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Cleaning aftet wet/muddy match
- Thread starter mbeavers1
- Start date
Just went through this myself, shot the Leupold Steel Challenge and it rained all weekend.
Moisture gets trapped EVERYWHERE. A lot of bolts on my chassis developed varying levels of rust. And my chassis has a lot of bolts. I removed most of my chassis bolts and soaked overnight in WD-40, which only got me so far. A quick soak in CLR started to immediately strip off the coating of the bolts, so that's a no-go. I'm at the point that I'm just going to replace a lot of bolts.
Take your chassis apart and remove any bolts - even if you don't see any rust on the bolt head, there may be moisture trapped on the threads. Oil them and use a nylon brush if necessary. Remove your action from stock/chassis' and deal with any surface rust that could be hiding out of sight. Check the set screws on your scope, etc.
I could've done a better job making sure I got rid of any trap moisture after each day. I honestly didn't anticipate these issues to this degree, which is has been a learning moment for me. In the future if I shoot another match that's this wet, I'm going to do a vetter job getting ahead of these potential issues.
Moisture gets trapped EVERYWHERE. A lot of bolts on my chassis developed varying levels of rust. And my chassis has a lot of bolts. I removed most of my chassis bolts and soaked overnight in WD-40, which only got me so far. A quick soak in CLR started to immediately strip off the coating of the bolts, so that's a no-go. I'm at the point that I'm just going to replace a lot of bolts.
Take your chassis apart and remove any bolts - even if you don't see any rust on the bolt head, there may be moisture trapped on the threads. Oil them and use a nylon brush if necessary. Remove your action from stock/chassis' and deal with any surface rust that could be hiding out of sight. Check the set screws on your scope, etc.
I could've done a better job making sure I got rid of any trap moisture after each day. I honestly didn't anticipate these issues to this degree, which is has been a learning moment for me. In the future if I shoot another match that's this wet, I'm going to do a vetter job getting ahead of these potential issues.
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That match was WET! And all the humidity when it wasn't raining didn't help at all with equipment drying out.
Glad you don't have as much bolts as I do
I've spent hours tearing things apart trying to get them cleaned up and mud off of them.Don't forget about the bore of your rifle either. Give it a cleaning as soon as you can. I'm still on a Texas trip, so I gave my bore I quick CLR soak and patched that out and ran a few patches of M-Pro 7 cleaner through it. Conveniently forgot my oil which I thought I packed, as it would be good to put a patch of oil through their to protect the bore.
Maybe replace them with 18-8 stainless bolts?
Don’t forget drying out the pelican case foam after.
I have cleaned my rifle after a match just to find it a rusty mess later due to moisture in the foam.
I have cleaned my rifle after a match just to find it a rusty mess later due to moisture in the foam.
I'm strongly considering this.
I've had this chassis' for years now, was never an issue until this weekend.
Swapping everything to stainless would certainly mitigate this issue in the future.
I took mine apart 3 days after the match. AI, NIghtforce, Spuhr = no rust at all. There was still a load of moisture under the action.
That action may take ~50lbs of force to run, but I certainly can't criticize how the AI handled the wet conditions
Wet, muddy, snowy matches are the reason I don't run a chassis, way too many little screws and bolts for rust to build up and grit/grime to work its way into.
I usually separate the action from my Foundation and remove the cheek piece. Then remove the scope mount from the action. Then remove the trigger hanger and trigger to give the trigger a quick clean. Remove the barrel from the action and strip the bolt and firing pin assembly
I wipe everything down really good while letting a fan run for at least a day. Finally I do my normal barrel and action cleaning procedure. Seems to have prevented any issues over the last handful of years.
My next purchase will be a smallish air compressor for among other things, blowing sand and red dust out of all the little nooks and crannies in my rifle.
I usually separate the action from my Foundation and remove the cheek piece. Then remove the scope mount from the action. Then remove the trigger hanger and trigger to give the trigger a quick clean. Remove the barrel from the action and strip the bolt and firing pin assembly
I wipe everything down really good while letting a fan run for at least a day. Finally I do my normal barrel and action cleaning procedure. Seems to have prevented any issues over the last handful of years.
My next purchase will be a smallish air compressor for among other things, blowing sand and red dust out of all the little nooks and crannies in my rifle.
I shot Clay's match last year where we got the Oklahoma wind, moon dust in everything then it rained and hailed the next day with 30 MPH winds. grit was everywhere...
I stripped everything apart as far as it would go. Even pulled the scope out of the mount. Wiped everything down I could with a damp rag, sprayed G96 on everything and wiped it down. All my mags got pulled apart and cleaned. Tripod was stripped down as far as it could go. Just try to get every spot you can with a hose, g96 or a rag.
I stripped everything apart as far as it would go. Even pulled the scope out of the mount. Wiped everything down I could with a damp rag, sprayed G96 on everything and wiped it down. All my mags got pulled apart and cleaned. Tripod was stripped down as far as it could go. Just try to get every spot you can with a hose, g96 or a rag.
That shit finish / coating on the hardware. Your chassis manufacturer cheaped out.
If you know it’s going to be shitty weather you can q tip with some light oil ahead of time on your bolt heads. Also a great tip after a soaking is to put gamechanger, ammo holder, arm board etc in the dehydrator. It’s the only way to get the gamechanger/bag back to normal quickly.
I don't clean after a match.
I've previously stripped down my rifles and applied:
Apply and wipe off from the wood and metal. I haven't had any rust issues yet. When cleaning and lubricating apply a last coat when finished.
But if weather and conditions are a shit show. Hit it with a can of air. Then put it some where warm.
I've previously stripped down my rifles and applied:
Apply and wipe off from the wood and metal. I haven't had any rust issues yet. When cleaning and lubricating apply a last coat when finished.
