How do you set your rifle down in the field?

[Marbles]

These are taken after walking, I was using a Kifaru Gunbearer at the time and not laying the rifle on the ground because I did not want to bend over and pick it up with a 120 plus pound pack on.

Seriously, if a rifle will malfunction from being laid on the grond, it is a toy. Don't be stupid, don't throw it, don't drop it, don't use it as a walking stick in mud, but relax. It is designed to contain an explosion. As I was told in the military, if it acts like a bitch, treat it like a bitch.

 

[Pabst]

Either that... or a Juniper... or some Buckthorn... or literally any reasonable.. not wet.. not sticky vegetation that'll hold it up off the ground some. And really I only do that so I don't have to bend down as far, since I got some back issues now, that's all.

I'm always skeptical leaning it against anything and don't like to lay a rifle on rocks as it seems no matter how gentle I am this rocks are so sharp they'll scratch even the most durable surfaces. Propping it scope-up in a low woody bush keeps dirt and crud out of the scope and has kept the scratches off.

 

[Dobermann]

Despite all the other arguments in this thread ...

Ya gotta admit, there's just something a bit proud and sexy about a rifle standing up off the ground on a bipod.

Okay, well maybe Form doesn't have to admit it.

(Said by someone who uses a framing square a lot, treats it with care, and it still has dings. Stuff happens.)

 

[justin davis]

I usually lay mine on my pack or lean up against a tree or set it in my tripod. I’m not afraid to lay it in the dirt but I also just try and take care of my gear etc

 

[sndmn11]

Bend at knees

 

[Marbles]

Bend at knees

Assuming that is directed at me. I agree, and don't actually bend over with a pack on. I did not want to squat with it on either though, I was being a weakling after several days in rough country.

Well, truth is I'm usually a lazy weakling, but I tell myself rather than laziness it is conserved potential energy.

 

[sndmn11]

Assuming that is directed at me. I agree, and don't actually bend over with a pack on. I did not want to squat with it on either though, I was being a weakling after several days in rough country.

Well, truth is I'm usually a lazy weakling, but I tell myself rather than laziness it is conserved potential energy.

I read the first two posts and then thought I had a clever answer. ----> Directed at nobody

 

[LightFoot]

I just set it down where I don’t think it will fall or slide off the mountain. If it can’t take being set down… I don’t want it.


>>>——JAKE——>

 

[mxgsfmdpx]

What I said is for the guys trying to figure this sport out and might question if rough handling their guns for no reason is normal. It’s not. Every hunter since the dawn of black powder has set their rifles on the ground - this thread isn’t about avoiding it, but how to do it without having to damage the gun.

You do what works for you.

You're going to the extreme end of the argument here... There's a fine line between setting your rifle on the ground and throwing it off of a roof.

The last two homes I owned, prior to my current AZ house, I built myself. I've also helped on hundreds of home/ranch/farm projects as side work and trading for other work/hunting/land management/culling opportunities etc. I would say I am not the most careful with my tools, but I also don't throw them off a roof.

I can tell you this... Some tools can handle being treated a bit more "rough" while others cannot. That's why I use good quality tools that have been proven to be able to take a bit of a beating and keep on rolling. That's also why I use Sako and Tikka rifles pretty much exclusively since the late 90's. I've also learned, thanks to this site and opening my mind up, that this applies to scopes as well.

Does that mean I'm going to throw my rifle off a roof? Nope. Does it mean I can set it on the ground and not worry about it functioning properly or potentially losing zero? Yep.

 

[mxgsfmdpx]

Scratches and dings don’t even enter into it for me. Clean and functional does.

Malfunctions may be as rare as hens teeth for everyone else, but the first one was too many for me. I was probably too careless where and how I laid it. That’s why I get nervous reading this thread…

Was it the scope or rifle that malfunctioned? What exactly malfunctioned? Here's a video worth watching of what a Sako/Tikka can go through and still function properly. Worth a watch if you have some time, while some of it is cheesy, it's still a decent watch. Makes you re-think which delivery system you use (hint, don't try this with many other makes).

 

[eric1115]

I find it ironic that there is so much talk about a rifle being a tool and therefore doesn’t need to be cared for. I’ve spent my entire life surrounded with blue collar guys in all the construction trades, loggers, arborists, heavy construction, farming, welders, machinists, manufacturing and others - my pickup full of tools gets used 8-10 hrs every day rain or shine, as does the guy’s working to both sides and in ALL the trades tools are what puts food on the table and they are taken care of. I have yet to see any additional productivity with guys who are rough on tools - but they are the first ones that have to borrow something because theirs doesn’t work.

