Parkers in the rain

[paul shields]

I know this sounds dumb but, should I be concerned about getting my Parker a little wet? Committed to go bird hunting this Saturday and showers are forecast. I want to bring my VH12 (good condition -- nothing special). Also just wondering, would some water in the barrels be a safety issue? Thanks Paul

[Dave Suponski]

Paul, I have had a few Parkers soaking wet and I am sure many of us that hunt our beloved guns have also. After the rain event clean your gun as you would after any shooting session paying attention to the nooks and cranny's like ribs etc. then use a nice wipe down with Ballistol. This stuff is amazing and I have never had a speck of rust after using Ballistol. And oh ya....use it on the wood too!

[Destry L. Hoffard]

I've sat out with a Parker in the absolute pouring rain and never had a problem as long as I cleaned and oiled them when I got home. These guns were made to be used, not as a collectible, people seem to forget that sometimes.

DLH

[Daryl Corona]

Paul,
Destry and Dave are correct. You can't hurt them by getting them wet. First off don't put it in your gun case wet. Wipe it down first by drying it with any absorbent toweling then with any good oil. When you get home break the gun down and allow it to air dry overnight (stock-receiver, forend and barrels) laid out on an incline so they can drain off any remaining moisture. Next day wipe them down again, reassemble and you are good to go. By the way I see you are from Md. Where are you hunting this weekend? Good luck and have fun. Daryl

[Richard Flanders]

If you're really worried about it, wax it before you go hunting. All of my damascus and twist bbld guns are waxed and I used to wax my pump when I used it for waterfowl.

[John Campbell]

Double Lab is spot-on for technique. But if it were me, I would not put Ballistol on any wood finish, per Autumn Daze suggestion. It's just me, but if something is good on steel, I can't see it being good on wood finish.

Best, Kensal

[charlie cleveland]

paul take destrey advice and take that gun a hunting rain or shine.... charlie

[Dave Suponski]

Kensal,Thank You for your opinion. Ballistol was invented by the german military during WW1 and is safe for wood as well as steel. I have used it on a cotton cleaning patch to wipe my guns down for the last 10+ years to no ill effect. I use it as a light treatment before putting any gun away. Another feature that I like about it is that handling a gun in humid weather I have never had a problem with those nasty little finger prints of rust that sometimes show up.

[edgarspencer]

Ballistol is also a great bug repellant, because it stinks so well.

[King Brown]

Paul, my guns---Parkers included---are slopped over with salt and fresh water all the time, down the barrels, everywhere. They were made for it. Just clean them properly---as above.

[paul shields]

Shenandoah Valley up near Martinsburg. My first time out with some Ruffed Grouse Society friends.

[paul shields]

Ballistol is also a great bug repellant, because it stinks so well.
I like the Ballistol too. When I'm done cleaning the gun in the basement, my wife says it smells like an animal died down there.

[Jerry Harlow]

I had this discussion with a man I respect on barrel repair and the discussion of weep holes that have been drilled into the lower ribs during bluing and also about leaking ribs, top or bottom. If there is any possibility that there are leaky ribs or there is a hole drilled there from a rebluing job, then there is a good chance there may be rust between the ribs. This individual whom I respect says moisture will find it's way inside the ribs if there is any void in the solder. We all know water will always find a way into anything.

I went to Lowes, bought a 3" PVC pipe, but a cap on it and an expandable plug that has a rubber seal on the other end. Fill it with water displacing oil (Brownells), and after the barrels are cleaned and wiped down after being in a rain storm or even extremely damp weather, lower them down into the water displacing oil. If any oil has made it in between the ribs, it will be displaced by the oil. Let them soak, then slowly remove them saving as much oil as possible for the next set. It will last you for a long long time.

Maybe crazy, but better than rusting from the inside between the ribs.

[Dean Romig]

If I'm taking a Parker out in rainy or snowy weather I always give them a really good Ballistol treatment before I expose them to the elements. And, of course I wipe the gun down with an absorbent cloth when back inside and then give it another Ballistol treatment.

Ballistol will not harm the wood or the finish on the wood, be it original finish or something done in more recent years. Just like Hoppe's No. 9 Ballistol has its own distinctive... shall we say, aroma.

[Daryl Corona]

Paul,
You would'nt happen to be going to Prospect Hall would you?
Daryl

[Richard Flanders]

I love Ballistol. Every one of my guns is coated with it, inside and out. Rifles, pistols and shotguns. It is far and away the best thing I have ever seen for the internals on any gun. It never hardens beyond the consistency of a very very light grease and will not ever run off. It's good on leather also. They hit a home run in inventing that stuff.

[Jim DiSpagno]

Try filling the barrels plugged at the muzzle end and let stand for a day or two and then empty and see what comes out. You would be surprised. I've used Balistol for 20+ years and it is the best and makes the wood lustorous to boot. Removes all kinds of grit, grime, dirt, and oil residue. Plastic fouling just breaks up and runs out.

[Pete Lester]

I had a 1900 VH develop a small hairline crack in the toe of the stock after drying out from hunting in the rain. I was perplexed because the gun had not been dropped or set down hard. The DHBP was fine. Apparently the end grain below the DHBP soaked up water and the expansion and contraction of getting wet and drying out caused the crack. That's what the gunsmith said who repaired it. He advised me to seal the wood under the butt plate/recoil pad on any gun you are going to get really wet.

[Dave Purnell]

I never thought of that, but it makes very good sense. It's like sealing the bottom edge of an exterior wood door. Most people don't think about it, but it's the first place moisture will get in to start cracking and rotting the door.

Dave

[Bill Murphy]

Daryl, in my experience, there is not much of a ruffed grouse population at Prospect Hall. I have seen large flocks of turkeys, however. Now that I reread Paul's post, I see that he doesn't mention grouse hunting. A little late in the season, anyhow.

[paul shields]

Paul,
You would'nt happen to be going to Prospect Hall would you?
Daryl
No, wouldn't complain if I was going there! Great place. This time its Shenandoah Valley.