Anyone else hit the range when the weather is not ideal? Last time it was about mid 30s wind chill and hail. Before that a steady rain. Some before were sunny but wind gusts up to 50 mph. I don’t mind the bad weather as I like to practice in all conditions. Plus the range is usually all to myself 😁
I alway clean the guns when I get home and give them a good oil coating for next time.

So who else shoots in all conditions?

My son said he shot for qualification at Parris Island in a heavy rain when day before and day after were bright sun. That day he could barely see the target. So must run in the family!

There have been times in the past when it was nippy enough outside that I shot with golf gloves on but I have never intentionally gone practice shooting in the rain.

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Music/Sports/Beer fan

IMHO, it's best to train in all the conditions you might find yourself in. A properly cleaned and lubed weapon will hold up under the weather, and, considering you'll most likely clean and re-lube it after the shoot it don't matter what weather you're in.

Prior to retiring from LE, I was an instructor for our agency. Personnel would complain about the heat, cold, sun, rain, clouds, etc. I told them that if they could guarantee that all our officer-involved shootings would occur in sunshine and fair weather, then by all means that is how/when we would train. Usually I could hear the crickets. Occasionally some officer would infer that I had an unnaturally close relationship with my mother.

I still train in the heat, cold, sun, rain, and snow. You will find out that firearms and the persons that carry them, now older, don't always perform optimally without realistic sustainment training. Cold, slippery, frozen metal, gear, and hands all influence success or failure in a gunfight.

I was always told, "Train as you fight".

Jm2c.

JPJ

I burnish moly into the pores of the metal. Wipe it clean then add very little. In very cold weather I don’t add any extra moly just a few drops of USGI light weapons oil.

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Plant garlic in the fall

I shot a few mags in the cold rain yesterday.
It's different than shooting in nice weather. Rain in your eyes, numb fingers, etc.
Any practice is good practice.

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Because of the metric system?

I will duck hunt in bad weather.

All other times are kept to where I can enjoy the outting, now that I'm retired.

Not wet behind the ears, any more.

I live in western Oregon. If you want to shoot this time of year you will shoot in cold, windy, wet weather. 🥶
I try to pick my days to shoot in the best weather, but….
Shoot my .22 bullseye pistol in the winter more than the summer.

Only time I don't go is when there is too much snow to get into the range. It would be embarrassing to have to call a wrecker to get me out.

I am convinced that it is good policy to practice in all weather conditions.
I, my wife, and three children studied Hapkido for nine years under excellent masters who cut us no slack for exhaustion and uncomfortable conditions. All five of us achieved black belt, I believe the tough training will serve us well as conditions around us deteriorate.
I plan to continue to develop my shooting skills with this same determination.

When your shooting gear includes an EZ-up, a gallon of Coleman fuel and half a cord of fir, you shoot in Oregon.

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The best I can with what I got

Live in Florida We get lots of rain and wind Not a lot of real cold weather, but we do get some cold weather days though. We (my friends and I) shoot if the range is open no matter what the conditions As my friends (all Marines) say "we are amphibious" In the Corps we shot in all conditions

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USMC 69-93 Combat Pistol Inst.

I learned from shooting in the cold, like a couple degrees above zero F, that some guns won't run in it, certainly not with standard lubricants in use.

Its nice to have an outdoor range all to yourself. If the sun is shining I will shoot. Even in a snowstorm I will put the 4runner in 4wheel drive and be the only one at the gun club....am I weird? I dunno. I guess I enjoy the solitude?

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S&W BG380, S&W 915 9mm

This is why I like indoor ranges.

I don't have any interest in being outdoors in any kind of uncomfortable weather, not for any reason, NOT including hunting which I have not done, sadly, in quite some time.

For cops, yes, I get it, for military personnel, too. I'm done with uniforms so I shoot indoors or in nice weather.

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Come and take it!!

Lucky enough to be in Arizona now in Chandler and the heat can be a problem but when it's hot desert shooting is usually curbed to prevent accidental wild fires.

I shoot in all conditions , but if you're aware of what's happening in BC you'll know I'm not able to shoot now as our range is under six feet of water and there's no road leading to it anyway. But like my friend in Oregon if I didn't shoot in the rain I'd rarely shoot from November to May. So normally I just dress for the day and go.

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Brassmonkey/ a coastal Canuck.

I was the only one shooting trap when the rain came down.
No lightning, so I finished the flight.
Rain got a bit lighter and ran another flight.

Took the butt stock off at home and it was dry underneath.
Cleaned and oiled the BT99 and engraved the family name on the tang.

We fish in the rain as long as there is no lightning.

