have a model 81 BLR in .308 win, been lurking here for a while, but spend most of my time on the NEF centerfire board as I have several of them. I live in Vancouver and hunt both eastside and westside for one thing or another and some in Oregon.  Thx,    Tim

[jhm]

For wood stocked guns with high gloss blueing I love and use the old Johnsons past wax on both, if I am hunting away from home area it goes with me, for wood stocks with satin blueing the johnsons wax on the stock and Remington gun oil on the metal parts.    JIM

[savageT]

jhm,
Hey Jim, Great stuff that 'ole Johnson's Paste Wax I agree, but so is Butcher's!!
As far as waxing the mat bluing finishes, I wax 'em too.  All you need to do is get out the shoebrush and buff up the metal.

Jim

[sgtt]

All good stuff.........and may I add that while you are taping the end of your barrel attache a 12" length of cotton thread.  A quick glance at the end of your barrel will tell you which way the air is drifting..............

[Thebear_78]

you have got to love flip up scope caps and electrical tape, they work great rain or snow.

[leverfan]

All good stuff.........and may I add that while you are taping the end of your barrel attache a 12" length of cotton thread.  A quick glance at the end of your barrel will tell you which way the air is drifting..............

I like that string idea, at least for shooting down on the flats.  All my medium/big game hunting is done in Washington's coastal range, Cascade foothills, and a little in the Blue Mountains.  You'd need a wind sock every 20 yards between you and the target to read the wind very well in these mountains.  Makes it a lttle hard to always keep your nose in the wind while stalking, too (unless you walk in circles ).  

Wind drift is more of a problem than bullet drop for folks using traditional lever rifle loads in excess of 100 yards, that's for sure.

[quickdtoo]

Yup, wind is real funny sometimes, I use a breeze squeeze to determine wind direction, sometimes the cloud of powder will drift off in one direction and then change and come right back at me, or turn one way or another.  :cry:

[Prince of Wales]

Ron I have carried my rifle over left shoulder muzzle down for over 30 years now without a problem. Just to be sure I use a piece of black electricians tape over the muzzle and another around it to insure the first stays in place. When fired the gasses ahead of the bullet melt through the tape before the bullet arrives there.
 Anyone not having practiced this method of carry owes themselves the chance to try. As the left hand reaches down to bring the barrel up the rifle butt naturally follows and is most naturally brought to right shoulder arms position quickly and easily. Nothing I know of is faster. POW