Why full length covers

[Dphariss]

This one is actually too short. But trees to lean guns against are hard to come by some places.


I am going to make a longer one. Perhaps with button flap and a sling on it.
Dan

[BrownBear]

I'm torn.  While I like the idea of covers and have a couple of canvas ones, they have been a plain old PITA for field use.  Maybe I'm not using them right.  Sure noisy in the brush, so soft leather would improve that.  And speaking of brush, I wouldn't want a sling permanently mounted to one.  Different locations and hunting styles between us, so it might be the cat's meow for you.

[Daryl]

Carry a case into the bush with you?  Never have and never will start.

[Dphariss]

It does not come off the swivel as easy as the single barrel guns. But hunting in the mountains with wet snow not having a cover is not an option and can be a a problem with a breechloader if the water then freezes on it if the temp drops. Too much snow on the trees and lower brush. Big clumps falling off the trees etc.

If its colder and the gun is cold its a different situation.
With the current conditions in the photo there was no better place the put the rifle while field dressing. EVERYTHING was covered with wet snow except the trees and there is not a tree within 100 yards. The deer died in a spot where the ground was warm enough to melt the snow down to mud in one spot. South slope.
Its all dependent on conditions. I would have had a very wet gun without a case for part of the approach to this spot.

I can shoot a close bear, for example, through the case with a dry flintlock. Its tough to shoot one with a wet gun or one thats iced up after tree fall snow getting on it and then freezing solid as the temp drops.
This one has been treated with Snow Seal and its still a little stiff. Its also a little wider than planned.
Dragging the deer reminded me of why the 16 bore has a sling.
Dan

[hammerhead]

impressive

[Dphariss]

If its dry I don't leave the cover on the gun when hunting. I loop it though my belt etc. But its nice to have along when there is snow on the ground.
But my hunting, most of it, is far different than what Daryl is likely to see.




When I took this photo I had left the cover in the pickup. No need for it.
I often see the game at ranges that are well beyond round ball capabilities then stalk it.
Dan

[Daryl]

We get wide open spaces too, up to 1,000 yards about tops across some large logging slashes - but in the lower part of the Province, much larger, more arrid hilly low vegetation-type terrain.  Although not quite like Dan's picture, you still have to spot and stalk, or perhaps your moose might come at 10' if you're a good caller.

[SPG]

Gentlemen,

As Dan knows (because we have run the woods a lot together) I always use a full-length gun cover. Mine have slings on them as I like to carry my rifle on my back when horseback rather than using a horn loop or worse yet, a saddle scabbard. This way, when I get off my horse I have the rifle, not him. He's not a very good shot.

It's easy to sling just the cover on my back when hunting...and it does the best job of keeping the rifle functional in bad weather. With the sling, both hands are free for packing something out of the woods and the case absorbs 99% of dings that would otherwise be inflicted on the rifle. My covers can be folded back to the wrist which lets me shoot through the cover in case of an unexpected situation with a bear...something which is becoming more and more of a possibility here in Cody. A rifle can slide out of a case pretty fast when it needs to.

The old timers didn't use them because they looked good...a full-length, greased gun-cover served a real purpose and I wouldn't be without one.

Steve

[Daryl]

Welcome, Steve.  BTW - good lube, of course, you already knew that.

[SPG]

Daryl,

Thanks for the kind words...I've enjoyed reading this site for a while.

Steve

[Dr. Tim-Boone]

http://www.cdlyles.com/Trade%20Blanket.htm

This one works very well.... come off easy by simply tipping rifle down.  you can add a tie if you want.

www.cdlyles.com 

[C. Cash]

This is good information.  Is the cover treated for water proofing?  Is the inside lined?  Thanks for this post.

[Dphariss]

This is good information.  Is the cover treated for water proofing?  Is the inside lined?  Thanks for this post.

For hunting they need to be waterproofed. I use Snow Seal on leather.
If lined with fabric it will be more difficult to remove. But for transport I will use a blanket cover in the leather one for extra padding.

Dan

[C. Cash]

Thank you Dan!

[stoneke]

I think that I'm going to rethink my approach to snowy and wet woods hunting here in Oregon. A case that resists moisture getting to the lock and one that easily slides off intrigues me.
I just returned from 7 days of elk hunting in the snow and light rain in heavy timber.
I used a "cows knee" that I made, but realized that it was way too short to prevent  moisture from running down to the frizzen/pan. One of my concerns with the cows knee that I used, was the ease and swiftness of removal for the immediate shot. I changed priming every hour, however, sometimes discovering a soggy mess. Anyway, I cut a 30" length of knee hide from the cow elk that we harvested and anticipate making a more effective lock cover with it. I had sealed all channels/gaps with a bear grease compound, but also discovered that either the ramrod or its channel had swelled, making it nearly impossible to remove. I must admit, though, that my rifle never failed to fire, when needed, throughout the entire trip.
A case that would slide off seems to answer my ramblings, as cited above.