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General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: Ds J on Mar 01, 2025, 08:40 AM

Title: Shooting in heavy rain?
Post by: Ds J on Mar 01, 2025, 08:40 AM
How much does rain influence accuracy?

We are receiving quite a lot of rain of late, which got me thinking about it.

Theoretically, a drop of rain should deflect a bullet off target.
Title: Re: Shooting in heavy rain?
Post by: oafpatroll on Mar 01, 2025, 08:57 AM
I shot the Hog Down gong shoot in KZN a few years ago. It poured down all day and I missed more than I hit. Mainly due to the scope and my glasses being wet nonstop. I almost certainly would have done better with irons and no glasses.

If rain deflected bullets was an issue it wasn't a major factor for me at least.
Title: Re: Shooting in heavy rain?
Post by: Tripodmvr on Mar 01, 2025, 09:20 AM
A theoretical view of what they think happens in rain or snow. I have not seen any practical experiments to verify actual results when shooting in the rain.

https://loadoutroom.com/precision-shooting-rain-sleet-snow/
Title: Re: Shooting in heavy rain?
Post by: janfred on Mar 01, 2025, 04:13 PM
At Bisley they shoot quite often in the rain during the Imperial meeting. The biggest effect on accuracy ballistic wise is the high pressure caused by using wet ammunition.

The next factor is water obscuring the sights
Title: Re: Shooting in heavy rain?
Post by: Treeman on Mar 01, 2025, 07:22 PM
I wonder how many drops are hit in say 500 m and then how many drops of what size would it take change the outcomes?

No ways I would believe that a bullet will fly true in a tropical downpour for instance.
Title: Re: Shooting in heavy rain?
Post by: Tripodmvr on Mar 01, 2025, 08:35 PM
Taken from Americanhunter.com

"Many target shooters have noticed that bullets seem to impact higher on the target when fired in rainy conditions. Changes in humidity have little effect on the air density, and thus on the flight of the bullet. Changes in barometric pressure, on the other hand, do have an effect. In general, fair weather in accompanied by a high barometer, which means more air density and more resistance to the bullet. Likewise, rainy weather is likely to occur at times of low barometer, when air pressure is low, producing less air density and resistance to the bullet. A drop of 1" in the barometric reading will increase the ballistic coefficient by about 3 1/3 percent."

The Second Opinion: While numbers don't lie, several retired Navy SEALS have been operating a long range shooting school for hunters, called the Sportsmans All Weather, All Terrain (SAAM) course that's offered at Texas' FTW Ranch. The SEALS confirm that humidity occurs in times of LOW pressure and does not effect bullets like high barometric pressure does. However, after 600 students and several tours in the desert, they have also learned some practical lessons; after all, that's what the class is all about. And one of those is: For hunting ranges, shots inside of 600 yards or so, the hunter shouldn't worry about compensating for air pressure.