Ever bought a gun because of the weather?

mapsjanhere · August 21, 2011, 09:01 AM

There I was at Sportmen's, and it's pouring outside. And somehow my thoughts wander to the fact that in weather like that I wouldn't want to drag out any of my elk guns. And I have a "once in a lifetime" trophy tag for this year, so no "I wait till the weather gets better".
And there was a pretty little Tikka T3 stainless w/ plastic stock on sale, perfect for mudbogging or sleet. I went with the 308 since I didn't have one in that caliber, and I figured if the weather is so bad that I carry this I probably won't be doing any 300 yard + shots.

Daryl · August 21, 2011, 09:19 AM

Can't say that I've every worried too much about a blued rifle in wet weather.

Over the years, my primary big game rifle (Browning A-bolt) has been soaked a number of times. Once, my horse even laid down in a stock tank with my rifle getting fully submerged in the scabbard. Another time I spent two weeks in Alaska with a lot of sleet, snow, rain, and hail. The only rust I found was after I returned, and was the result of a few drops of salt rain in Anchorage at the airport on the way home. It wiped clean with a bit of oil on a rag, and it's never returned.

I've been hunting with this rifle for some ~20 years, and although it shows a little bluing wear here and there, it still puts them into a nice little cluster at long ranges. It's been tried and tested, so I'm not sure I'd feel quite as comfortable with a new gun.

Now, my handguns? Well, I own both blued and stainless, but stainless has an advantage in a leather holster when the going gets soggy.

Daryl

Doyle · August 21, 2011, 03:18 PM

Yep, I just did. Hunting season in Fl is also hurricane season. I wanted something that would be weatherproof plus be easy to to totally dry out. I also wanted iron sights so that I would have a backup if the scope crapped out during a hunt.

I chose a T/C encore stainless with a stainless 30-06 barrel. For a scope, I chose a Bushnell 4200 with the rainguard finish on the glass. Even if it gets totally soaked, I can take the whole thing apart in seconds to dry it out.

Kreyzhorse · August 21, 2011, 03:57 PM

Nope. A little weather isn't going to hurt a blued rifle. I've had a couple that have been soaked a few times and a quick wipe down with an oil rag will take care of any possible problems.

It's okay to buy a new gun, just don't blame it on the weather...

Old Grump · August 21, 2011, 03:58 PM

Weather is the main reason my hunting black powder gun is an inline and my centerfire is a single shot. Easy to maintain and little to go wrong.

ausher · August 21, 2011, 03:59 PM

I've bought a gun weather or not i needed it

Hawg · August 21, 2011, 04:38 PM

Quote:

Weather is the main reason my hunting black powder gun is an inline and my centerfire is a single shot. Easy to maintain and little to go wrong.

My Hawken works whether it's raining or not. Blued guns don't need to fear getting wet. It's the staying wet after the rain is gone you have to worry about.

GeauxTide · August 21, 2011, 06:58 PM

Same reason I got a Hawkeye in 280 and a Weather Warrior in 260 used for deer / hogs.

Any .45 · August 21, 2011, 07:35 PM

I never purchased a hunting rifle do to weather, do to the fact that most of my hunting rifles were already synthetic stocked and either SS or blued, I did however make a move to Wyoming from South Florida back 2004-2005 and I noticed my 1911's getting a bit rusty in the winters from the in hot and out to cold all day so I went and bought me a glock due to that issue.

BIG P · August 21, 2011, 09:26 PM

NO not a issue here,maybe a oil rag a time or two.No snow,no real cold weather,heck not alot of rain either.

MJN77 · August 22, 2011, 06:19 AM

I think every one of my guns have been soaked more than a few times, and I havn't had any problems yet. But any excuse to buy a new gun is a good one.

mapsjanhere · August 22, 2011, 07:20 AM

Just to add, in my case it wasn't the worry for the blued barrels but the wooden stocks that made me look for something less susceptible.

Hawg · August 22, 2011, 07:44 AM

I had one of mine dunked in a river before. No damage. Don't ask.