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Have Fun/Stay Safe

I worked as a Lineman for a utility company and had to go day or night in all kinds of weather. I said when I quit work I was never going to get cold or sweat anymore and I've tried to keep my promise (I have failed a few days). If it's not nice outside I stay where it's dry and 72 deg. Larry

I admit that as I am now past my mid-eighties that I am shooting much less. However, most of my adult life I was a back packer and hunter. Here in Southern Ohio we can have some "less than desirable" weather. There is an old saying here in the Miami Valley, "If you don't like the weather, just wait twenty minutes, it'll change!" If I waited for nothing but pretty days, it would limit my hunting and range shooting. I just dressed for the occasion! I admit we have a very nice indoor range, that I helped build, as well as covered firing points outdoors.

One of the beautiful things, in slightly uncomfortable to REALLY uncomfortable weather, many "bad days" I can have the range nearly to myself. I typically pick those days that are not terribly attractive on purpose. We have limited days we can deer hunt as well as small game. I learned, early on, to combat the bad weather. As an old Infantry Man, "Piece of Cake"!

I am talking rifle, pistol, or shotgun! Makes no nevermind!

Now, as a "Certified Old Fart", I still have my memories! I did it when I could, now it is infrequent but definitely NOT never!

FWIW
Dale53

I spent 35 years in police work in Colorado... worked all shifts in all kinds of weather over the years. Got in a foot chase and shootout in my first year during a near-blizzard at midnight in February - now there's some "adverse conditions"!!!
Needless to say, I feel very happy to now live in the Arizona desert. I don't normally shoot outside, except in (our) winter, and most of the time I go to a nice, new air-conditioned range in Queen Creek to shoot a few. (Ted's, if you're local. Nice folks, decent rates, discounts for LEO, active or retired, and two days a week the wife can shoot for an hour for free.)

When I was last in Arizona, Summer time, if you walked too fast your skin would fry.
In South Florida in the Summer, working on boats, the smart ones would soak their shirts and hats with water as the evaporation process would keep you a bit cooler.
Sometimes every 30 minutes.

You can roll a bottle/can of beer in layers of wet newspaper, leave it in Sun and just before the innermost layers dried you'd have a cool drink.
Something I figured out during tech school, Lowry 66-67, based on the evaporation coolers in the two newer barracks with the chow hall in between on the East side of the base.

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Have Fun/Stay Safe

Chinese Army winter trains in Canada.
Jim

Been out in inclement weather many times while hunting, competing, practicing. For the most part I do not purposely set out if its pouring or snowing but if I am already there I usually will finish up the shoot - unless it's really bad. I have been to the Range many times after a snowstorm has passed. I love shooting on a beautiful sunny day right after a snow storm has left a good amount of snow - it's quite amazing just how much noise the snow absorbs form shooting. If the sun is out strong with no clouds, we stay quite comfortable even if it's cold out.

Our Club's rifle and pistol ranges are equipped with an overhanging roof so that unless the rain is wind driven, you still stay mostly dry. If I am hunting and it gets nasty out, we will asses how long we think it will last. If it's gonna pass in a few, we'll tough it out. If it's gonna be all all day affair, we head in.

I have to admit that not only have I never 'practiced' shooting, I've never gone out with my guns in bad weather unless I had been mountain hunting and caught in it (even then, I left my rifle in a tree and spent the days in my tent). Young or old, I've shunned really nasty weather; but that's just me and I can't help being lazy and a wussy.

J.

I do a lot of practicing in bad weather because I know I'll be the only one at the range. I have shot a couple of IDPA matches back in the early hardcore days when the temperature was in the single digits.

I used to shoot USPSA with a guy who accidentally shot himself through the toe box of his boot with an M&P9. He was practicing in freezing conditions and couldn't feel his fingers. He holstered his trigger finger along with the pistol and the bullet went between two of his toes causing only minor damage to two toes. He was very lucky.

My duck hunting buddy and I have shot a lot of skeet in sideways rain, sleet, snow, etc

Grab our duck shotguns and hit the skeet club.

The pullers aren't thrilled to be out there with us but we tip well

Unless the A/C or the heat is out at the indoor range, then no. Even then, probably still no.

What are you going to learn from shooting in the rain, other than to not do it?

I knew a guy who sighted in his rifle from a rickety picnic table to a target across a coulee in Montana. The wind was always blowing hard. His rationale was “its windy when I hunt”. Of course he could never get his rifle sighted in worth a damn, and went through a lot of ammo and was a terrible shot in the field.

If I have to shoot somebody in the rain I bet it will be the same process as shooting him in nice weather, just wetter.

