I know that the subject of tape over the muzzle comes up now and then so I thought I'd share this article from Outdoor Life. Personally, especially after seeing some video of a rifle barrel splitting because of an obstruction, I always tape my muzzle before going hunting.

www.outdoorlife.com/ar...ssed-shots

awesome...finally some hard data from a unbiased test.

I often hunt in the rain, never taped my muzzle.
The few shots I missed I blame the footing or me being tired cranky and wet.
I will start taping the muzzle now.

Interesting post. I always tape the muzzle if there is the slightest possibility of foreign material, water or snow getting into the bore. All the best...
Gil

I have never taped my muzzle, but when in the Army I saw guys use a dinga (condom) over their muzzle, secured in place with an elastic band. I have always been wary of "obstructing" the muzzle with tape for the reason Punkin mentioned...I will re-evaluate that after reading the attached article.

Condoms are much thinner than electrical tape and won't leave sticky messy adhesive behind when taken off...although if your barrel gets hot enough I suppose they could melt. I think the upside to using a condom is it is easy to remove and refit for cleaning etc.

If it's raining when I'm out walking the paddocks, I will often sling my rifle upside down on my shoulder, but still, rain can easily find it's way into the barrel. Snow is not an issue because it just don't snow in the tropics.

Time to go out and buy a box of frangas methinks.

As good an excuse as any, wink wink,say no more...........

dhc4ever wrote:

As good an excuse as any, wink wink,say no more...........

I put a balloon over the muzzle. If you shoot, you can keep a few spares in your pocket to replace the one you blew a hole in.

Thanks for sharing, Pkslinger. Think I'll find some small black balloons for this purpose though I haven't hunted rain or snow in quite some time.

3 turns of insulation tape AROUND out side of muzzle,turn right angles and 1 pass across muzzle and down side then right angle and another 2 turns, you fire shot ,go deal with dead deer then unwind tape a few turns and put unholed bit across muzzle and go around with the tail end.
works on suppressors too.

If its really that rainy, how do you protect against wet cases from the magazine, which isnt all that protected from the weather?


-DallanC

DallanC wrote:

If its really that rainy, how do you protect against wet cases from the magazine, which isnt all that protected from the weather?

Keep the dust cover on your AR closed?

slimjim wrote:

Keep the dust cover on your AR closed?

I mean for bolt action rifles.

-DallanC

If it was raining really hard I was wearing a poncho, with the action of the rifle under it.

DallanC wrote:

If its really that rainy, how do you protect against wet cases from the magazine, which isnt all that protected from the weather? -DallanC

I have always tried to protect the action in one way or another from rain. Even something as simple as carrying the rifle so that the action has some sort of cover, even if it's only my hand or a fold in my jacket or under the pouch of my game belt/bag. Nothing worse than your trigger rusting from water ingestion. Not so bad in a military rifle because when you strip the rifle the trigger group is easy to clean and dry off. The F88 Austeyr is even easier...the trigger group is 98% polycarbonate type plastic and slips out the back of the butt for cleaning. (See pic below, the trigger group is in the top right of the pic)

The only time I have ever got my rifle totally wet was in the Army and we were patrolling through the jungle and doing creek crossings. One creek was a bit deeper than I am tall, by about two feet...GA-BLOOK...down I went, everything got soaked (except my tobacco, it was sealed in a couple of zip lock bags). I was carrying an M16, but the guy I felt sorry for was the gunner...he was carrying an M60 and about 300 rounds of link.