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Hiking with chamber flag in dusty environments? Ideas - here is one but looking for better ideas too

Diver160651

Who cares
Full Member
Minuteman
  • Feb 7, 2013
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    4,258
    La Honda
    Looks like our club match is going to start to require while hiking the 2 miles; chamber flags. The rub here is that the super fine powder dirt already gets in every thing, open bolts are going to really be rough on the guns. The range is in the talcum powdery dirt and high winds just do not help.

    Does any one have a solution that uses a chamber flag and KEEPS the bolt closed on the flag rather than wide open?

    Here is what I have now.. The chamber flag is inserted and the bolt is pulled forward to close off the chamber. The shock cord runs through the chamber flag.

    Looking for other ideas --
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    I would say that your match directors need to stop being retarded and just say that if anyone has ammo in the gun they are banned for a year from the match. And then randomly check some folks and it will solve itself.
    But I would get a piece of kydex molded to snap over your action and have the chamber flag attached on the inside of it.
     
    Do you need to access the rifle during the hike for any reason?

    If its just a walk to your next setup, and time allows its use, how about one of these to protect the whole rifle....

    https://www.triadtactical.com/TAB-Rifle-Cover.html

    I was trying to keep from running the gun into a bag and carrying more crap..

    But Ya, I was also looking at a Night Force scope cover. I think it covers the action.
     
    I was trying to keep from running the gun into a bag and carrying more crap..

    But Ya, I was also looking at a Night Force scope cover. I think it covers the action.

    Carrying less shit is always great but as long as there is no time concern I really like those covers.

    Ive found it handy while on the line either shielding shit from rain or when in the sun trying to keep stuff from baking.

    Kind of spendy though.

    Just a thought, good luck with your search.
     
    Carrying less shit is always great but as long as there is no time concern I really like those covers.

    Ive found it handy while on the line either shielding shit from rain or when in the sun trying to keep stuff from baking.

    Kind of spendy though.

    Just a thought, good luck with your search.


    It is in my cart - just waiting to see what the other cover I bought looks like before pulling the trigger
     
    It is in my cart - just waiting to see what the other cover I bought looks like before pulling the trigger

    I used mine while hiking in the woods on a friends land. Basically just walking around with rifles - no need for quick access.....The sling and the bipod are unimpeded by the full size cover as shown.

    Good to find out after the hike I didnt have debris in the barrel channel and when we stopped I could deply the bipod or hang it off a branch from the sling to keep the gun out of "stuff".
     
    Get an Armageddon Gear Trojan cover, they’re awesome. They cover the entire action area and wrap around the bottom even to keep dust out of the magwell. You can run a chamber flag under it and it has a notch in the back to show bolt open. It also has a nice handle on the top the carry it by if you don’t want to carry it slung.
     
    I steal a hair tie bungee from my wife then wrap it around the bolt handle and windage knob on the scope. Keeps the bolt handle in the up position and pulls it forward against the chamber flag.

    I run a ScopeCoat as well, it both keeps dust off the scope and has flaps that hang down the sides a bit to help keep dust out of the action.
     
    I steal a hair tie bungee from my wife then wrap it around the bolt handle and windage knob on the scope. Keeps the bolt handle in the up position and pulls it forward against the chamber flag.

    I run a ScopeCoat as well, it both keeps dust off the scope and has flaps that hang down the sides a bit to help keep dust out of the action.

    Yeah that’s kind of in the pictures. I also run the scopecoat. Maybe the bungee to the windage is enough. I just looped it on the bold handle in through the chamber flag and up to the bipod. But it looks weird
     
    If they don't require the chamber flag to be *visible* at all times (some ranges do)...

    https://sunrisetacticalgear.com/RifleCap-3400318.htm

    That's what I was gonna suggest as well. I do the bungee thing from the bolt handle to the windage knob as well when we have to use chamber flags but if it's raining or real windy and dusty, I use the Sunrise cap. It doesn't weigh anything and just lives in my pack.
     
    Looks like you are on the right track Diver. Some kind of moulded plug, with a loop of stretchy cord on
    the front and back ends to keep bolt and plug in. As far as the flag rule goes, if it stops one AD and
    keeps the comp running then adapt and drive on .
     
    You also need to worry about the fine dirt getting in from the muzzle end. In the desert, I used to put a foam earplug in the muzzle as it would eject itself if I ever forgot about it instead of being a barrel obstruction.

    As much as the precision community dislikes BoreSnakes, this may be a good use for one. Pull it through the barrel and secure the pullcord to your bipod. Leave the big end of the Bore Snake slightly protruding from the chamber and shove the chamber flag in the chamber with it. When the hike is over, remove the chamber flag and pull the BoreSnake through. You will have a clean chamber and barrel at that point. Clean the dust out of your receiver and you will be good to go.
     
    You also need to worry about the fine dirt getting in from the muzzle end. In the desert, I used to put a foam earplug in the muzzle as it would eject itself if I ever forgot about it instead of being a barrel obstruction.

    As much as the precision community dislikes BoreSnakes, this may be a good use for one. Pull it through the barrel and secure the pullcord to your bipod. Leave the big end of the Bore Snake slightly protruding from the chamber and shove the chamber flag in the chamber with it. When the hike is over, remove the chamber flag and pull the BoreSnake through. You will have a clean chamber and barrel at that point. Clean the dust out of your receiver and you will be good to go.

    For hunting in the rain I use a ballon over the end of the barrel -- it doesn't even change the POI if you forget to take it off first --
     
    FYI here is what I ended up with. but still open to ideas.. Modified Per Sheldon N 's "over the windage knob suggestion and the Night Force 19" scope cover.. The cover isn't ideal, but probably good enough and covers the open bolt

    Also tried the Sunrise but it is really baggy..

    The remove before flight is only to help me find the damn thing in the weeds or powdery dirt if I step on it..

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