Accuracy in the Rain?

[rhubarb]

As I was on the way to the range this weekend it started raining, but I was determined to exercise my Saiga 308. When I posted my targets it was raining lightly. By the time I got set up on the shooting bench it was heavier.

I'd previously shot 2-3" five shot groups at 100 yds with the Silver Bear soft points but the groups opened up to 4-5" this day. Can I blame it on the rain, the ammo, the rifle, the ink running on my target, or is it my fault?

At any rate, shooting poorly in the rain is a dang sight better than waiting another week to go shooting.

 

[30Cal]

I suspect that as the visibility decreased, you shifted your focus more on the target instead of the front sight. When the aiming black disappears, you just have to have faith that it's back there--stay focussed on the front sight.

Ty

 

[Nhsport]

I once shot a 100 yard rimfire match (where the slightest puff of wind will turn a 10 into a 6) when the rain came down about as hard as I have ever seen it . There were 6 or 7 of us on the line and our scores were just about the same as our averages. ( this was a weekly league)
I can't say that centerfire would be the same or different?

 

[CZguy]

Can I blame it on the rain, the ammo, the rifle, the ink running on my target, or is it my fault?

I would blame it on anything you could.

 

[esldude]

Gov't proving grounds using doppler radar as they test ballistics found the rain made no difference. Hard to believe, but apparently true. I think I saw that in Robert Rinker's "Understanding Ballistics" book. Which I recommend highly for anyone interested in ballistics, and accuracy in firearms.

 

[rangerruck]

if there was an associate low pressure with the rain, and a change in temps, I would say yes, but certainly no more than say 1 inch max at 100 yds.

 

[GRIZ22]

Air density is a factor in ballistics but at 100 yard I would say the effect in nil. I would probably say the bigger group was the result of reduced visibility.

 

[dfaugh]

My buddy and I once shot quite a few groups with our .22s (which you would think would be more easily deflected) during a fairly heavy rain. No noticible difference in accuracy (surprisingly to us).

Sorry don't think you can use the rain as an excuse but maybe recused visabilty will work!