Drying out a Rifle: Stupid Ideas Welcome

C

Clevinger

New member
It occurred to me that it would be useful to have a device that you could set a rifle in after hunting in rain/snow/sleet that would circulate warm air through it and dry it out, essentially acting in the same role as a Peet boot drier.

Why doesn't this exist? I could see where it could be a issue with wood, but if you have synthetic and blued components only, would a rifle drier be such a stupid idea? :confused:

I hate having to take the team to thoroughly clean them and dry them after such hunts. :mad:
 
I just pull the bolt and set them near the woodstove for a couple hours.

As long as they dry right away and you wipe them down, they should be fine until you have the time to do a more detailed cleaning.

With a piece of suitably sized pvc and some imagination you could probably use a PEET boot drier. ;)
 
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IMO, it's a non-starter, since EVERY firearm needs an oily-rag wipedown & internal lube after drying out from a soaking.

There are multiple methods which cost nothing but time, as opposed to buying a solution.


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Wipe and warmth !!

WD-40 and external wipe down, then;
IMO, it's a non-starter, since EVERY firearm needs an oily-rag wipedown & internal lube after drying out from a soaking.
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Then;
I just pull the bolt and set them near the woodstove for a couple hours. or equal warming source
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Then;
IMO, it's a non-starter, since EVERY firearm needs an oily-rag wipedown & internal lube after drying out from a soaking.
Click to expand...

Be safe !!!
 
Having been totally soaked we went back to camp.I took my custom M98 apart quickly and easily. My friend couldn't do this with his Savage 99. those military guns do have an advantage !! :p
 
None of what is being proposed gets to moisture under the barrel and other tough areas.

There has to be a better way to dry them out.
 
There is- a thorough soak with WD 40, then a wipe down to remove flushed out water and excess WD 40.
It's practically what Water Displacing formula #40 is made for!
 
Before departing for the hunt, you might consider removing the barreled action, and wiping it down with automotive paste wax along and under the wood line, and then reassemble. Squirt a little WD40 in the receiver areas which are not readily accessible, and shake the excess out before reassembly. This will perhaps form a barrier to water in those locations. As far as the remainder, wipe it down with a WD40 cloth on exposed metal surfaces, and the bolt etc., I would think this would take care of most of your issues, and of course a dry patch and an oily patch down the bore to rid that area of moisture.

My $.02. The heated air dryer like a blow dryer might have a beneficial effect. If you make it, you can probably sell it to other like minded guys.
 
(Before using the rifle in wet conditions, take it apart and coat all surfaces with automobile or multi-purpose wax; two coats are better than one. Moisture can't penetrate through wax.)

Before bringing the wet rifle indoors, wipe the scope off, especially around lenses and joints in the tube. Never put a wet gun in a case, even to transport it. The heat in the car, especially on a sunny day, can "steam-rust" it.

A warmer could be as simple as a hair dryer. The object is to warm the metal to the point that moisture between metal and wood is expelled. Just be careful to not blister the wood. Also, don't overheat the scope.
 
Remove the rifle from the stock, clean & oil your barrel & bolt assembly, flush out your trigger assembly with lighter fluid, wipe down your stock inside & out with ballistal. No short cuts with a firearm.
 
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Inverter, hair dryer, collapsible tube big enough to take the whole gun stock & barrel.:eek:

When I say collapsible I mean like the wire coiled types construction crews use to ventilate sewers & so on.;)
 
What's wrong with flushing with WD 40? It works better than heat drying, prevents rust, lightly lubricates, and gets into inacessible areas. It's much easier to carry a small can of WD 40 than a heat dryer, and it can be used in the field.
 
Forced Air

If you have any place in your home where there is a forced air heater vent or a stove such as a pellet stove that has a fan on it, take the bolt out of the rifle and place the rifle in front of the vent. I don't have the patience to sit with a hair dryer (A.D.D. is a pain in the.... What's for dinner?) for an hour. After about 45 minutes to an hour it should be all dried out.
 
Here in the land of liquid sunshine I coat the wood and metal with Johnson's paste wax and run a bead of it along the wood/metal seam and all water is repelled. If I get rain down the bore I just run an oily patch.
 
Don't use WD-40 it can dry to a varnish. You won't like it when the small parts stick. Use one of those spray gun oil's. Open the action, clip and remove bolt. If you have compressed air blow it our and allow to come to room temp. Then spray the action down with gun blaster or a spray can of Rem. Oil. Don't over look internal bolt, trigger and ejector pin spring. If a pin spring rusts you will be out of business. Keep the chemicals and oil off the stock. Patch the bore dry. Then if you have compressed air blow out the action, bolt... Wipe the surfaces down with oil or as others had mentioned Wax r down. I avoid bringing a cold gun into a warm camp with out having a insulated case to avoid condensation on metal parts. and that's my two cents.
 
Blow Job on a Rifle, Not a Good Idea!

Ok the title sound funny but it is no laughing matter. Product liabilty alone would prevent such a device from hitting the market. Some clown dries his gun loaded and then shoots himself and guess what the dryer was improperly labeled to not place loaded guns in it.

Wood dried too fast may crack due to shrinkage from to much moisture being driven out to quickly. I think disassembly is the best bet with some water displacing lubricant shot into hard to get areas. Everyone "should" know how to disassemble their weapon which many do not. If I can't work on it I would not own it.
 
I disagree. WD 40 is actually made for this purpose. ANY oil can dry to a varnish if improperly used.
Your two cents is worth about a penny, IMO. :rolleyes:
 
Compressed Air- Good Tip

After disassembly and shaking the parts out and wiping dry with a rag a blast from canned air is a good tip. You can carry one with in your shooting bag to blow out dirt and dust as well. Good Tip, now I got to put something else in my shooting bag. All these good ideas and my bag is becoming hard to carry.:(
 
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