Rainy day guns?

[Craig Larter]

I have never found rain does any damage to a Parker as long as you dry it out and clean it well before putting it away for the day. I figure they all have been wet many times in the last 100 years except maybe a true closet queen. I use a runner's towel to keep as much water off the gun when out in the marsh on a wet day.
I don't have a rainy day gun they are all rainy day guns what about you?
Here in upstate NY near lake Ontario it showers or snows almost every day during November and December. Wet guns are the norm then you add in a wet dog shaking off it can get really soggy.

[Austin J Hawthorne Jr.]

I have 2 to call on when the weather is bad. #1 is a 16 gauge Fox Sterlingworth with cut barrels, but with IC chokes remaining. The gun has been totally restored, and I use that term loosely, so it looks almost new. It gets used on snowy days. Gun #2 is a 12 gauge lifter Parker. When I found this gun it looked as though it had been ridden hard and put away wet. There was surface rust on all exterior metal surfaces, and the wood was caked in grime and mold. There is also a bulge one inch back from the muzzle. The barrels cleaned up well with only minor pitting and little loss of its Damascus pattern. The wall thickness in both barrels is over .30" and the action is only slightly loose. A .002" shim has brought it back on face. The wood also cleaned up well. I use this gun on rainy days, and Mondays, and its never let me down.

[Bill Murphy]

All of my guns that have been out shooting in good weather have also been out in the rain, end of story.

[B. Dudley]

The gun that I grouse hunt with is a 28” VH 12g on a 1 frame. It is in rough shape. But fits me and is light to carry a lot. I bought it specifically because it was rough, but sound. It has no finish on it, the barrels are dented and pitted. The stock was actually too high for me, so I just sanded to down to where I needed it and lightly oiled it and called it good.

I am not super concerned about rain, but I am concerned about dragging a good gun through some of the crap that we hunt in. The last thing I need is to fall and break a good gun or use it to push brush out of the way.
This VH gives me a gun that I can do whatever I want with and not worry about it. I dont even bother cleaning it, it cant get much worse than it is.

[Randy Roberts]

Originally Posted by Brian Dudley

I am not super concerned about rain, but I am concerned about dragging a good gun through some of the crap that we hunt in. The last thing I need is to fall and break a good gun or use it to push brush out of the way.
This VH gives me a gun that I can do whatever I want with and not worry about it. I dont even bother cleaning it, it cant get much worse than it is.

I do not mean this in a sarcastic manner by any means but it literally cracks me up that you of all people, you who can fix anything has concerns about causing damage to a gun. Then you have me, I have no ability to repair guns at all. At the same time I have no problem hunting with a high-end gun and I have no concerns about causing damage to them at all. I have done it for years and so far I've come away unscathed. I know, I should have never said that, knock on wood. On the other hand I'm absolutely paranoid about hunting in the rain with a good gun. Maybe I need to adjust my thinking

[OH Osthaus]

Originally Posted by Randy G Roberts

it literally cracks me up that you of all people, you who can fix anything has concerns about causing damage to a gun.

hence the phrase “the cobbler’s children have no shoes”

he'll not make a cent fixing his own gun

[Randy Roberts]

Originally Posted by Rick Losey

hence the phrase “the cobbler’s children have no shoes”

he'll not make a cent fixing his own gun

Yeah I thought of that but I still find humor in it.

[J.B. Books]

I have found many of my double guns will have a very stiff/hard to move safety the next day after hunting in the rain.

[mobirdhunter]

I have used an AyA 453 28 gauge as my rain gun, but after I retired, and since we have places to hunt around where we live, I generally choose not to bird hunt on raining days. Hunting birds with the dogs every day of the season is a bit much, so taking some days off when the weather is bad works out. I also deer hunt, squirrel hunt and duck hunt to give the dogs (and my wife, who hunts with the dogs and me when we bird hunt) some days off. Last season I calculated that we hunted on about 45% of the available days from Sept.1 through February 15. The only rainy hunts were when we took trips out of state to hunt. It's much more enjoyable when you can hunt whenever you desire rather than just on the days you don't have to work. Thank goodness for retirement!

[6pt-Sika]

I pretty much carry whatever strikes me . But I will admit I check the weather forecast if I plan on carrying my little VHE 20 . I have a “few” rifles I prefer not to take out if it’s going to be a down pour , but that’s a pretty moot point anymore as I tend not to hunt if it’s going to be persistent rain . Snow on the other hand I wanna be out in that after the brown cloven hooved rats !