Using a 'nice' rifle in adverse conditions

[Silverado]

It seems that through the process of buying, selling and horse trading, in conjunction with this tactical virus I've got, I've sold myself right out of hunting rifles, save one.

The keeper is a really nice Winchester. My concern is that it's great looking walnut and glossy bluing will take a beating in the late season. I can take care not to dent and scratch it, but I'm concerned about rust.

Of course one option is to buy another, and I'm considering it, but should I decide to hunt just the Win, what is the best way to weatherproof it as much as I may be able?

Just a coat of oil? One of those silicone wipe cloths?

 

[simulate]

Try a 24 hr. soak in Breakfree then clean and lube with G96 and have fun hunting. If it gets wet, clean it again- this has always stopped any rust for me.

 

[Rod]

No problem -- I use my nice rifles, you just form good habits. One thing I do is use birchwood casey stock wax on the metal before the hunt and wipe them down with a cotton rag with rem oil and a quick swab up the barrel,at the end of each day.

If its snowing or raining and your carrying your rifle with the shoulder sling; either carry it muzzle down or have saran wrap over the muzzle with an elastic band or twist tie. I've even used a piece of plastic bag tied with string to keep snow from getting in the muzzle. The best I've used is the fingers from latex gloves, to pull over the muzzle. But that's if I remember to bring them along.

I have no problem hunting with my nice guns, but my hunting partner he goes the stainless, composite route. So it's each to their own.

Rod

 

[bearhunter]

Get some camoflauge tape and cover it up. It's easy to strip off and cheap, available at your local gunshop or Walmart. Won't hurt the finish at all and give great protection under most conditions. bearhunter

 

[catnthehatt]

A G96 cloth works very well.
My rifles get wiped off after every outing, and if it is very cold, don't get taken into a warm cabin or house in the evening, but stay in the boat or trruck.
If I do have take them in, they stay in the case for at least an hour before i take them out to help stabilize thee temperature so they don't condensate as much.
Hunt with that M70 and enjoy it for what it is - a hunting rifle.
No. biggy, people have been using blued/browned rifles and shotguns for hundreds of years!
Cat

 

[Wrong Way]

It's a H-U-N-T-I-N-G gun! Use it, love it. Unless you are keeping it as some kind of "investment", the animals don't care if you have a pretty gun or not. I like a few "character marks" on my rifles, wipe it down after the hunt, keep it in a dry place.

 

[martinbns]

My primary big game rifle isa Sako Av 300 win mag wih a beautiful walnut stock. If it's really ugly or likely to be I swap the stock to a mcmillan I bougt for it. I find the late season in Alberta is easy on nice wood, it's just cold. It's October you have to worry about.

 

[huntinstuff]

Use it. That's what those fellas made it for. Take care of it the best you can and if it gets dinged, it's a story.

Dad scratched his new Remington on some barbed wire about 29 yrs ago. Still talks about it today.

 

[SuperCub]

Get some camoflauge tape and cover it up. It's easy to strip off and cheap, available at your local gunshop or Walmart. Won't hurt the finish at all and give great protection under most conditions. bearhunter

I aways wondered about that camo tape holding moisture to the metal, preventing drying and promoting rust/pitting. Any thoughts?

I've never used it because of that, and I don't like the way it looks.

.

 

[Northman999]

I used to be way to protective of my firearms as well, as they were all bluing/wood and not the more modern stainless/synthetic. Then I realized my favorites were sitting in my safe all the time and I was actually using my cheap beaters I picked up second hand. I switched to actually using everything I own, and I don't regret it. In adverse conditions I go with a wipe down of CLP morning and night and I put a piece of black electrical tape over the muzzle. My last three moose hunts, each about a week long in crappy conditions, and my rifle didn't pick up any noticeable wear.

On that camo tape - I've picked some up but I was also worried about it retaining moisture; are we sure it won't increase rust etc in week long rainy moose hunts?

 

[t-star]

if you're really worried, there's also gun "socks" that slip right over the entire gun and take the beating , leaving the wood and steel protected-or most of it- just check for function by firing a few rounds - got mine out of that place in chicago

 

[blargon]

If you're going to lose sleep over some dings, buy another gun in SS. Doesn't hurt to have 2 rifles anyway. That .300 Weatherby would have done the trick...