But if weather and conditions are a shit show. Hit it with a can of air. Then put it some where warm.
Time to run a Foundation
Day 2 was interesting huh? I think my shoes are still drying from that downpour... The moment I stepped into the 5 Post Stage, I realized my feet were gonna be wet all day. My "waterproof" boots are not so waterproof. LOL
Living in a very wet environment normally, I have learned to coat all my screws with wax. Also Hornady One Shot Gun Lube/Cleaner is an excellent rust inhibitor. You can just spray it and forget it. After a match, I disassemble the action from stock, use compressed air, spray all my exposed metal (In a Foundation, it's mostly just action screws) with Hornady One Shot or re-wax, and put all together.
Time to run a Foundation
Day 2 was interesting huh? I think my shoes are still drying from that downpour... The moment I stepped into the 5 Post Stage, I realized my feet were gonna be wet all day. My "waterproof" boots are not so waterproof. LOL
Living in a very wet environment normally, I have learned to coat all my screws with wax. Also Hornady One Shot Gun Lube/Cleaner is an excellent rust inhibitor. You can just spray it and forget it. After a match, I disassemble the action from stock, use compressed air, spray all my exposed metal (In a Foundation, it's mostly just action screws) with Hornady One Shot or re-wax, and put all together.
Honestly, I've never wanted to run a Foundation more than after that weekend
I love my JAE, but I was slightly horrified with the rust I saw after that weekend. I've never had to deal with anything quite like this before. You've given some good recommendations that I'll follow in the future when shooting in such wet conditions. Thankfully MDT is hooking me up with a new hardware kit for my chassis', love their CS. This is certainly a downside to chassis' - shit is going to rust in these conditions. Chassis' with more components are going to be that much more difficult to maintain in these conditions.
I was on the ridge for day 2, and man some stages were a complete mud pit. The stage where you went back and forth between the tank trap and barricade was especially bad. My gore-tex Lowa Zephyr boots actually did a really good job staying dry, my feet didn't get wet at all surprisingly. My rain gear was worth its price alone for that one weekend!
Rookie mistake on my part... I brought my "summer" boots thinking, "Hey, going to Texas... where it's sunny and warm. Unlike home." lolHonestly, I've never wanted to run a Foundation more than after that weekend
I love my JAE, but I was slightly horrified with the rust I saw after that weekend. I've never had to deal with anything quite like this before. You've given some good recommendations that I'll follow in the future when shooting in such wet conditions. Thankfully MDT is hooking me up with a new hardware kit for my chassis', love their CS. This is certainly a downside to chassis' - shit is going to rust in these conditions. Chassis' with more components are going to be that much more difficult to maintain in these conditions.
I was on the ridge for day 2, and man some stages were a complete mud pit. The stage where you went back and forth between the tank trap and barricade was especially bad. My gore-tex Lowa Zephyr boots actually did a really good job staying dry, my feet didn't get wet at all surprisingly. My rain gear was worth its price alone for that one weekend!
MDT standup CS. That's awesome to hear.
They have since poured a concrete pad infront of that barricade next to the tank trap.Honestly, I've never wanted to run a Foundation more than after that weekend
I love my JAE, but I was slightly horrified with the rust I saw after that weekend. I've never had to deal with anything quite like this before. You've given some good recommendations that I'll follow in the future when shooting in such wet conditions. Thankfully MDT is hooking me up with a new hardware kit for my chassis', love their CS. This is certainly a downside to chassis' - shit is going to rust in these conditions. Chassis' with more components are going to be that much more difficult to maintain in these conditions.
I was on the ridge for day 2, and man some stages were a complete mud pit. The stage where you went back and forth between the tank trap and barricade was especially bad. My gore-tex Lowa Zephyr boots actually did a really good job staying dry, my feet didn't get wet at all surprisingly. My rain gear was worth its price alone for that one weekend!
I did take the shoes and socks off completely for the 5 post stage which was my first of the second day. After that I said no more lol. I just skipped the positions right in a puddle, kept my socks dry all day.
I thought my MDT was taking it like a champ, no rust anywhere. Then a few days later I noticed the dried mud in the cracks between the weights and the chassis was growing... the chassis was starting to corrode behind the weights. Took it all completely apart and just rubbed it clean and its been fine since but there was still moisture and with time the anodizing let some corrosion happen anyways.
thats why AI anodizes first and then applies cerakote on top
California air tools makes a perfect high-quality quiet little 1gal air compressor for something like this. I keep one in my gun room indoors and I can run it while people are sleeping.
I like to give AI a hard time, but they do it right here.
Out of the 4 of us in our friend group that shot the comp, we had X2 manners, X1 JAE and X1 AI AT-X. All had rust except for the AI.
I have a few buddies that are shooting it but I haven't reached out to them. Don't want to be a distraction.I have 3 friends shooting it and they say it's wild.
Scores look a bit more normal than Leupold
I got drenched at three matches last year, I even managed to get water on the inside of my T1x bolt.
Basically fully strip everything and be very liberal with WD40/CRC/CLP.
If you can’t clean the gun straight away they squirt everything with oil to displace the water and try to pour the water out of any holes/ areas that’ll collect water.
I went shooting in the rain a few days ago and water had collected in the hollow areas of my KRG Bravo.
Unless the rifle is totally caked in mud you should be able to clean it off with a rag/paper towel.
Basically fully strip everything and be very liberal with WD40/CRC/CLP.
If you can’t clean the gun straight away they squirt everything with oil to displace the water and try to pour the water out of any holes/ areas that’ll collect water.
I went shooting in the rain a few days ago and water had collected in the hollow areas of my KRG Bravo.
Unless the rifle is totally caked in mud you should be able to clean it off with a rag/paper towel.
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