"Weather-Proof" Air Rifles ?

[Benelli B76]

If you take normal care of your air rifle I think the only liability is the scope and barrel bore. Good scopes have a positive gas pressure inside to keep out moisture and stop fogging. Would be nice to have a stainless barrel like a lot of firearms today. I work on a lot of airguns and it is quite rare to see a badly rusty barrel bore even on 100 year old types. They usually have rust on the outside through total neglect of just a simple wipe over with oil. When I was in the Royal Marines I often took my SLR into the shower and took it apart to clean off mud before drying, oiling and re-assemble. Was always complimented on its condition after inspection. Even after a total soaking a rifle should not deteriorate if basic care applied.

Baz

[Arthur John Smithsplease]

I would never think of taking my babies outside.

They might catch a cold.

[TonyL]

. Even after a total soaking a rifle should not deteriorate if basic care applied.

Baz

This ^ ^ ^

When I used to hunt, the guns would get an occasional drenching (talking springers here).

Once home, I would let them acclimatise to room temperature in the gun case. Then whip the stock off. Dab kitchen roll onto all wet areas. Then, once dry, a wipe over with the silicone cloth...job done. I still own some of these rifles now, over 30 years later and the finish is still perfect.


Properly cleaning some of those rifles with the cages (are they the Evanix ones?) around the main action would worry me, as I guess you can't easily get in to clean in every nook and cranny. I wonder how easy it would be to remove that outer "cage"?

[Rich]

Certain FT rifles have a transfer port that is open to the elements momentarily while the action is being cocked. Not a good idea if rain gets in. Not a problem for the 10m rifle from which this model was developed.