Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Do you put tape over the end of your barrel?

My hunting buddy always places a piece of electricians tape over the end of his barrel to keep snow or dirt out. I have never done this for fear that it would change the point of impact on that first shot. I have to admit that I have accidently got snow in my barrel on occasion and had to clear it.

Has anyone tested their rifle at the range to see if this practice does change the POI, or am I worrying about nothing?

Yes i do...no it doesnt...yes you are....grin

I do it depending on where I am hunting and weather conditions. As noted above, it doesn't change the point of impact. I have tested this with so many rifles that I don't bother to check anymore.

I keep a roll of electrical tape in my day packs and fanny packs just to safeguard my barrels and to attach the carcass tag to a kill. I actually prefer "penny balloons" for the muzzle, but never see them for sale anymore...

Not much more to add to that, other than I concur completely.

And if the weather is hot and the hunting is slow, it keeps out the "dirt-daubers".

I always do, except I usually use the blue 3m painters tape, seems to stick better.

I do, particularly during our late muzzleloader season here in Michigan; almost a month of hunting during December... I load it once and simply remove the primer between hunts, so I want to be sure that no moisture collects in the bore.

I haven't ever done this w/ my other deer rifles, but wouldn't hesitate if it were extremely snowy and I was doing a deer drive or something...

I prefer translucent tape (Tesafilm or s.l.th.) over the muzzle because it allows me to check the barrel for obstructions.
I once found a whole clan - Dozens - of Earworms crowded in the barrel when the rifle's bolt was left open for some hours during a midday rest).

Yep! Been doing it since I was a kid.

+1! Never would have thunkit, myself. Never will doubt it again.

FC

handwerk, don't deer see blue very well? Seems I read that once in a story about why they DON'T see blaze orange well.

If so, I wouldn't want a blue dot on the end of my barrel- at least where I hunt, which tends to be be close-up.

I had one day a few years ago that I should have put tape on my muzzle... sloppy slushy snow all day, then it got cold and about froze my rifle solid. I guess enough water got into the rest of the rifle that it might not have even helped, really...

-jeff

Dude.........

Do it, wont hurt accuract at all.

I don't drag my crown in the snow or dirt... Saves me the cost of tape...

I always do except for the one time I was taking my at the time 13 year son on a on a youth hunt he slipped plugged the barrel we were discussing he had to be more careful and how dangerous that was 2 forked horns came by us walking at thirty yards. Lesson learned we always tape the barrels now.

There's a few muzzles I'd like to put some tape over...

[quote=RedneckI don't drag my crown in the snow or dirt... Saves me the cost of tape... [/quote]

That's cheating...

I do, but have never tested it because I first read about it in a Finn Aagaard article where he said he'd tested it and it had no effect on POI. Aagaard's reputation as a person whose word you could bank on was good enough for me.

I even do this in dry weather, ever since I was crawling after a herd of blesbok and realized my muzzle had poked into some dirt.

I also keep a supply of extra tape right behind the muzzle. This is usually good for a question or two at the range. I once told a guy it was to hold the last three inches of barrel in place; he looked like he didn't know whether to believe me, or punch my lights out.

I tape mine. I did read(maybe here)where somebody had a taped muzzle and accidentally dunked his rifle while crossing a stream. this partially filled the barrel with water because the tape wouldn't let it drain out when carried muzzle down. Maybe you should be sure and carry a taped rifle muzzle up in the rain?

Just a thought.