Wet Powder (Pellets) from rain?
12-16-2012, 07:53 AM
#1
Fork Horn
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Hamilton, OH
Posts: 456
Wet Powder (Pellets) from rain?
Hunted last night and got soaked. I mean soaked to the skin, pouring cats and dogs. Hunted this morning and didn't shoot anything so I came home and unloaded the Omega. To my surprise my pellets looked like they had been wet. They weren't still wet but it was obvious that water had gotten into the barrel. Odd thing is, is that the barrels isn't rusty and looks perfectly clean.
I saved the pellets and was going to use them at a range session but I am still concerned. If I would have shot at a deer would the load have even been effective? Do I need to be more careful and cover the barrels when hunting in the rain?
Should I even try to shoot these pellets are just consider them ruined?
I saved the pellets and was going to use them at a range session but I am still concerned. If I would have shot at a deer would the load have even been effective? Do I need to be more careful and cover the barrels when hunting in the rain?
Should I even try to shoot these pellets are just consider them ruined?
12-16-2012, 08:20 AM
#3
Boone & Crockett
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Idaho
Posts: 11,703
Hunted last night and got soaked. I mean soaked to the skin, pouring cats and dogs. Hunted this morning and didn't shoot anything so I came home and unloaded the Omega. To my surprise my pellets looked like they had been wet. They weren't still wet but it was obvious that water had gotten into the barrel. Odd thing is, is that the barrels isn't rusty and looks perfectly clean.
I saved the pellets and was going to use them at a range session but I am still concerned. If I would have shot at a deer would the load have even been effective? Do I need to be more careful and cover the barrels when hunting in the rain?
Should I even try to shoot these pellets are just consider them ruined?
I saved the pellets and was going to use them at a range session but I am still concerned. If I would have shot at a deer would the load have even been effective? Do I need to be more careful and cover the barrels when hunting in the rain?
Should I even try to shoot these pellets are just consider them ruined?
During the hunting did you have a muzzle mitt or such over the end of the barrel? The sabot will not stop all the water from leaking by and into the powder...
People use all kinds of thing to cover the muzzle and you really need to do it in rotten or even really damp weather. I have used a lot of things but have settled on the Ultimate Bore Protection... It is a really strong muzzle mitt..
http://www.bighornproducts.com/ultim...protection.htm
12-16-2012, 08:30 AM
#4
Giant Nontypical
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Colorado
Posts: 9,557
12-16-2012, 09:38 AM
#5
Fork Horn
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Mi.
Posts: 282
I use bright colored balloons to cover muzzles. Hard to miss once i,m on stand and noticeable should i encounter a shot on the way.(i remove it before shooting,bright color so i notice) An extra glove rests on top of action when on stand in rain or snow.
Last edited by monoped; 12-16-2012 at 06:10 PM.
12-16-2012, 11:50 AM
#6
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Virginia / West Virginia
Posts: 4,906
I have never used anything over my bore. If hunting in the rain, I always make sure to keep my barrel in a position as to not get rain in it.
I've thought about a bore cover, but have always been worried about my POI changing.
SL, doesn't a setup like that change your POI? Or not enough to worry about?
I've thought about a bore cover, but have always been worried about my POI changing.
SL, doesn't a setup like that change your POI? Or not enough to worry about?
12-16-2012, 11:55 AM
#7
Boone & Crockett
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Idaho
Posts: 11,703
I have never used anything over my bore. If hunting in the rain, I always make sure to keep my barrel in a position as to not get rain in it.
I've thought about a bore cover, but have always been worried about my POI changing.
SL, doesn't a setup like that change your POI? Or not enough to worry about?
I've thought about a bore cover, but have always been worried about my POI changing.
SL, doesn't a setup like that change your POI? Or not enough to worry about?
The deer I shot the other day at 60 showed no real shift of POI...
I went to the rain cover because I just can not trust myself to keep the muzzle down all the time when I am wiggling through brush and branches. To me it is just more positive...
Same for a cap in a percussion gun - I seal that also to prevent moisture...
12-16-2012, 01:36 PM
#8
Spike
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 18
I use a latex glove finger for barrel covers in rain and snow.
I am usually still hunting so most shots are less than 100 yards.
At that range I have not noticed more than an inch of difference in POI.
And free hand that is closer than I can shoot anyway.
Also I perfer that my gun goes off when I need it to as I have good luck when hunting in
a light rain and/ or snow.
I am usually still hunting so most shots are less than 100 yards.
At that range I have not noticed more than an inch of difference in POI.
And free hand that is closer than I can shoot anyway.
Also I perfer that my gun goes off when I need it to as I have good luck when hunting in
a light rain and/ or snow.
12-16-2012, 03:53 PM
#9
Fork Horn
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Indiana
Posts: 366
I have used the colored balloons in the past with great results.
12-16-2012, 04:23 PM
#10
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Rapid City, South Dakota
Posts: 3,732
Well, somehow i missed that there is a good reason to use colored balloon on the muzzle to keep moisture from the powder. What i use when hunting in the rain is black balloon. Whenever i remember i also use black balloon when hunting during snow.