Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Barrel bands/ tape

Pardon my ignorance, but I've seen lots of pics on here of rifles with what looks like electrical tape on the barrel forward of the stock, sometimes its on the muzzle, sometimes both.

I'm sure it has a purpose, What am I missing?

When asked, I tell people that it is over the muzzle to keep out rain and snow or the errant twig. Really, its there to prove to myself that I can hit a piece of tape.
Any extra is so I can do it more than once.

I've been doing this for 40 years, initially just in rainy weather. But with SS barrels over the last few years I just leave them taped. Never know when I might take a fall and keeping mud or other debris out of the barrel could save me a long walk back to camp or the truck with a useless rifle. There is extra tape in case I take a shot to retape the muzzle.

Doesn't hurt a thing, no effect on accuracy or shot placement. Cheap insurance with no downsides

I'd to support thin barrels so the don't droop when hot.

So the end piece actually covers the muzzle? Do you bother to remove it when taking a shot, or do you just shooot through it (I can't imagine it would effect accuracy or pressure or anything)

The column of air in front of the bullet will break the tape before the bullet gets there.

Just DON'T use blue....

Poor man's limbsaver. Laffin'.

Don't let these guys bullchit you, blue tape makes a rifle much more accurate. If you use red tape you usually gain around 150fps velocity. Green tape reduces recoil and black tape makes you invisible.


Put them all on your barrel at once and your gun instantly turns into a .270 and you get to hang out with ingwe.

I works. Ingwe loves the rainbow.

I've been doing it for as long as I can recall, long before the internet.

Keeps shiet out as mentioned, and helps protect the crown. A couple of extra pieces on the barrel.

Dang, that's a pretty good idea.

You mean like this?

I find black electrical tape works better then those finger condoms keeping moisture and debris out of bore of the rifle. Those condoms break and roll off easily. Also I find signs of rust at the end of muzzle after using the finger condoms where as black electrical tape I do not. I tape the end of muzzle and keep a roll of it in my day pack.

Uuuhhhhmmmm, exactly what do you mean by that.....????

No further proof needed.


How many deer are in that pic??......

Exactly like that... now to go to home depot and buy one of those multipacks of electrical tape in 5 differemt colors!

Go for the multi color look

You get style points when the front end is blown off.

Never Ever..