I know folks who use muzzleloaders cover the ends of their barrels often so the powder doesn't get wet. Just curious if anyone does this with their shotguns so you don't have to clean the barrel after exposure to water?
Quote from: BDeal on April 16, 2025, 10:54:28 AMI know folks who use muzzleloaders cover the ends of their barrels often so the powder doesn't get wet. Just curious if anyone does this with their shotguns so you don't have to clean the barrel after exposure to water?
I have certain guns that I use on rainy days. I'll normally break the gun completely down and clean one end to the other and inside and out after I'm done hunting for the day.
If it's heavy rain, I don't go. If it's light rain I just keep the barrel pointed down.
Here in MN we have to select one of six 7-day periods. I usually take a weekend and a couple of days off, so I'm hunting those 4 days no matter what the weather. I don't do anything special while in the field. When I get home I always give the gun and clean and lube.
Quote from: RutnNStrutn on April 16, 2025, 12:16:12 PMIf it's heavy rain, I don't go. If it's light rain I just keep the barrel pointed down.
Second this motion !!
I usually wont hunt if the weather is really bad. However,.. If time is limited and I'm not able to get out much. I'll use a popup blind to protect me and my gear from the elements. It's the only time I'll use one.
In the coastal rainforest of Oregon, rain is the normal. Regular gully washers. So, if I want to hunt it is goimg to be about 70% of the time in the rain. I don't cover the barrel. Some I know put clear tape over the end of their barrel.
I won't stay home if it's raining as the turkeys live it and I figure I won't get one staying home in the chair. I give my gun a good cleaning when I get home. Also a rain poncho is handy to help keep the gun dry too.
If given the chance I'd cover them with the roof of my house. Hope that helps. As ya get older you get smarter
If I can handle the weather the gun dang better should.
If not, I will buy a gun that can. If you have a safe Queen buy a gun too hunt with.
It just depends on how really bad it's raining, if it's that bad I will just take my slingshot and a bag of marbles ..LOL
Just kidding .. I bought one of those waterproof gun covers off Amazon and it will fold up into its own little pouch that comes with a carabiner to attached to a pack or vest... It weighs nothing at all .. check them out on Amazon
The one I have is called Gun Slicker, you can use it for rifles and shotguns
I have often used a poncho when it rains it seems to help.
No because I'm going to be road hunting if it's raining
No.
If I did I would want to try patterning it with it covered to make sure there are no ill effects though.
I always tape my rifle and muzzleloader barrels and know it makes no difference.
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Great point!! What kind of tape do you use for your rifles?
I carry a small roll of e tape for heavy rain, usually I'll just keep the gun under my poncho though. Ring bulge can be an expensive and annoying hard lesson to learn..
One strip of electrical tape over the end of the barrel and one around the diameter of the barrel to keep the one going over the end from coming off
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Was a waterfowl hunting fool, if it's raining, I hunt. In 60 years, I've never worried about my shotgun getting wet.
When I get home, I take it completely apart and wipe it dry. If the gun is really wet, I'll blow the water out the canned air. Light oil when it's completely dry. Repeat tomorrow.
I don't. And I'll hunt in any rain, thunderstorm, snow, whatever. When I'm traveling it seems to like to rain wherever I'm at so I'm gonna be out there in it. I don't cover my barrel, I hunt as normal. I wipe it down when I get back for the day. After the season, I'll clean my guns real good and don't even give it a second thought. But that's just me
I don't hunt in rain.
I've killed several turkeys during rain storms and hunt in the rain every year. Never once gave a second thought to water getting down my barrel. When I pull the trigger it's going for a ride just like the rest of the contents in the barrel.
Quote from: 2eagles on April 20, 2025, 07:56:16 PMWas a waterfowl hunting fool, if it's raining, I hunt. In 60 years, I've never worried about my shotgun getting wet.
When I get home, I take it completely apart and wipe it dry. If the gun is really wet, I'll blow the water out the canned air. Light oil when it's completely dry. Repeat tomorrow.
Amen. My goodness, duck hunting would be impossible if it mattered with a shotgun. I have hunted in frog stangler in the MS delta in waist deep water and it was one of those rains where it was coming up almost as hard as it was coming down. As soon as the rain stopped we had Woodies and Mallards in our lap.
This year, sat under an umbrella until the rain passed, as soon as the sky cleared, we heard gobbles and withon 45 minutes had tow dead birds in front of us. Never gave a worry about the guns. Just cleaned them off when we got home. Great nephew had youth 870 and I had CZ over under. Both guns barked and both birds flopped.
I do however take precautions when hunting with muzzleloader in the rain. It is a 209 primer, so mostly just worry about the barrel.