FrontSight · August 22, 2011, 12:44 PM

I love Savages, but the blued ones seem to rust at just the thought of moisture

So, yes, have thought about it

Saltydog235 · August 22, 2011, 12:57 PM

As far as my wife is concerned, I've bought quite a few for those reasons. Though, I'm beginning to think that she's on to me, the desert digital camo stock with no deserts raised a flag or two.

highvel · August 22, 2011, 08:28 PM

Nope, the only weather I have to worry about is the storm after I get home with a new gun!

chewie146 · August 22, 2011, 09:30 PM

Nope, but I understand your thinking!

Gunplummer · August 23, 2011, 06:44 AM

If I think the weather will really be bad I have a couple really ugly yard sale guns I can use that I keep sighted in.

Old Grump · August 23, 2011, 03:47 PM

Quote:

My Hawken works whether it's raining or not. Blued guns don't need to fear getting wet. It's the staying wet after the rain is gone you have to worry about.

Mine are blued too and when I was going to hunting camp I carried my cleaning kit in a large tackle box. They laughed when I unpacked than after a sloppy day I was really popular around the stove. Now I have 25000 acres of public woods for a back yard to hunt in and I have to go by my shop and cleaning bench to get to the house. Cleaning is not a problem.

August 21, 2011, 09:01 AM	#1
mapsjanhere Senior Member Join Date: August 6, 2009 Location: Albuquerque Posts: 2,832	Ever bought a gun because of the weather? There I was at Sportmen's, and it's pouring outside. And somehow my thoughts wander to the fact that in weather like that I wouldn't want to drag out any of my elk guns. And I have a "once in a lifetime" trophy tag for this year, so no "I wait till the weather gets better". And there was a pretty little Tikka T3 stainless w/ plastic stock on sale, perfect for mudbogging or sleet. I went with the 308 since I didn't have one in that caliber, and I figured if the weather is so bad that I carry this I probably won't be doing any 300 yard + shots. __________________ I used to love being able to hit hard at 1000 yards. As I get older I find hitting a mini ram at 200 yards with the 22 oddly more satisfying.

August 21, 2011, 03:57 PM	#4
Kreyzhorse Senior Member Join Date: April 12, 2006 Location: NKY Posts: 12,463	Nope. A little weather isn't going to hurt a blued rifle. I've had a couple that have been soaked a few times and a quick wipe down with an oil rag will take care of any possible problems. It's okay to buy a new gun, just don't blame it on the weather... __________________ "He who laughs last, laughs dead." Homer Simpson

August 21, 2011, 03:58 PM	#5
Old Grump Member in memoriam Join Date: April 9, 2009 Location: Blue River Wisconsin, in Posts: 3,144	Weather is the main reason my hunting black powder gun is an inline and my centerfire is a single shot. Easy to maintain and little to go wrong. __________________ Good intentions will always be pleaded for any assumption of power. The Constitution was made to guard the people against the dangers of good intentions. There are men in all ages who mean to govern will, but they mean to govern. They promise to be good masters, but they mean to be masters. --Daniel Webster--

August 21, 2011, 03:59 PM	#6
ausher Member Join Date: April 20, 2010 Location: NEIA Posts: 98	I've bought a gun weather or not i needed it __________________ I'll keep my guns, ammo and money. you can keep the change!

August 21, 2011, 07:35 PM	#9
Any .45 Senior Member Join Date: June 21, 2004 Location: SW FLORIDA, USA Posts: 604	I never purchased a hunting rifle do to weather, do to the fact that most of my hunting rifles were already synthetic stocked and either SS or blued, I did however make a move to Wyoming from South Florida back 2004-2005 and I noticed my 1911's getting a bit rusty in the winters from the in hot and out to cold all day so I went and bought me a glock due to that issue. __________________ Foster and polish The warior spirit While serving in the world; Illuminate the path According to your inner light" "Spring forth from the Great Earth; Billow like Great Waves; Stand like a tree, sit like a rock; Use One to strike All. Learn and forget! " "At the instant A warrior Confronts a foe, All things Come into focus" Morihei Ueshiba (1883-1969) Founder of Aikido

