Henry Rifle Forums

I know Henry makes the new all weather for the elements.
How do you guys deal with rain, snow, damp weather for your regular rifles? Other than stay home. For example; an old cowboy like me stuffs his Big Boy in the scabbard and heads out for the day. By noon everything is soaked. Saddle, gear, rifle, scabbard taking on water, etc.
Must happen to everybody. What's your plan when your Henry has a soggy day?

I keep my rifle waxed and oiled. If and when they get wet they get cleaned and dried as soon as possible. We've been caught in the rain a couple of times in the woods. No real issues so fair. But the rifles never got really soaked.

The wood on the Henry's is a poly style finish. I think it probably holds up well to wetness.

Thanks, it's gonna happen sooner or later, I guess like you said, just dry/clean/oil as soon as possible. I did punch a hole in the bottom of my scabbard to let the water drain out though so the muzzle isn't soaking in it....

Squatch wrote:I keep my rifle waxed and oiled. If and when they get wet they get cleaned and dried as soon as possible. We've been caught in the rain a couple of times in the woods. No real issues so fair. But the rifles never got really soaked.

The wood on the Henry's is a poly style finish. I think it probably holds up well to wetness.

What are you using on the wood?

there is no doubt that a rifle custom designed and built to handle prolonged exposure to rainy weather will be easier to maintain than a standard rifle .... that said, standard rifles were used for hundreds of years before stainless, All-Weather models came onto the scene .... I have an all weather 30-06 but back when I was hunting I often left it in the vault and carried a 40 some year old, wood stock, blued Browning BLR 308 or our 30 some year old wood stock, blued Remington 700 300 WBY .... they were properly maintained and it comes as no surprise that they are in the vault ready to go at a moment's notice

RanchRoper wrote:

Squatch wrote:I keep my rifle waxed and oiled. If and when they get wet they get cleaned and dried as soon as possible. We've been caught in the rain a couple of times in the woods. No real issues so fair. But the rifles never got really soaked.

The wood on the Henry's is a poly style finish. I think it probably holds up well to wetness.

What are you using on the wood?

I use Johnson's paste wax on the entire exterior of my guns. Wood, brass, blue steel. The stuff for furniture(yellow can) not car wax.

I don't hunt deer in the rain as much as I used to do, but if my rifle does get wet, I have a rag and a small bottle of oil in my gun case. As soon as I get back to the barn, I wipe it down well and wipe the stock also. As far as polish for the stock, I use "Pledge" orange oil. Supposed to "clean and revitalize" wood.

I've been in both rain and snow since the deer session I hunt in is during the first half of December, scheduled a little late here in MO. I ditto Dutch on getting those wet drops off the gun as soon as there is the chance.

To protect my wood (primary use, but can use on metal, too), I use Renaissance Micro-Crystalline Wax Polish. Does a darn good job in my book.

One other comment. I don't know if it would useful or doable, but have you looked at waterproof rifle cases? That doesn't mean leave your scabbard at home, but to carry one along for those just-in-case rains/storms. I don't believe they weigh very much, and probably can be folded. There are a lot of these cases on the market. Maybe less than 2 cents, but there it is.

Keep dry!

RanchRoper wrote:I know Henry makes the new all weather for the elements.
How do you guys deal with rain, snow, damp weather for your regular rifles? Other than stay home. For example; an old cowboy like me stuffs his Big Boy in the scabbard and heads out for the day. By noon everything is soaked. Saddle, gear, rifle, scabbard taking on water, etc.
Must happen to everybody. What's your plan when your Henry has a soggy day?

All good points, thanks. Supposed to rain the next 4 or 5 days here, so I'll try to keep the BB45C dry!

I built one special for winter. I took the stock and forearm off and varnished all sides of the wood and put it back together. Then I varnished the entire rifle just sparring critical areas. I use a SPAR varnish. For those that aren't familiar the Russians used varnish during WWII and the English actually painted their rifles, slings, and everything else black.

Me and my rifles NEVER EVER go outside if it is raining . RULE # 1

tx gunrunner wrote:Me and my rifles NEVER EVER go outside if it is raining . RULE # 1

Don't forget about the Mustang and Miata.

Cattle work goes regardless of the weather, so I guess either the Henry goes too or I leave it home. Guess I could always wrap the stock in a plastic Walmart bag....haha. Not sure Buffalo Bill would approve!

tx gunrunner wrote:Me and my rifles NEVER EVER go outside if it is raining . RULE # 1

That's commonly referred to as Elphaba's Rule.

Sir Henry wrote:

tx gunrunner wrote:Me and my rifles NEVER EVER go outside if it is raining . RULE # 1

Don't forget about the Mustang and Miata.

I got the Mustang new in 2011 and in my garage it has never been washed or rained on in all those years . The Miata I don't drive in the rain either . It is outside with high dollar car cover on it which keeps it super dry . All my guns are locked in a dry safe .

But if I was going to be carrying a rifle rainy weather . The old times did it right . They soak a new unfinished rifle stocks in lamp oil or kerosine with linseed old . When the stock would not absorb anymore of there mixture in about a month is now water proof and won't warp the full length stock . Then hand rub linseed oil for finish . That why and how I did my flinter below .

I have a 2002 Mustang V6 w/5sp.

It has incredibly high gears. i can shift into 5 @50, but RPM will drop to about 1450.

At 80, I think I am doing about 2500 rpm. It's nuts...........

Got into it with a co-worker comming back from Daytona years ago........

It hit the governer @125, still in 4th gear.................

The BEST CAR I have ever owned.

Henry88 wrote:I have a 2002 Mustang V6 w/5sp.
It has incredibly high gears. i can shift into 5 @50, but RPM will drop to about 1450.
At 80, I think I am doing about 2500 rpm. It's nuts...........
Got into it with a co-worker comming back from Daytona years ago........
It hit the governer @125, still in 4th gear.................
The BEST CAR I have ever owned.

I can sit in the driver seat and reprogram my mustang in 10 min . I have the rev limit set at 7,500 RPM and the speed limiter set from 159 to 170 MPH . I have the stock tune and then I have 91 and 93 octane street tune and then a 93 octane race tune . All this is adjust from the drivers seat and never get you hands dirty . 4 cams and 32 valve Coyote engine . 0 to 170 in 26 second in 5th gear . I'm saving 6th gear for more down force the car needs to run over 170 .

Here another pic of my weather proof Rifle

Just wipe it off as soon as possible. I've done the Johnson wax. It works.

daytime dave wrote:Just wipe it off as soon as possible. I've done the Johnson wax. It works.

That's the plan. Thks.

daytime dave wrote:Just wipe it off as soon as possible. I've done the Johnson wax. It works.

The Johnson wax works good if you get caught in the rain for sure . If you are hunting in rain or high humidity area and the wood is not sealed in a week it will warp, swell up and or twist , That is why the mountain men who lived and hunted everyday in the the muzzle loader day soaked a new unfinished rifle stocks in lamp oil or kerosine with linseed old . When the stock would not absorb anymore of there mixture in about a month is now water proof and won't warp the full length stock . Then hand rub linseed oil for finish . That why and how I did my flinter and I wouldn't never hunt in the rain .