A rifle sleeve?

[longcruise]

Maybe this is the wrong place to post this. If so, mods please move it.

I'm wanting to make a protective rifle sleeve and I'm thinking some kind of canvas. Maybe a drop cloth?

So, it should be waterproof and I'm wondering what to use for waterproof. Needs to be something that won't damage the rifle.

Any suggestions?

 

[Stykbow]

I wonder if you could spray your material down with Sno-Seal? I’d think that would be safe for your gun.

 

[tenngun]

Can of worms.
I don’t like canvas or leather
I make mine out of woolen
Other folks don’t like woolen, and know the best is brain tanned.
Canvas might get a felt liner
Commercial tanned skin is the go to for some
Veggie tanned sheep or goat is good, a little wax painted on makes it water proof and pretty solid

 

[longcruise]

The wool would be good but it needs to be weather protection amnd maybe for hours at a time. Sometimes it's a long slog back to camp.

 

[Johnny Tremain]

Any suggestions?

I went with wool. Our wool coats repel water better than my canvas duct longer hunter outfit does.
This cover was a $2 blanket find at Good will and some soft lining for a few more bucks.

Aint the best, but its home made

 

[Rifleman1776]

I have both wool and a silicone treated synthetic fleece. Actually, any type of 'sleeve' should be used only for short (very short) term storage and/or transport. Any of them will trap moisture and if rifle is left in overnight, especially in a camp lodge, it will be super rusty by morning.

 

[longcruise]

My main concern is having in the pack while out and sbout. If the weather goes wet or it's bushwhacking wet willows or brush early in the morning, it would keep things dry for those events. Not sure how well wool would hold up in the brush. I think in a downpour it would wet through.

 

[Rifleman1776]

Not sure how well wool would hold up in the brush. I think in a downpour it would wet through.

You could always spray the wool, or anything, with genuine authentic mountain man water repellant.

 

[Caterpillar Hunter]

Panther Primitives in West Virginia sells an oilskin gun case, 66", for around $20.00. They're nicely made, durable, and very waterproof. My wife made a nice, plush one for me from a wool horse blanket sold at a local "western store".

 

[deerstalkert]

of all suggested so far, the oilskin is your best bet for waterproof.

 

[longcruise]

of all suggested so far, the oilskin is your best bet for waterproof.

Yes, I'm going to look into how to make it.

 

[RjSixgun]

Few tips........
Elmers school glue to draw a design before you dye the sheet or canvas.
Clear silicone caulking mixed into mineral spirits will make water proofing

 

[andy52]

Can of worms.
I don’t like canvas or leather
I make mine out of woolen
Other folks don’t like woolen, and know the best is brain tanned.
Canvas might get a felt liner
Commercial tanned skin is the go to for some
Veggie tanned sheep or goat is good, a little wax painted on makes it water proof and pretty solid

I agree with tenngun@ on this one, I prefer wool but like leather at both ends just for the added protection.

 

[longcruise]

Few tips........
Elmers school glue to draw a design before you dye the sheet or canvas.
Clear silicone caulking mixed into mineral spirits will make water proofing

That's an interesting suggestion. I'm going to try it on a small sample and see how it works out.

 

[longcruise]

I agree with tenngun@ on this one, I prefer wool but like leather at both ends just for the added protection.

I'm still not convinced on the wool but I'm for sure on board with the leather reinforcement.

 

[andy52]

I'm still not convinced on the wool but I'm for sure on board with the leather reinforcement.

They both have advantages and disadvantages. Wool cushions better and dries faster. Leather when treated is more waterproof but takes a long time to dry when wet. Leather is more abrasion resistance.

 

[RjSixgun]

No reason why you cant make a sleave out of water proofed canvas and line it with wool.

its an easy task to water proof the canvas or bed sheet with what I said above, then once its dry cut your pattern on the canvas (or bed sheet) and the wool and sew them together as one.
Wool on the inside for a as a cushion and water proofed canvas on the outside for the weather!

 

[Stykbow]

Few tips........
Elmers school glue to draw a design before you dye the sheet or canvas.
Clear silicone caulking mixed into mineral spirits will make water proofing

This is interesting. What ratio of mineral spirits to caulk do you use?

 

[RjSixgun]

This is interesting. What ratio of mineral spirits to caulk do you use?

nothing that scientific, i just mix the 2 till its like runny syrup and paint it on. Ive used it on tents, tarps, ground cloths, table cloths, bed sheet, canvas chair, gun sleeves. Its an old camping trick I learned years ago and have been doing it ever since.
Im sure someone on youtube or google with have a more scientific mixing ration than mine, but its kinda like bullet lube youll find what mix works for you.

 

[longcruise]

nothing that scientific, i just mix the 2 till its like runny syrup and paint it on. Ive used it on tents, tarps, ground cloths, table cloths, bed sheet, canvas chair, gun sleeves. Its an old camping trick I learned years ago and have been doing it ever since.
Im sure someone on youtube or google with have a more scientific mixing ration than mine, but its kinda like bullet lube youll find what mix works for you.

A couple more questions about this process!

What source for the silicone? There's a bunch of things with silicone in the label and maybe you have one that you prefer?

One side or both sides?