pick a rifle for hunting in the rain all day tomorrow

[john keyes]

I'm gonna be in the rain all day tomorrow hunting, I think I may take a synthetic stocked rifle and leave my other stuff at home, I have a bunch of traditional walnut/blue etc and a couple 700 MTN LSS.

I would think the MTN LSS's could hang but I'll probably take the ol jap weatherby.  I'm kinda wondering if the scope will be okay.

I usually wuss out when its raining but last year the best times on our lease were in the worst conditions.  I guess the deer get uncomfortable and want to move around.

I know not to put any rifle in a case wet.

[ratgunner]

I would take the synthetic.Thats what they are for.

[Bart Solo]

Your scope isn't waterproof?

[jlwilliams]

  I'm leaning toward getting a Mossberg for next year, just because of foul weather.  I've been using a Handi for some time, it don't mind the rain and I don't mind it getting wet.  I'd just like to get a bolt action that I would not worry about.  I understand that Mossy has a real tough finish and for the price I won't cry over a blemish or two as years go by.

[Bart Solo]

Go with the Vanguard. Synthetic stocks are perfect for rainy weather.  Don't forget to take the barreled action out of the stock when you clean it up afterwards.  Hidden rust is nasty.

[charles p]

If you are sitting in the rain, try to avoid the temptation of craddling your rifle next to you to shelter it from moisture.  What happens is the scope gets a little warmer than the outside temp (from your body heat), and when you raise the rifle to fire, the warm scope fogs immediately on the outside.  No brand of scope is immune from this.  It's just plain physics.  I like to keep a piece of dry tissue next to the objective lens while tilting the rifle so that the muzzle is pointing downward.  When I need to shoot, I remove the tissue.  The exposed objective lens is usually free of rain droplets and fog.

[corbanzo]

I would take whatever rifle you feel like.  If it starts to rust after one day out, then you have a finish problem.  I'm sure that after a day in the rain, you would dry and oil any rifle you had out, which totally nulls the problem.  I like hunting in the rain, harder it rains, the less they can hear and see you.

If you are sitting in the rain, try to avoid the temptation of craddling your rifle next to you to shelter it from moisture.  What happens is the scope gets a little warmer than the outside temp (from your body heat), and when you raise the rifle to fire, the warm scope fogs immediately on the outside.  No brand of scope is immune from this.  It's just plain physics.  I like to keep a piece of dry tissue next to the objective lens while tilting the rifle so that the muzzle is pointing downward.  When I need to shoot, I remove the tissue.  The exposed objective lens is usually free of rain droplets and fog.

Isn't that what scope covers are for?  If you need a quick shot, go with a see through cover. 

[daddywpb]

Take a stainless/synthetic - that's what they're made for. Take care of the rifle when you get home. I LOVE hunting in the rain!

[billy]

I have a Howa 1500 stainless and laminated stock with flip up scope covers that works great on rainy days.

[EdinCT]

  I hunted last Monday in a downpour in CT I had several rifles to choose from but took a Marlin 1895 CB with a leupold 2X7 Scope with caps. I hunted with this rifle for 12 days in SE Alaska a few years back and had covered it with paste wax and not buffed it out even where the wood wasn't exposed. I taped over the end of the barrel. It did good and although I have a stainless 338 WM I took the 45/70 because it puts a good hole that leaks plenty without destroying alot of meat.
  It worked well as I shot an eight point running by at about 40 yards and flipped him.
  My Dad lived his whole life with only one centerfire rifle that he took very good care of, and it was what got used rain or shine.Put a good finish on it dry it when you get inside and wipe on light coat of oil.

[Zachary]

Neither, stay home.  I hate deer hunting in the rain, especially when the heavy downpours come the dang minute that you are ready to shoot the deer.  The downpours make it more difficult to see through the scope, it is more distracting when shooting, and the downpours (if they are heavy enough) can actually change the bullet's point of impact when shooting at longer ranges.  I don't like rain for any kind of hunting..deer, ducks, geese, hogs.....or even fishing for that matter.  Don't get me wrong, I can tough it out, but if the forecast were to call for rain...and especially heavy rain...and especially all day long...then I'd just stay home for the reasons that I mentioned.

