Protecting your gun during hunting

[Plainsman]

All those scratches are memories.

 

[ravenousfishing]

Those who never scratch their hunting rifles must not hunt from treestands. First thing I do when I get situated un my tree stand is to wrap the metal in 2 spots with extra orange vests so that I can rest the rifle on cloth instead of steel. Get the occasional ding when pulling the rifle up or letting it down. I cringe at first but over time they blend in with the other handeling marks.

I'm hoping to get a fancy maple flintlock before next season. I must admit though, that it will probably make the trip up and down the tree in a padded case. At least until broken in.

 

[smoothshooter]

Hey what do you guys do that deer hunt with your fancy schmancy MLers to keep them from getting scratched?

I have a leather case that I've carried mine in to the stand....which is usually up a tree. I take it out of the case when i get in the tree.

I take a long brown oilskin canvas sleeve out with me sometimes that is more than long enough to cover the entire gun.
It has a couple of string ties on the open end.
Have only had to use it once in a downpour. Glad I had it. It is small and light enough that it rolls or folds up into a very small package. I can even tie it around my waist and wear it like a sash if I want.

 

[MichaelCfffg]

On my caplock, I've found that a careful coating of black fingernail polish seals the cap to the nipple very nicely, and firing the rifle seems to remove most all of said polish. That, with a balloon over the muzzle renders my loaded rifle impervious to even a small waterfall that might develop over the rifle. Ask me how I know! LOL

 

[bore_butter]

i used to worry about scratching up the stock on the TC 50cal Hawkin i made from the kit back in 75. that tung oil finish i used on is tough as nails and i only have one scratch after all those years going up and down trees with it.

 

[smoothshooter]

On my caplock, I've found that a careful coating of black fingernail polish seals the cap to the nipple very nicely, and firing the rifle seems to remove most all of said polish. That, with a balloon over the muzzle renders my loaded rifle impervious to even a small waterfall that might develop over the rifle. Ask me how I know! LOL

A piece of tape over the muzzle works too. Not necessary to remove it before the shot.

 

[Loyalist Dave]

I carry mine..., don't worry too much about a ding here or there. As others have mentioned it's just the aging of the particular piece.

LD

 

[stevenjay1]

I’m as careful as I can be and don’t do anything real stupid but over the years my favorite rifle has managed to get a few dings and scratches. But that’s life. Like others I keep the rifle waxed with Johnson’s paste wax. I put it on everything including the bottom of the barrel and the channel of the stock. If the gun gets wet I take it apart and dry it well. It’s a tool and taking care of your tool it should last a lifetime. The only real damage I’ve ever done to my “baby” was when I slipped walking uphill last year and went down like a lead balloon. I bent the Brass ramrod thimbles. I’m still trying to get them round again. They work but the damage bothers me. Might end up replacing them.

 

[mushka]

Most of my MZ guns look like me, and I'm 76. You can guess what kind of shape they are showing. They all work as they should and haven't been abused, just used.

 

[Col. Batguano]

"......, with a balloon over the muzzle renders my loaded rifle impervious to even a small waterfall that might develop over the rifle. Ask me how I know! LOL"

With a balloon on there, The cartoonist in me can just imagine what would happen if you fired a blank load in to it!. You could wind up with an instant and surprise case of "Hindenberg on a stick"

 

[Sparkitoff]

If hunting from a stand or blind I carry it to that spot in a soft case. The handles make it easier to carry and I can put other stuff in the case or case pockets. I am not going to use it in the dark, or where I am not supposed to be shooting so there is no sense having it out. Once in the stand or blind the case is sometimes used to rest the rifle on, to sit on or to block sunlight from a certain direction. Lots of reasons to keep it in case. Trying to keep it from getting scratched and dinged is not one of them.

 

[josie wales]

Every scratch, ding,chip , worn finish and blemish on my guns tell a story. I use them but never abuse them. I took a big chip out of my Browning and used it so much I have a hard time seeing it now. There is not one place where the blue has survived. I would love to see the Deer, Rabbits, Ducks and Geese that this gun has provided. I bought it when I was 12 and I am 70 now. Don't worry about a nick and ding if you do, you will miss many opportunities to put food on the table. Keep them clean and oiled and use it as a tool.

 

[flintsteel]

In the beginning of my serious escapade with custom made flintlocks they were finished to pristine condition and I did nothing but worry about scratches, etcenters, just wasn’t comfortable. Then I discovered the likes of Jud Brennan and his ability to age and distress new guns. What an eye opener! When I received a gun from him it was already well used and slightly beat up and I relaxed. Another new scratch or gouge in the stock only added to the already aged and distressed appearance. I relaxed and have enjoyed them ever since.

 

[Livbucks]

Most all marks on any of my arms have come from either the range or being transported in a vehicle. I carry them like a baby in the field.

 

[Atticus69]

FWIW, I've been hunting for over 55 years, and only scratched a gun once - years ago, when I slipped while climbing a steep hill.

I like using very fancy guns, as it gives me eye candy to admire during those quiet times when game's not moving.


I never use a gun to "bust brush" or as a crutch during a stream crossing...


I've never covered a gun after removing it from my vehicle & loading it - and they remain "as new".

I do, however, use a cow's knee over the lock in inclement weather, and a small black sacrificial balloon over the muzzle. (my capguns have a short piece of likewise sacrificial neoprene tubing slid over the cap to seal the cap from the nipple)

I likewise cover the end of my barrel in inclement weather, however, just to annoy my wife I often use a condom instead of a balloon. It works as well as a balloon and satisfies my twisted sense of humor. It also is often a conversation piece when other hunters are encountered. Some of us are just wired a little differently than the rest of humanity!

 

[hanshi]

I no longer go out in bad weather, but I used to. I am a little OCD about mine and go to extremes to protect them. But as they get used over and over they acquire "character" and that can never be helped. I do not own any "fancy, schmancy" guns; they are all as plain as day old bread. But they look nice and have their share of FW&T but no abuse marks. I leave the gun case in the vehicle and carry my "chillun" as nekked as the day they were born, built. They've been up and down trees, pushed through briar patches and frequently bumped against about everything that can be bumped. Never had a problem in the rain and never used balloons or cow's knees, just kept an eye on the flint lock and muzzle always pointed downward. But that was then and I don't go out in rain these days. I do baby them as much as I possibly can and leave the rest up to fate.

 

[D Sanders]

Those of us that use "old time" guns, somtimes like them to look "old time"

 

[Ballshooter]

To me hunting guns are tools not something that I worry about. Don't get me wrong I try not to beat the manure out of them. But if it gets a scuff or scrach...no big deal. I have several guns in my collection that never see the woods or shooting range. I am also thinking of why the hell do I even have them.

 

[Griz44Mag]

For no other reason than making the gun barrel look more like a tree branch, I slide a camo gun sock over the gun from the muzzle to the rear sight. It fits tight enough that I can still see the sights and it does afford some level of protection to the gun. It slides off really easy to make reloading normal if I need to do that. I don't worry about a second shot because I carry my 54 pistol as a secondary.

 

[SOLANCO]

I am 74 YO. Fairly new to ml. Hunted birds for years with sxs unmentionables. After decades of trading, buying selling etc I have a a few of those sxs that are my soul mates. They are light European double guns, mostly 16s, that I could hunt angels with, given the right dog.
I am late in life. But I want to find, buy, build, steal, beg for or whatever it takes to find a sxs muzzleloader that is as sweet as my game guns.