Summer's here, and with it, the perfect weather to go hunting or hit the range. Shooting during the summertime when it's primarily sunny out is notably nicer than in the middle of winter, but with the difference in temps come some shooting tips that differ from the winter.
Here are some summer shooting tips to keep in mind when out in the heat.
- Muzzle safety is priority number one above all else. Keep your firearm pointed in a safe direction at all times no matter where you are.
- Don't overheat. The clothing you wear will influence your body's temperature. Try to wear lightweight, moisture-wicking, breathable clothing.
- Stay hydrated. What you consume to stay hydrated is extremely important. When you're out in the sun, you're sweating. When you sweat, your body loses water. To keep your body appropriately hydrated and replenish moisture lost, keep water with you. Adding something that has electrolytes in it in between rounds isn't a bad idea either.
- Keep sweat and the sun out of your eyes. It's hard to shoot when you cannot see clearly. To keep you even cooler and some of the sweat from dripping into your eyesight, wear a hat. This doubles as keeping the sun out of your eyes as well, or you can opt to wear a pair of your favorite polarizing sunglasses along with the hat.
- Wipe down your gun. When you shoot in the summer's hot weather, you're going to get fingerprints and sweat all over your gun. Any moisture left too long can cause the metal in your gun to begin to rust. We suggest wiping down your weapon in between shots. It doesn't have to be a thorough deep clean, but a rag and some gun cleaner to wipe down the outside, barrels, receiver, and trigger along with trigger guard should be fine. Don't forget to use some gun oil, though it isn't needed for every shot, but should be used every 2-3 shots.
Some other great tips, no matter the season, is to check your rifle for loose screws and tighten them, clean your rifle barrel, and make sure to break in your rifle barrel before shooting this summer.
Remember to stay safe, stay tactical, and we hope you enjoy these summer shooting tips.