Wet weather gear

[G.COSTA]

I think one of these would be good.. I know it's $75US but i have spent much more for much less haha

http://www.star-shooter.com/products/ss-rain-sheild/

I like how it just clamps to your pic rail so can clamp on and off easy and one less thing to take up to the mound with you if it's already just on the rifle! And would weigh bugger all so I don't think you would have to worry too much about it putting you over the weight limits.

George

[BATattack]

Only downside is it attaches to the rifle so it must be included in its weight.

[williada]

Have to agree with Adam. Also think anything attached to the rifle is a pretty big sail. Mind you a very good find and shows people are thinking about the safety issue.

I think Tim's rigid cover is more appropriate for protecting very valuable equipment and eliminates the safety issue of wet ammo and mishandling.

If people are really concerned about the covers taking off, there's nothing like common sense, to stop and hold down the gear in a squall or not use it. Maybe that could be the RO's call. Certainly spikes or weight built into the cover would be more re-assuring. But for wet miserable conditions where safety is a concern, it would assist your concentration.

[DenisA]

Good find George.

It shields the scope & action, but doesn't shield an ammo box or loading hand. If the idea of domestic SSR's are to increase safety by stopping high chamber pressure F/O cartridges from getting wet and over pressurising then this doesn't quite fit the brief.

[BATattack]

Yeah I think it's a good thing providing you have the weight up your sleeve.

it doesn't cover the ammo but nothing would stop you having something else over that.

[G.COSTA]

Yeah I am lucky that I have the weight up my sleeve to not worry about it putting me over limit.

As for covering ammo I just use 6pack cooler bag on its side and a towel over the lot to dry my hand on when I get a fresh round out

[DenisA]

G'day Alan,

Going back to my 1m x 1m weather shield. I weighed it today and it comes in it 850grams as it is. A regular sized dry beach towel weighed 600 grams. It would be much heavier wet.
This shield with its alloy strips is light enough that it could be lifted off the ground by a strong wind. Not to be used after Mexican food!!

Having tried it on the mound, I believe the 1m in length is too long and it needs to be shortened. This would bring the overall weight closer again to that of a dry towel, maybe even match it.

Knowing that, if you saw it was not anchored, would you still disallow it at a PM if you were CRO at a meet.

Cheers.

[AlanF]

Denis,

That looks okay to me and you wouldn't need to add its weight because it doesn't move with the rifle. The one I thought was going too far had a frame that kept the plastic clear of the rifle, like a tent. Yours is more like a towel draped over the rifle which would not protect the rifle from the wind (and buffeting). But, I would definitely ask the RO before you use it, because you can be sure that some others will see it differently, and if you tell them "but Alan Fraser said....", they'll probably increase the penalty .

Alan

[Steve N]

Denis I would worry about it getting picked up by a wind gust and where it might end up. (Wrapped around another shooter just as they were going for a possible??).
Lowell Tillack had a nice heavy plastic sheet similar to that one George showed but it was attached by some Velcro buttons along the off side of the stock and hung over the scope just big enough to cover the scope and breech. Looked pretty simple and effective. It would add a little to the weight though. Both types would work depending on the conditions.
Could be a good little marketing opportunity for someone that was able to make and sell them at a reasonable price. I know I would rather just buy one than try and make it. (Have plenty of less useful stuff I have bought..)
Steve.

[DenisA]

Cheers Alan. I try and only drop your name when I'm, in SERIOUS trouble

Steve, you're right. A piece of rope running from one alloy strip under the front rest to the other alloy strip would guarantee that not to happen. Maybe a strap with a plastic buckle connector.

Good point, I should definitely add something like that.

[BATattack]

Yeah that's the trap your caught in. attaching it to the rifle so it doesn't blow away makes it part of the rifle weight yet putting a frame or similar to keep it in place prevent interference with other shooters might not be allowed?

as long as it doesn't interfere with other shooters and doesn't provide shelter to the shooter something with a frame that prevents the cover coming in contact with the rifle would be less open for manipulation in my mind.

someone could make a cover with weights that lays over the rifle that effectively adds weight while not being "attached" as such.

Alan I understand your view in buffeting but it could also be said someone with a framed cover may be at a disadvantage because they can not feel wind changes as well??

why not allow both (not that one isn't allowed at the moment) and let the shooter decide what they prefer to use?

[AlanF]

With something heavy draped over the rifle, I don't see that as the advantage that you normally get by increasing rifle weight. In fact I would opt for something as light and slippery as possible so it doesn't interfere with the tracking under recoil - that is what makes clear plastic one of the most suitable materials - your scope can support it but it slides under recoil.

[mike H]

The big problem is the plastic drooping over the front of the scope and blocking the sighting. I have a similar setup and have cut the length back once,but it was still not enough and had to discard it last weekend.I am thinking of cutting a scallop out of the front so that the middle of the plastic has minimal overhang of the scope,but still leaving more width on the sides to cover the ammunition and loading procedures.
Mike.

[williada]

The downside of any object lying on top of the scope will interfere with the vibrations and harmonics and in some long scopes the extra leverage from say a damp towel can move point of impact. The humidity and condensation of a towel or a plastic cover hanging off the scope is closer to your lens and can fog your lens making it harder to pick out your target, particularly at the longs, and gives greater possibility of share farming on the next bloke’s target.

Its hard enough dealing with the old boys waving their rifles around in the air and camming over their bolts before the rifle is pointing in a safe direction.

A safely pegged down frame or weighted frame gives better air flow to clear the fog on the lens and enhances the safety angle of handling wet ammunition and would prevent people swinging their gear around in an unsafe manner. Just like a baffle does on some ranges.

How many of us have witnessed people getting off the mound in a downpour, seen the scorers nick off for shelter and the person getting off the mound with a loaded round up the spout? In my years of shooting I have seen it a few times, and at Williamstown years ago, a shot went off as a shooter got into a car in similar circumstances. With your gear under a frame you could pack up safely, without worrying about your gear being ruined, which for most part, is the reason people bolt from the mound in a downpour.

If frames were safely strapped they are as much risk as a ground sheet taking off. It would be a complete moron who would get down and shoot with any such device in wild weather knowing the risks are foreseeable. It is that area I would leave to the RO’s discretion. If conditions are that bad, you would shoot an 8mm with a barrel and action bolted to a bit of redgum.

The arguments against such refinements are only moot points when it comes to competition, not safety. Its time to change the rules and demonstrate some leadership. David.

[DenisA]

The big problem is the plastic drooping over the front of the scope and blocking the sighting. I have a similar setup and have cut the length back once,but it was still not enough and had to discard it last weekend.I am thinking of cutting a scallop out of the front so that the middle of the plastic has minimal overhang of the scope,but still leaving more width on the sides to cover the ammunition and loading procedures.
Mike.

Hi Mike, that's the issue that I was discussing at the club with some of the guys on the weekend when we took this photo. I considered shortening the whole thing. We also thought of scalloping out the front which may be the solution. If I can I'd prefer to keep the length to keep rain out of the scope. A couple of ideas I'll try this weekend are a strip of slightly stiffer material adhered across the front to hold better shape hopefully above the scope line or simply a small peg speared into the ground next to the barrel with a cap on top to prop the plastic up. I was going to try ideas out before I sparked debate of legality.

Regardless, it has to be resolved.