 

[Slimbo]

Get some camoflauge tape and cover it up. It's easy to strip off and cheap, available at your local gunshop or Walmart. Won't hurt the finish at all and give great protection under most conditions. bearhunter

My old man told me about the one and only time he ever used camo tape. He was goose hunting and had just wrapped his shotgun in the stuff. He took the plunge to retrieve some birds and came back only to find somone had "stolen" his shotgun! It took him an hour or so but he finally managed to find it. I finally resorted to putting some flagging tape on my compound bow after setting it on the ground to retrieve my arrows at a 3D archery shoot and spending about 45 minutes looking for my bow. Must be hereditary.

 

[Dogleg]

Another vote for good ole G96. Soak it down good the first time, then just give it a wipe now and then if you're bored. There is no rust on my guns, including those that did long term truck gun duty. I like the way it forms a dry film instead of an oily mess.

 

[NAA]

For the hunting trips I've been on I like to have a back-up rifle anyway... So, if it were me, I'd pick-up a second rifle that could double as your 'adverse conditions rifle'... Maybe something like a Rem 700 SPS stainless or Savage 116 in .30-06 comes to mind. Won't break the bank & still give you a practically accurate rifle that will stand up to the bad weather with minimal maintenance requirements....

Maybe not your cup of tea, but just a thought...

 

[MHUNT]

I went through the same dilemma with my Belgian Brownings. Rust sucks. I was 1/2 way to selling the lot and buying a stainless something or other when my son said he wanted to have them some day. So what to do? I decided that they were hunting rifle, not collector's items and they are currently at Corlane Sporting Goods in Dawson Creek being powder coated. That should take care of the rust.

 

[BBB]

I aways wondered about that camo tape holding moisture to the metal, preventing drying and promoting rust/pitting. Any thoughts?

I've never used it because of that, and I don't like the way it looks.

.

Never used the camo tape, but I do wrap my muzzle with electrical tape for longer hunts.

Got back from 5 days in the rain, having wiped down the non- covered bits of metal with an oily rag, and there were rust marks following the tape edges at the muzzle.

The bore, however, was pristine.

Wasn't a big deal, my backpacking guns get the tar knocked out of them regularly, but I'd be careful with a quality gun and tape.

 

[bearhunter]

I've actually used the camo tape for years now. The glue on the tape is waterproof and provides even more protection, the material the tape is made from seems to shed, rather than retain water.

I do strip the tape off every year and replace it before hunting season, I worry about leaveing it on and haveing the glue harden.

You guys are right about setting the gun down and not marking where it is, they seem to disappear, even in snow.

I make a case for the camo tape, because it works well.

If you're one of the fellows that uses his rifle for a prybar or hammer, or as can happen to anyone, drops or falls on the gun, well the tape does provide a little cushion but isn't an absolute cure all for abuse or heavy accidents.

bearhunter

 

[Griffoneur]

No problem -- I use my nice rifles, you just form good habits. One thing I do is use birchwood casey stock wax on the metal before the hunt and wipe them down with a cotton rag with rem oil and a quick swab up the barrel,at the end of each day.

If its snowing or raining and your carrying your rifle with the shoulder sling; either carry it muzzle down or have saran wrap over the muzzle with an elastic band or twist tie. I've even used a piece of plastic bag tied with string to keep snow from getting in the muzzle. The best I've used is the fingers from latex gloves, to pull over the muzzle. But that's if I remember to bring them along.

I have no problem hunting with my nice guns, but my hunting partner he goes the stainless, composite route. So it's each to their own.

Rod

You can buy a barrel protector, its like a miniature condom. You slide it over the barrel and you can shoot thru it. They are usually found in the Black Powder/Muzzleloader section of the sporting goods store. It keeps dirt and debris out of the barrel. Comes in a pack of 10.

 

[Calum]

You can buy a barrel protector, its like a miniature condom. You slide it over the barrel and you can shoot thru it. They are usually found in the Black Powder/Muzzleloader section of the sporting goods store. It keeps dirt and debris out of the barrel. Comes in a pack of 10.

You can also buy them at most drug stores, where they are known as finger cots, and way cheaper, but they come in non tactical white.