Protecting your gun during hunting

[Grizzlybear68]

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.

 

[Rock Home Isle]

My fancy Schmancy Mler has a lot of wear on it...still a beautiful gun though. I use a cows knee to keep moisture out of the lock when hunting

 

[Rifleman1776]

My fine longrifle was carried many times in the woods in all kinds of conditions. It did acquire some minor 'beauty marks'. But, the only real damage happened at home in my shop. Put a nasty scratch in the butt when it scraped against a tool. They are meant to be used. Just clean well and wax after you get home.

 

[user 48679]

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)

 

[sussexmuzllodr]

My Petonica stocked T/C Hawken is blemished from use. I am more concerned with performance than looks. Its a tool.

 

[Robby]

My guns are like me, every scar has a story.
Robby

 

[appalichian hunter]

They were built to be used other than a cows knee for rain or snow once loaded and in the woods the hunt is on, yes they will acquire some marks but if you do not abuse the gun it just adds to the character of the weapon, as mentioned I have a few lookers they get used for what they were built for hunting.

 

[Phil Coffins]

I try to keep my rifle on the down hill side so when I take a dive (should that ever happen ) it will be on top of me rather then me on it.

 

[S.Kenton]

I just use a cows knee, during inclimate weather i don’t worry so much about normal wear and handling marks... they happen and if they don’t your not shooting enough.

 

[Rock Home Isle]

I've found that if the weather is particularly bad, some bees wax to carefully seal around the frizzen and pan works wonders.

If that, and a cows knee, doesn't work...probably best to stay home on those days...

 

[deermanok]

I don't have any fancy guns, so I don't worry too much about dings and scratches. I do try to protect them as best I can but I seem to manage to bump against a rock or tree or something.

 

[Art Caputo]

All my firearms, regardless of whether they are plain or fancy, are carried un-cased once they leave the vehicle. For transportation I use a leather, canvas, or blanket style case. At an early age, my dad a WWII vet, drilled into me to be “ready”, and care for your firearm as if your life depended on it. Those early firearms weren’t close to fancy, but they were as valuable to me back then as anything acquired since. I consider normal handling marks and wear acquired over time as part of their character. The older I get, the more I appreciate them, and unlike myself, they surely age better!

 

[ohio ramrod]

I give my hunting rifle a heavy coat of furniture wax. But I don'take my "fancy" rifle out into the woods.

 

[BV]

As soon as I finish a gun I admire it for a moment, then smack the stock against the bench as hard as I can several times. No worries after that.

 

[oldwood]

Hunted w/ six or seven custom flint guns since 1973 , and don't remember ever scratching any of them. Worst case .......friend was hunting w/ a Jaeger rifle I built him . He was driving deer w/his family . He was done hunting and got w/in 10 ft. of the truck , and did an Olympic level upside down flip on the ice. His sons graded it as a 10 , though he landed on his flintlock and broke it off at the wrist. Was able to do some Epoxie and dry wall screw juju magic on the stock and unless you knew where it was broken , the break wasn't visible............oldwood

 

[Flintlock]

If a person is worried about re-sale value then stay home with the gun in a case.

 

[old ugly]

treat it as good as would your other fancy schamsy hunting equipment

 

[3Setters]

As soon as I finish a gun I admire it for a moment, then smack the stock against the bench as hard as I can several times. No worries after that.

I've always said you should skip a new gun across he driveway so you arent worried about scratching it in the woods.

 

[oldwood]

In the late 1980''s , at NMLRA Spring shoot there was a Jaeger rifle the owner had gone over with a set of car keys to age the finish on it. Another one was spotted under the finish with a quill pen dashed across the builder's index finger using red ink. These artifact marks engender a tantalizing faux mystery begging to be solved asking , wonder how the ink or other marks got on the gun. Antiquing a rifle is great fun ,and opens the door to the unknown...............oldwood

 

[bud in pa]

Well I did such a poor job building my smoothie that scratches are an improvement on it's looks!