Hunt In The Rain...THEN CLEAN YOUR GUN

Do you hunt in the rain and snow? Dumb question right? Most of us do especially in NYS. Today is Dec 5, 2012 and although it rained some this morning, it turned to wet sloppy snow later this afternoon. The other day I hunted for 4 hours in pretty much steady hard rain. Probably should have called it a day early, however I tend to hunt when I can hunt and just accept whatever the weather man deals out.

Had (2) encounters this week with the same big buck and still did not bring him home with me. Both episodes involved being seen by the buck before I saw him and both involved running shots. I MIGHT have been able to make either one of them, however I passed them both up. WHY? The first one involved not knowing what was over the ridge from where the buck was running and the one today involved not wanting to take a risk on gut shooting a really nice buck and having him end up as coyote food if I didn't recover him. He was running through some high grass, golden rod, scrub trees etc. and although I was able to track him with the scope, that split decision part of my brain could not bring myself to pull the trigger. Hey it happens.

Now I am at home writing this BLOG Post and second guessing myself. I probably could have made the shot, however I made a decision at the time and I will live with it. I HOPE to see him again before the season is up and maybe next time will be a standing shot.

I had my Savage Weather Warrior .308 Stainless bolt action with a black synthetic stock both times. The gun is called a "Weather Warrior" for a reason and that is why I use it when it is nasty out. On the other hand, that doesn't mean you can "Ride it hard and put it away wet".

It is extremely weather resistant, however it is not impervious to the elements. So how do I clean it?

I bring it inside, remove the bolt, remove the electrical tape over the end of the muzzle and let it stand in the corner muzzle down till it is dry. Then I run a cleaning patch with a little CLENZOIL on it through the bore. I follow up with a dry patch. I wipe the outside of all metal parts with a cloth again with clenzoil on it. I wipe down the bolt and I run a ML cleaning brush with a clenzoil damp cleaning patch in far enough to wipe down the feed ramp and bolt rails etc. I clean the scope and dry it off and clean the lenses and then I finish up by putting a drop or two of oil on the sling swivels and wipe them off.

Wait a minute...............NOT quite done yet. Since the Savage has a free floating barrel, I take a cleaning patch or cut a strip from an old T-shirt, put a little clenzoil on it and run it up and down the barrel channel where it is free floated to get any moisture and dirt etc. out of that area. I also of course remove the magazine (clip) and wipe that down with a dry patch with a little oil on it.

Then I put it away.

A clean gun is a happy gun.

Dan

Dan