I know some of you guys live in rather "moist" environments, so I gotta ask a few questions...
Y'all know I'm a certified rimfire junkie and last weekend, I shot an NRLX 22 match in Kentucky in the middle of a week-long monsoon. Shooting the match was fun shit, but I'm looking for advice for future matches or hunts where I end up getting rained on for 8+ hours. I've hunted in weather like this from time to time and generally don't think too much about it, mainly because I'm generally carrying one of the Montanas and don't baby them much
In this match, I shot my Vudoo in the JAllen chassis and it did as it should when the idiot pulling the trigger did his. Like a dumbass, I switched from Center-X to Midas 2 days before the match...but didn't have solid data past 250, which proved to be a big problem.
I ran into issues that day that I hadn't thought about before though, so bear with me while I ramble looking for advice.
First, the scope caps are great at keeping the rain off the lens...until you flip them open to shoot and then slam them closed without wiping them off...I assume that the best thing for that scenario is to simply wipe the covers before closing them...but is there anything else you boys in the north do?
Second, the JAllen chassis has about 6,439,281 screws in it...and every damn one had to be removed and oiled down after the match because all of them were starting to rust. I know it's just a rifle and rust adds character...but this damn thing is pretty and I can't bring myself to have it rusting everywhere...so, do you guys do anything preventive before exposure or simply wipe down/clean up after the fact?
Third...what's the recommendation for rain gear? I shot the match with normal hunting clothes from Under Armour, which I thought were waterproof, but turned out to be water-resistant...for about 4 hours...Any recommendations there?
Last, backpack for gear. I normally use a G.P.S. Tactical Range Pack, which has a large compartment for pistols, which I use to keep loaded magazines organized and occasionally through some bags in there as well. I learned at this match, that I needed something a bit bigger and easier to get things out of, but also a pack that was either more water-resistant or even waterproof. Some shooters were using Eberlestock packs while others weren't even using packs...dragging wagons around instead with all of their gear in the wagon. Any recommendations on packs?
Y'all know I'm a certified rimfire junkie and last weekend, I shot an NRLX 22 match in Kentucky in the middle of a week-long monsoon. Shooting the match was fun shit, but I'm looking for advice for future matches or hunts where I end up getting rained on for 8+ hours. I've hunted in weather like this from time to time and generally don't think too much about it, mainly because I'm generally carrying one of the Montanas and don't baby them much
In this match, I shot my Vudoo in the JAllen chassis and it did as it should when the idiot pulling the trigger did his. Like a dumbass, I switched from Center-X to Midas 2 days before the match...but didn't have solid data past 250, which proved to be a big problem.
I ran into issues that day that I hadn't thought about before though, so bear with me while I ramble looking for advice.
First, the scope caps are great at keeping the rain off the lens...until you flip them open to shoot and then slam them closed without wiping them off...I assume that the best thing for that scenario is to simply wipe the covers before closing them...but is there anything else you boys in the north do?
Second, the JAllen chassis has about 6,439,281 screws in it...and every damn one had to be removed and oiled down after the match because all of them were starting to rust. I know it's just a rifle and rust adds character...but this damn thing is pretty and I can't bring myself to have it rusting everywhere...so, do you guys do anything preventive before exposure or simply wipe down/clean up after the fact?
Third...what's the recommendation for rain gear? I shot the match with normal hunting clothes from Under Armour, which I thought were waterproof, but turned out to be water-resistant...for about 4 hours...Any recommendations there?
Last, backpack for gear. I normally use a G.P.S. Tactical Range Pack, which has a large compartment for pistols, which I use to keep loaded magazines organized and occasionally through some bags in there as well. I learned at this match, that I needed something a bit bigger and easier to get things out of, but also a pack that was either more water-resistant or even waterproof. Some shooters were using Eberlestock packs while others weren't even using packs...dragging wagons around instead with all of their gear in the wagon. Any recommendations on packs?