It takes so little extra effort to keep something as simple as a framing hammer in good working order, but leave it out in the weather when it takes 5 seconds to cover, and you’ll go through twice as many handles. If you can’t take care of a wood handle you‘d be better off with a metal handle - and few carpenters would want to spend a career swinging a metal handled hammer.

This isn’t for the older guys already set in your ways, so save your breath, but for the younger guys trying to figure things out. In everything you do, take care of your tools and they will take care of you - that’s been the philosophy of generations of tradesmen, and will still be 100 years from now.

I’ve yet to meet a framer that won’t let his hammer get scratched or who freakes out if it falls off a ladder, or one that won’t set his nail gun on the sub floor beside him, or set his saw down on the ground when cutting 2x4’s, or one who won’t let an extension cord touch the dirt, or one who’s framing square isn’t scratched and dinged.

When a new apprentice or laborer gets on he crew we‘re not shy about letting them know if they borrow a tool and break it they bought it. Drop a titanium hammer enough and the tip of the claw will break off. Pull on it wrong and you’ll break the handle. Hammer with the side of the head of a $200 ti hammer and that’s the last time that kid gets anything other than the steel handled hammer for idiots.

Framers don’t drop nail guns, but apprentices and laborers do until theirs doesn’t work anymore and all the old guys say we told you so. Apprentices and laborers toss framing squares off roofs, until one lands on the corner and we put theirs up against ours to show them how they are no longer square and they either replace it or if they will stop throwing it off the roof we’ll show how to straighten it. Someone wants to use an abused speed square it better not have bent up edges that change the angle or they can pack lumber until getting one that doesn’t waste our time. There’s a proper way to set a saw down so it lasts for 20k cuts and not just 10k. I don’t let anyone use one cord for two tools and constantly plug and unplug - it wears out 4x faster, let alone constantly drop cord ends or hose ends into the dirt when it takes 1 extra second to toss it down correctly. If how they treated cords worked, they wouldn’t need to borrow mine.

I could care less what the excuse is, most rough handling of tools is laziness.

You go ahead and treat your rifles however you want.

As a carpenter and hunter, I've gotten far less concerned over the last decade with having my stuff stay pristine looking, and far more concerned with having it work properly.

I do mostly finish work, and I can't tell you how many times I've seen a shiny new 12" miter saw that doesn't have the fences aligned quite right, zero stop isn't quite at 0°, and that just doesn't cut as well as my old Japanese made Hitachi that's tuned, smooth, aligned, and accurate (but obviously as old as a lot of the guys on the job).

A guy with old beat-to-shit tools (or rifle) is cause for concern. A guy with everything shiny brand new is cause for concern. I feel good about a guy whose stuff is obviously used but well-kept and not abused. I think a stack of squeaky clean modular toolboxes full of pristine tools in laser cut foam is the same guy that has his not-a-scratch rifle in the pelican case. Maybe he's got his stuff dialed in and knows how to use it and is just really type-A about keeping it new-looking, but more often than not that guy has not used his tools enough to be competent.

A guy that won't set his stabila level on a concrete floor because he doesn't want scratches, but leans it up mid-wall and risks having it get bumped and fall over is the kind of guy that puts a Vortex scope on his rifle and then refuses to put it where it might get some surface scratches.

 

[Formidilosus]

The OP was literally asking about what people do to not lay a rifle down on the ground when at a glassing spot. Not throw, toss, beat, or any other straw-man exaggeration that people have brought up to act like letting a rifle touch the ground is abuse- literally set a rifle beside him to glass.


So this is a serious question for people on this thread. Since laying a rifle on the ground is “abuse” and you don’t abuse your equipment or gear which is why you don’t let your rifle touch the ground- how do you set your pack down when hunting? Is your pack not equipment or a tool? You’ve already stated that a rifle is a tool and you should take care of your tools and not abuse them, and letting a rifle touch dirt, snow, rocks is abuse; so does that not follow that letting a pack touch dirt, snow, or rocks is also abusing that equipment? Do carry a stand that you assemble before you take your pack off so it never touches the ground? Or maybe a tarp in your pocket that you can lay down to set the pack on. But then, isn’t the tarp itself “equipment”?
Cary that farther- clothing is “gear”, and since you don’t want to abuse “gear” do you not ever sit on the ground wearing your pants? What about taking a knee while kneeling? This can be carried logically to everything- what about your boots, they are gear correct? Do we not let the sole touch the ground? If touching dirt is abuse, then how do you justify that?