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“What you got, ain’t new.”

I shoot at an outdoor range. This time of year we're 40° with wind and rain. I won't shoot if it's gets much colder but I manage a few trips a month during the winter if I can get 40°. My problem is I can't feel the trigger well enough to shoot with any consistency below 40°. I'm going on Friday because we have a break in the weather. Probably do some 100 and 200 yd targets on the rifle range. Chances are good I'll be the only shooter.

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That's just somebody talkin.

Builds Character!!!

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USMC 69-93 Combat Pistol Inst.

So does freezing in the dark.

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That's just somebody talkin.

So does roasting in the sunshine.

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USMC 69-93 Combat Pistol Inst.

I’ll shoot IDPA or ASI matches and bird hunt in inclement weather in western WA all the time. That said, I am judicious for any other shooting in bad weather- after retiring form the Army, I don’t need to train to be miserable

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Guns + Dogs= Bliss

No, now you go out in inclement weather to have fun.

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USMC 69-93 Combat Pistol Inst.

I roasted myself in AZ for 20 years. Consequently I have an appointment with the dermatologist next week. It beats shoveling snow however. Never did like snow.

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That's just somebody talkin.

I used to come into the indoor range to qualify and I always changed it up on my own - wore raincoat, winter coat, sunglasses, gloves … used flashlight etc. I used to get laughed at by range officers they told me it wasn’t necessary….

I just hated shooting indoors, the smoke clouds everwhere. If the range has a bad air system, you are breathing it all in your lungs.
I shoot out side in the fresh air of the great outdoors ,by choice.

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S&W BG380, S&W 915 9mm

I did some bench resting one day when it was 107. There was a tin cover over the firing line.

When I went to an FBI Firearms Instructor class the Special Agent/Instructor told us to stay out of indoor ranges if we could help it.

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USMC 69-93 Combat Pistol Inst.

If Dad, (RIP), had a day off work, he was at the range. Weather didn't matter, anything short of a tornado, he was out there. I'd usually go too, but I drew the line at rain or cold & snow. Had my fill of that when Uncle Sam was my employer.

My PTSD just kicked in reading this thread thinking of all the days we trained in 30 years in the rain, cold, sleet, snow, wind, extreme heat/humidity, nights, early morning hours.........I need a drink

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SIC SEMPER TYRANNIS

Uh If it ever reached 107 degrees here in Massachusetts then hell will freeze over. It rarely ever gets warmer than 95 even in the summer months. I cannot imagine what 107 must feel like.

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S&W BG380, S&W 915 9mm

107 is hot, but it is the humidity that gets you!

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USMC 69-93 Combat Pistol Inst.

Yep - range training was scheduled twice a year and I could not control the weather. You got your date and time and are expected to be there as part of your work day. Fuss all you want but it is what it is…

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S&W factory revolver armorer

I don't shoot much between December and March. If the wind isn't howling I am out on the ice fishing.

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Front sight and squeeze

Gotta have your priorities straight!

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USMC 69-93 Combat Pistol Inst.

I've been in El Paso when it was 107. 4000 feet and 10% humidity. In the sun it's brutal, but in the shade there's a bit of breeze and sweat evaporates so fast, you stay dry.

Bench resting my modded 10/22 in Houston at 107. 50 feet, God knows what humidity. Still air. Sweat trickles down into the eyes, soaks the clothes. At least I wasn't working outdoors that day.

If it's a re-qualification range then I just do it with no complaints. On my own time, I don't have to practice to be uncomfortable, it just comes naturally.

More than once I woke up in the AM too 2 - 3 ft of snow at 11000 feet. Wiped My gun off several times a day and sometimes held it under a coat. When I was running the IPSC shoots, the only time We canceled was when the tape wouldn't stick. Complainers got told that gunfights don't always wait for nice weather. I am a little more soft at this age so I stay home at 10 degrees and lower. Couldn't shoot muzzle loaders because the patch lube would freeze and if You used mouth lube the patch would stick to the barrel and shred when ramming it home. I'll let You youngsters have all the cold, rainy, snowy fun.

When the weather has been too nice for too long I place both feet, boots and all, in a 10 gallon bucket of ice water for 10 minutes, after which I pour the water over my head making sure to get as much as I can down inside my clothing. Following this l will roll myself and my firearm in my wife's organic garden on top of the newest compost. Finally I don a set of welders goggles with one lens covered with a strip of electricians tape. I keep an old plaster cast around to put on my strong side arm with velcro and hit the range. I've been thinking about placing a coyote trap on one foot to add more training value but don't want to go overboard and look foolish.