Practice in inclement weather

[GerSan69]

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.)

 

[Imissedagain]

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.

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.

 

[jimbo728]

Chinese Army winter trains in Canada.
Jim

 

[chief38]

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.

 

[Johnnu2]

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.

 

[David Sinko]

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.

 

[375hh1973]

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

 

[sigp220.45]

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.

 

[LostintheOzone]

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.

 

[AJ]

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.

Builds Character!!!

 

[LostintheOzone]

Builds Character!!!

So does freezing in the dark.

 

[AJ]

So does freezing in the dark.

So does roasting in the sunshine.

 

[Tanners Owner]

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

 

[AJ]

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

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

 

[LostintheOzone]

So does roasting in the sunshine.

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.

 

[Baxter6551]

Inclement weather

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….

 

[mrmike7189]

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.

 

[Univibe]

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

 

[AJ]

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.

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.

 

[Donn]

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.