August 21, 2011, 09:19 AM	#2
Daryl Senior Member Join Date: July 11, 2008 Posts: 2,350	Can't say that I've every worried too much about a blued rifle in wet weather. Over the years, my primary big game rifle (Browning A-bolt) has been soaked a number of times. Once, my horse even laid down in a stock tank with my rifle getting fully submerged in the scabbard. Another time I spent two weeks in Alaska with a lot of sleet, snow, rain, and hail. The only rust I found was after I returned, and was the result of a few drops of salt rain in Anchorage at the airport on the way home. It wiped clean with a bit of oil on a rag, and it's never returned. I've been hunting with this rifle for some ~20 years, and although it shows a little bluing wear here and there, it still puts them into a nice little cluster at long ranges. It's been tried and tested, so I'm not sure I'd feel quite as comfortable with a new gun. Now, my handguns? Well, I own both blued and stainless, but stainless has an advantage in a leather holster when the going gets soggy. Daryl

August 21, 2011, 03:18 PM	#3
Doyle Senior Member Join Date: June 20, 2007 Location: Rainbow City, Alabama Posts: 7,167	Yep, I just did. Hunting season in Fl is also hurricane season. I wanted something that would be weatherproof plus be easy to to totally dry out. I also wanted iron sights so that I would have a backup if the scope crapped out during a hunt. I chose a T/C encore stainless with a stainless 30-06 barrel. For a scope, I chose a Bushnell 4200 with the rainguard finish on the glass. Even if it gets totally soaked, I can take the whole thing apart in seconds to dry it out.

August 21, 2011, 06:58 PM	#8
GeauxTide Senior Member Join Date: April 20, 2009 Location: Helena, AL Posts: 4,423	Same reason I got a Hawkeye in 280 and a Weather Warrior in 260 used for deer / hogs.

August 21, 2011, 09:26 PM	#10
BIG P Senior Member Join Date: July 8, 2010 Location: North Georgia Posts: 1,679	NO not a issue here,maybe a oil rag a time or two.No snow,no real cold weather,heck not alot of rain either.

August 22, 2011, 06:19 AM	#11
MJN77 Senior Member Join Date: April 27, 2009 Location: on a hill in West Virginia Posts: 789	I think every one of my guns have been soaked more than a few times, and I havn't had any problems yet. But any excuse to buy a new gun is a good one.

August 22, 2011, 07:20 AM	#12
mapsjanhere Senior Member Join Date: August 6, 2009 Location: Albuquerque Posts: 2,832	Just to add, in my case it wasn't the worry for the blued barrels but the wooden stocks that made me look for something less susceptible. __________________ I used to love being able to hit hard at 1000 yards. As I get older I find hitting a mini ram at 200 yards with the 22 oddly more satisfying.

August 22, 2011, 07:44 AM	#13
Hawg Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2007 Location: Mississippi Posts: 16,188	I had one of mine dunked in a river before. No damage. Don't ask.

August 22, 2011, 12:44 PM	#14
FrontSight Senior Member Join Date: September 9, 2005 Posts: 1,712	I love Savages, but the blued ones seem to rust at just the thought of moisture So, yes, have thought about it __________________ To kill something as great as a duck just to smell the gunpowder is a crime against nature. - Alan Liere Democracy is a device that ensures we shall be governed no better than we deserve. - George Bernard Shaw

August 22, 2011, 12:57 PM	#15
Saltydog235 Senior Member Join Date: October 20, 2010 Location: Pawleys Island Posts: 1,563	As far as my wife is concerned, I've bought quite a few for those reasons. Though, I'm beginning to think that she's on to me, the desert digital camo stock with no deserts raised a flag or two.

August 22, 2011, 08:28 PM	#16
highvel Senior Member Join Date: January 21, 2010 Location: Powhatan VA Posts: 633	Nope, the only weather I have to worry about is the storm after I get home with a new gun! __________________ Do not argue with an idiot. He will drag you down to his level and beat you with experience.--Mark Twain "I have opinions of my own 'strong opinions' but I don't always agree with them."--George Bush

August 22, 2011, 09:30 PM	#17
chewie146 Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2010 Location: New Mexico Posts: 853	Nope, but I understand your thinking!

August 23, 2011, 06:44 AM	#18
Gunplummer Senior Member Join Date: March 11, 2010 Location: South East Pa. Posts: 3,364	If I think the weather will really be bad I have a couple really ugly yard sale guns I can use that I keep sighted in.

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