Zachary

[Old English]

I hunted in the rain last Sunday and Monday. I used a synthetic stocked T3 with a Bushnell Elite scope. That rainguard is so awesome that I ordered another scope with it. The rainguard isn't all hype, it really works, and well. During ML I had a Nikkon scope, great scope in the dry, in the rain......... Depends where you hunt but here, I do not have time for scope covers and the like, no wide open spaces in TN. I love those rainguard scopes.

[RaySendero]

Neither, stay home.  I hate deer hunting in the rain, especially when the heavy downpours come the dang minute that you are ready to shoot the deer.  The downpours make it more difficult to see through the scope, it is more distracting when shooting, and the downpours (if they are heavy enough) can actually change the bullet's point of impact when shooting at longer ranges. .....
Zachary

Nope...Been there -Done that!

Downpouring rain doesn't effect my 270 (even out to 500 yards) like your thinking it would!

[nomosendero]

Neither, stay home.  I hate deer hunting in the rain, especially when the heavy downpours come the dang minute that you are ready to shoot the deer.  The downpours make it more difficult to see through the scope, it is more distracting when shooting, and the downpours (if they are heavy enough) can actually change the bullet's point of impact when shooting at longer ranges. .....
Zachary

Nope...Been there -Done that!

Downpouring rain doesn't effect my 270 (even out to 500 yards) like your thinking it would!

My view is more like Zachary's IF it is a downpour. Notice Zach said (if they are heavy enough). A friend of mine did a good deal of testing with his 300 Wea. & 180 grain bullets in heavy rain. He had a nice bench with a roof
& he had a chance to test this at the time & I did not get to stick around long, but at the 400 target the bullets were
inconsistant, some would be right on & some way off, so you may get lucky & maybe not. Those are not the odds I choose, so long shots in hard rain are out for me.

[RaySendero]

Neither, stay home.  I hate deer hunting in the rain, especially when the heavy downpours come the dang minute that you are ready to shoot the deer.  The downpours make it more difficult to see through the scope, it is more distracting when shooting, and the downpours (if they are heavy enough) can actually change the bullet's point of impact when shooting at longer ranges. .....
Zachary

Nope...Been there -Done that!

Downpouring rain doesn't effect my 270 (even out to 500 yards) like your thinking it would!

My view is more like Zachary's IF it is a downpour. Notice Zach said (if they are heavy enough). A friend of mine did a good deal of testing with his 300 Wea. & 180 grain bullets in heavy rain. He had a nice bench with a roof
& he had a chance to test this at the time & I did not get to stick around long, but at the 400 target the bullets were
inconsistant, some would be right on & some way off, so you may get lucky & maybe not. Those are not the odds I choose, so long shots in hard rain are out for me.

nomo,

I had a similar opportunity a couple of years ago - Was at the local military rifle range.  We had spread a about a dozen clay pigeons out on the 500 yard bern.  A guy was spotting for me as I sighted in on the clays.  Got mine sighted-in and so I offered to spot for him - He had a heavy barrel 308 w/ thumb hole stock.  We just got his sighted in when a real downpour started!

We were uder a canopy but supprized me that he kept shooting!  His shots were erattic - about 1' diameter around the clay.  I commented about the rain causing it - He said "it wasn't the rain", as he had switch to an old military ball ammo after we got him on target.  I still didn't believe him.  Guess he saw it in my poker face!  So, he said he'd show me and switched back.  Sure enough he was right-on!

He asked me to get my rifle back out and try for myself.  I did, and without any scope adjustment, hit 3 of 3!  Turns out he was a marine sniper! - Said that the even a heavy downpour would not effect a boattail supersonic bullet.  From my experience - He was right.

[nomosendero]

Sam was not a sniper, but could shoot bug hole groups. Interesting! It sure affected those 180 gr. X bullets at 3,150, who knows.

[jro45]

I'd take my Weatherby with synthetic stock if hunting in the rain.

[Coyote Hunter]

Rain and excesively wet conditions are why I bought a Ruger with a skeletonized 'canoe paddle' stock.  The stock is rigid,rugged and impervious to the weather. Its a .300 WM and cost me $375 new at Sportsmans Warehouse about 4 years ago.  Guess people didn't care much for the stock but it works great for my purposes.