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Guns and the rain.

Cutiegirlracing
How bad is it to carry guns in the rain. Say you went hunting and it started raining. Is there anything you can do, while hunting, to insure that you gun won't be solid rust when you get home?
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Comments

18 comments

Date Votes
  • Sig220_Ruger77
    Shouldn't hurt it as long as you clean and oil it right when you get home or get it our of the rain. I hunt in the rain and snow quite often, unless it is really pouring of course.[:)]

    Jon
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  • Cutiegirlracing
    How about leaving it wet over night? Most of the time when I get home I'm really tired.
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  • Sig220_Ruger77
    I personally would never do that. I really cherish the firearms that I have and am not willing to take the chance. My theory is if you have a $500 hunting rifle(or less even) why not take the few minutes to clean and oil it, instead of risking ruining it? You know what I mean? It really doesn't take that long, just dry it off with a rag and then wipe it down good with gun oil and let it sit out overnight.

    Jon
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  • Zebra
    Not to change the subject entirely, but could you imagine those soldiers in the Civil War fighting in the bad weather with those percussion rifles and pistols?
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  • diver-rig
    Mine it depends on the gun. My stainless synthedics can take alot more of a beating, as can the painted up meat scattergun, but the blued ones get cleaned on the spot.
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  • mrseatle
    quote:Originally posted by Zebra
    could you imagine those soldiers in the Civil War fighting in the bad weather with those percussion rifles and pistols?


    If it ain't rainin' we ain't trainin...
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  • USN_Airdale
    many years ago i was hunting with my new Winchester 101 O/U, when it started to rain, i broke it down and carried it under my coat till i got home, then cleaned it, never fired a shot that day.
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  • 11b6r
    Guns are NOT water soluble. They should, however, recieve prompt preventive maintenance as circumstances allow. For most, a wipe down with an oily cloth, place in a warm dry location, NOT in a case that will trap moisture. Hunt in some sea coast marshes with SALT spray. SHUDDER!
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  • mrbruce
    If your to tired to clean your gun when you get home from hunting in the rain maybe you should take up fishing "O)
    If you know you'll be out in the rain, a coat of paste wax applied to all surfaces will help a lot, but they should still be cleaned ASAP.......
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  • 1911a1-fan
    you can always armor tuff coat the gun, not even salt water will hurt it, nor acids, fuel


    on the hand gun side, that's a great thing about glocks, you can go swimming with one, and put it in the dishwasher
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  • iceracerx
    If you are too tired to clean you firearms after a hunt, leave for home earlier.

    Duck hunting and rain go hand in hand. I've never worried about rusting up my scatterguns while hunting. And they ALWAYS get cleaned that afternoon / night.

    Usually a quick wipe with an oily rag BEFORE the hunt will ward off rust.
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  • frog21
    I hunt with mine in the rain with a coat of oil on them.
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  • fishkiller41
    If you have properly oiled it the last time U used it, it should be fine, for at least 12 hrs of being damp. If ti gets dropped in the water, it will need full disassembly and cleaning. ASAP!! Good-Luck CGR.
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  • Cutiegirlracing
    quote:Originally posted by fishkiller41
    If ti gets dropped in the water,


    You know me so well.
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  • kimberkid
    quote:Originally posted by mrbruce
    If your to tired to clean your gun when you get home from hunting in the rain maybe you should take up fishing "O)Thats what I was thinking ... exactly!
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  • kristov
    Steel has two enemies: Water and oxygen. Sadly for steel (but lucky for us) this planet is mostly water and our atmosphere is rich in oxygen. To understand rust we need to understand what causes it:

    Rusting of iron and steel alloys consists of the formation of hydrated oxides and is an electrochemical process which requires the presence of water, oxygen and an electrolyte. Remove any one of the three and the chances of rust forming are limited. In air, a relative humidity of over 50% provides the necessary amount of water so rain is not really much worse for steel than a very humid climate. When a droplet of water containing a little dissolved oxygen falls on a section of unprotected steel the solid iron or Fe(s) under the droplet oxidizes (Fe(s) Fe2+(aq) + 2e-) and the electrons are quickly consumed by hydrogen ions from water and dissolved oxygen at the edge of the droplet to produce water. Of course more acidic water increases corrosion. If the pH is very low the hydrogen ions will consume the electrons anyway, making hydrogen gas instead of water.

    "Hey Kristov, so wheres the rust"?

    We are almost there.
    Hydrogen ions are being consumed by the process. As the iron corrodes, the pH in the droplet rises. Hydroxide ions (OH-) appear in water as the hydrogen ion concentration falls. They react with the iron ions to produce insoluble iron(II) hydroxides. The iron(II) ions also react with hydrogen ions and oxygen to produce iron(III) ions. The iron(III) ions react with hydroxide ions to produce hydrated iron(III) oxides (also known as iron(III) hydroxides). The loose porous rust or Fe(OH)3 can slowly transform into a crystallized form, the familiar red-brown stuff that we call "rust" are really tubercles and once they form you'r steel is in serious trouble. The above is a very simplified look at a very complex process and I ommited most of the chemical formulas for easier reading.

    Steel can be protected by painting or in the case of firearms by blueing (which is actually a sort of controled rusting). There are also stainless steels which are more resisitant to rusting, but not 100% rust proof! A simple wipe down and a cleaning, followed by a light coating of oil will protect the steel from harm and prevent, or at least limit, damage to the finish. It is important to remember that condensation will cause rust as fast as a good soaking in water. If you are out in below freezing weather and then return to a nice warm camp don't just lean your cold rifle in the corner and forget about it because by morning it may well be rusted solid after warming up and then having condensation form. You'd be better off leaving it sitting outside or in an unheated shed.
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  • oldgunman
    If for some reason you can't clean it that night after the rain( we've all been there) then make sure you remove it from holster/case/etc and don't put it near heat to get it dry. Put it somewhere cool and by itself not touching any thing. Been there many times and with out problems. At the least give it a quick wipe down if wet. Put an oily rag in a ziplock so you can do an easy quick wipe down on most of it if needed. Get the internal parts later. Rain won't kill your weapon and lots of great hunts are in the rain.
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  • SCorvers
    Not an issue at all. All my guns are blue steel and wood except for the Nova. Plenty of times I have come in from a hard day hunting in the rain and thrown'em in the closet. Unless the moisture has some corrosive substance in it (ie. salt, swamp mud) there is no reason to worry. If you hunt around salWar on Terrorer, take'm in the shower with you to rinse them well. Clean'em when you have rested. Guns are tools, just like a hammer or screwdriver.
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