Good evening all.

My 7 day backpack goat hunt in BC is rapidly approaching and the gear list is almost complete.

Thinking about rifle care and wondering if anyone has suggestions as far as a ultralight weight selection of necessities. I was thinking about a length of 100 lb mono with a loop in the end for patches, along with a few pre oiled patches for pulling through the bore and to wipe the exterior as necessary. The barreled action has been puller and well coated in Rust Prevent, I will have a bikini scope cover, and plan to keep a wrap and spare electrical tape on the muzzle.

As usual, thanks for the help, the fire has been a great help in planning for this trip.

PigGuy

Stainless steel, synthetic stock. and electrical tape on the muzzle. Just make sure its not blue.

I have in my kit, a Bore Snake, a micro dropper bottle each of Barnes CR10 and Triflow.

Bore snakes are the bomb, but still prefer a rod to knock sh*t outta the barrel if you forget the tape.

Sounds like you've got it covered.







Shod

I'd also include three feet of the heaviest weed whacker line you can find that will still fit down your bore. Coil itself up on itself and keep as part of your permanent pack contents. Tape over the muzzle should protect you most of the time, but in the event you have an obstructed muzzle, your fishing line won't push through the blockage.

I've carried a coil of trimmer line for years and have never needed it, but I'll continue to carry it.

A must read for those considering a bore snake.

http://echolsrifles.blogspot.com/2015/06/snake-bit.html

I don't have the issue number, but IIRC Phil Shoemaker did an article in either Rifle or Successful Hunter some years back about his rifle care kit. One thing I do remember from the article was the 10w40 soaked patches...

I carry nothing but the rifle. As mentioned above, tape the muzzle, and don't sweat it.

a couple of patches, an Otis pull-through rod, and small roll of electrical tape live in my pack.

I just tape and get to hiking. All that what-it's can really add up in the pack. It's why I've shrunk my first aid kit down to true emergency needs. No more pills this, cream for that. Basics.

I'd put tape at the top of the list. Just did a header in the brush and stuck the top 8" of my barrel in the dirt. No harm done.

Just electrical tape...

I tape and keep some extra on the barrel of each of my rifles. I also keep an old sectional Kleenbore steel rod in base camp and an Otis kit there or in my Taco.

The rod may seem like "overkill", but, I have had to use it a couple of times when working very remote stations alone for the BCFS and Alberta Forest Service.

We were very restricted on weight as I started when the old "B" machine helis were all we had to maintain our roadless fire LOs and thus ONE rifle was allowed with a couple boxes of ammo and minimal other items.

I have had this rod for 26 years and it is indispensable for serious BC mountain hunting, IMHO.

Went elk hunting with some wildland firefighter friends and they just take parachute cord. They say you can unravel the cord, pull out a thread and heat it with a flame to make it stiff enough to poke through mud or snow jammed in the barrel. Then the cord itself can be run through to clean up, pulling a greased patch if you prefer.

If I thought I needed more than tape on the muzzle I'd be looking for a different rifle.

I just tape the muzzle and also do a few wraps of tape around the barrel farther down so i have back up tape

I always have a rapid rod in my backpack with a few oil soaked patches. I'd rather have a rod than a snake if I fall and jam something in the barrel.

This is a great idea. Although I only take tape. If mules, or lamas, or goats were involved I'd do this and a bore snake.