Read the OP’s post, then read the comments. It’s about setting a rifle beside you while glassing. Here’s me abusing a brand new rifle yesterday while glassing. I wonder how much I reduced its lifespan?

 

[JohnJohnson]

View attachment 624883

Love Stone Glacier, wish their scope covers were long enough to account for the added length of a sun shade so I could use them.

 

[TaperPin]

The OP was literally asking about what people do to not lay a rifle down on the ground when at a glassing spot. Not throw, toss, beat, or any other straw-man exaggeration that people have brought up to act like letting a rifle touch the ground is abuse- literally set a rifle beside him to glass.


So this is a serious question for people on this thread. Since laying a rifle on the ground is “abuse” and you don’t abuse your equipment or gear which is why you don’t let your rifle touch the ground- how do you set your pack down when hunting? Is your pack not equipment or a tool? You’ve already stated that a rifle is a tool and you should take care of your tools and not abuse them, and letting a rifle touch dirt, snow, rocks is abuse; so does that not follow that letting a pack touch dirt, snow, or rocks is also abusing that equipment? Do carry a stand that you assemble before you take your pack off so it never touches the ground? Or maybe a tarp in your pocket that you can lay down to set the pack on. But then, isn’t the tarp itself “equipment”?
Cary that farther- clothing is “gear”, and since you don’t want to abuse “gear” do you not ever sit on the ground wearing your pants? What about taking a knee while kneeling? This can be carried logically to everything- what about your boots, they are gear correct? Do we not let the sole touch the ground? If touching dirt is abuse, then how do you justify that?


Read the OP’s post, then read the comments. It’s about setting a rifle beside you while glassing. Here’s me abusing a brand new rifle yesterday while glassing. I wonder how much I reduced its lifespan?
View attachment 624883

I’m super confused - I had you all wrong? Instead of throwing rifles down hills, freezing them in lakes, and using them as a handyman jack handle, you hunt with a cute little tent for the scope and action - even when it’s not snowing or raining.

Even I’ve never used one of those, but I like it. Just don’t go too soft on us.

 

[JohnJohnson]

I’m super confused - I had you all wrong? Instead of throwing rifles down hills, freezing them in lakes, and using them as a handyman jack handle, you hunt with a cute little tent for the scope and action - even when it’s not snowing or raining.

Even I’ve never used one of those, but I like it. Just don’t go too soft on us.

I'm going to be picking one of those up for my next western hunt honestly. I came back from AZ with a layer of dirt coating the inside of my action and some scratches on my new scope. It would have helped if my dumb ass hadn't unintentionally dragged the scope/action through the dirt and rocks while moving the pack it was strapped to the side of.

 

[hereinaz]

Was it the scope or rifle that malfunctioned? What exactly malfunctioned? Here's a video worth watching of what a Sako/Tikka can go through and still function properly. Worth a watch if you have some time, while some of it is cheesy, it's still a decent watch. Makes you re-think which delivery system you use (hint, don't try this with many other makes).

We agree 100%. Good rifles can take a whole lot of hard use without failure. They are meant to. A good rifle system can even take outright abuse. I am not telling anyone to never put their rifle down. I still put it down without a cover or protection.

I don’t disagree with the vast majority and wouldn’t say boo about someone putting their rifle on the ground unless they asked me.

I am just putting in a word of caution against the rare but real possibilities… good insurance is a low priced cost giving overall benefit weighed against a low frequency but high cost incident.

It’s very real that shooters could never experience a failure and put their rifle on the ground all the time. That is a valid point that shooters don’t have to baby rifles. I don’t baby my stuff, but the way some commenters could be seen as too cavalier about their rifles that would lead others with less experience to go too far—like me. I was too careless and had issues.

I don’t put my rifle directly on the ground anymore, not because I care what it looks like, but because the very little effort it takes to cover it is cheap insurance against the low frequency high cost event of failure in the field. The cover also helps keep it clean of debris going through brush and trees.

I want to make sure my rifle goes boom. That’s all I worry about. That’s why I avoid laying it on the ground without a cover. I still will lay it all the time for a second or two.

I also trade the seconds in the field to cover my rifle against the time to care/clean my rifle. I like not having to tear my rifle apart and pick out moon dust from the desert.

While that rifle did well in that video, all it takes is one little grain to fall just the right way. I will do that to stress test my rifle and video it in December some time. Would be fun to do.

