Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire What is your pre-season rifle prep??

...what's your routine?

Mine: check scope mount screws, visually inspect rifle from crown to action screws, inspect rifle sling and sling swivels, run a dry boresnake down the barrel, and go hunting.

I shake it. If nothing falls off, it's good to go.

I made sure it was ready to go before I put it away last time. What's to go bad if it's never touched?

I agree. I still do what I do because I would rather catch any issues at the house instead of beside my truck in the field.

Coyote's and other vermin.
Deer season ends 1/1, prep begins 1/2

Occasionally shoot primary rifle, punch paper, ring gongs, check zero and hold overs, multiple times through the year including a couple weeks before season opens. Nothing special for deer season.

I use my rifle year round, I guess I don't pick a certain day to inspect everything. Maybe I misread the question. I give it a visual inspection every time I pick it up

after season a complete Pull-A-Part extreme cleaning wipe down the whole nine yards even if it's only shot a few times. before season check side in do not clean only wipe down until after season. this is big game type rifles that I just use a little bit. environment rigs and farm rigs that carries in the truck and such well they are what they are

Wipe down,go to the pit,shoot rifle for zero,then go hunting.

Sometimes when using a new rifle i shoot it a lot just to make sure we are both on the same page and see if it stays on target.

If it's a rifle I have not handled in a while I will go through it and give it a thorough wipe down and run a patch through the barrel.

If it's a regular then I just while it down and run a patch down the barrel.

I may give it a few practice shots to confirm zero

I shoot it twice and make sure it is still on zero. That's it. I clean bores every 10 years or so.

Pre-Season Rifle Prep?
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An oil rag and some oil.
And I'm good to go.

I shoot all summer. I try to go every weekend I'm not scouting. Minimum once a month, but usually more. I hike around and shoot off my pack or trekking poles.


That's my routine I guess. I shoot it.

Pre Hunt Prep:
Remove gun from safe
Put in case
Load in truck
Carry into the field

I never run a patch down mine before hunting. I verify zero then leave it dry.... tape the muzzle in inclement weather... an oiled/wet bore from a patch will change POI

I live in the mountains in Idaho. I'm not a great hunter really but I'm convinced the critters flee from me and hide because I shoot all year and once the snow melts an I can get higher up I mostly do high angle and field positional shooting and sling work, lot of standing unsupported ans this year it was with a 270win. It keeps the rifle ready all the time.

Verify my zero at 300 yards! Usually, 3 rounds fired! Then hope to fire it again….. during hunting season! memtb

Holy schidt. You shouldn't have to check that [bleep]. All that [bleep] should be done before hand. For fu cks sake..

Pull the rifle out. Open the bolt to see if it still has the same 3 rounds in the magazine from the previous season. Put it in the case and off to the woods.

Pre season?

I shoot my rifles year round

I always pull out the bolt and visually check the bore sight alignment with the scope even if I just shot recently shot it. I once had a Leupy VariX3 3.5-10x40 track about 6 inches to the right and 5 or 6 inches up a week or so after zeroing it. Missed what I thought was an easy 200 yd shot on a big 4x4.