Me, once it was moisture and I blew a primer. Another, fine sand and grit got in a bolt caused misfire after a long day at a windy match on top of not cleaning it enough after the two or three prior dusty matches. That would have been equal to one hunt in some situations for me.

There were other things I know now, ways to reduce those issues when dirty.

 

[hereinaz]

I'm going to be picking one of those up for my next western hunt honestly. I came back from AZ with a layer of dirt coating the inside of my action and some scratches on my new scope. It would have helped if my dumb ass hadn't unintentionally dragged the scope/action through the dirt and rocks while moving the pack it was strapped to the side of.

Hey, as an Arizonan, I know exactly what you mean! It's all good until you get an action full of moon dust and have to clean it.

Not sure if you saw the cover I made the last time I got an action full of dust. The Stone Glacier looks nice. Mine gives more coverage during the hike, and then when I get to my glassing spot, I will unwrap it halfway and it comes right off when I need it.

We should have a size that will fit your sunshade, if not PM me. We can often accomodate changes.

Hunter Scoped Action Armor

LS Wild LLC premium innovative outdoor hunting gear backpacks Thunderbird Long Range shooting bags

www.lswild.com

 

[JohnJohnson]

Hey, as an Arizonan, I know exactly what you mean! It's all good until you get an action full of moon dust and have to clean it.

Not sure if you saw the cover I made the last time I got an action full of dust. The Stone Glacier looks nice. Mine gives more coverage during the hike, and then when I get to my glassing spot, I will unwrap it halfway and it comes right off when I need it.

We should have a size that will fit your sunshade, if not PM me. We can often accomodate changes.

Hunter Scoped Action Armor

LS Wild LLC premium innovative outdoor hunting gear backpacks Thunderbird Long Range shooting bags

www.lswild.com

Yours is the cover I'll be going with definitely. I have it bookmarked for a later date, for now I have to put a bit of cash towards getting rings/scope caps/bubble level for a Razor G3 6-36 I just kind of impulse bought. Out of curiosity, do you think the hunter version will still fit my action in a KRG x-ray chassis with a 5 round mag?

 

[Brontosaurus]

As a carpenter and hunter, I've gotten far less concerned over the last decade with having my stuff stay pristine looking, and far more concerned with having it work properly.

I do mostly finish work, and I can't tell you how many times I've seen a shiny new 12" miter saw that doesn't have the fences aligned quite right, zero stop isn't quite at 0°, and that just doesn't cut as well as my old Japanese made Hitachi that's tuned, smooth, aligned, and accurate (but obviously as old as a lot of the guys on the job).

A guy with old beat-to-shit tools (or rifle) is cause for concern. A guy with everything shiny brand new is cause for concern. I feel good about a guy whose stuff is obviously used but well-kept and not abused. I think a stack of squeaky clean modular toolboxes full of pristine tools in laser cut foam is the same guy that has his not-a-scratch rifle in the pelican case. Maybe he's got his stuff dialed in and knows how to use it and is just really type-A about keeping it new-looking, but more often than not that guy has not used his tools enough to be competent.

A guy that won't set his stabila level on a concrete floor because he doesn't want scratches, but leans it up mid-wall and risks having it get bumped and fall over is the kind of guy that puts a Vortex scope on his rifle and then refuses to put it where it might get some surface scratches.

Yeah that sums up my life right there. I do carpentry too. Everyone that has pristine tools is either an idiot who doesn't know what they are doing or is lazy and doesn't work. Either way I steer clear of them. Tools are purchased to be used.

 

[mxgsfmdpx]

Hey, as an Arizonan, I know exactly what you mean! It's all good until you get an action full of moon dust and have to clean it.

Not sure if you saw the cover I made the last time I got an action full of dust. The Stone Glacier looks nice. Mine gives more coverage during the hike, and then when I get to my glassing spot, I will unwrap it halfway and it comes right off when I need it.

We should have a size that will fit your sunshade, if not PM me. We can often accomodate changes.

Hunter Scoped Action Armor

LS Wild LLC premium innovative outdoor hunting gear backpacks Thunderbird Long Range shooting bags

www.lswild.com

Yep that moon dust here in AZ is some nasty stuff for sure. My wife made me this thing which can be taken off in about 2 seconds. Just protects the muzzle from getting crap in there while rough roading in the dust/flying mud, and keeps water off the scope in heavy rain and blowing snow. I have missed a few kills with too much snow or water on the scope objective lense.