Why you should tape your rifle's muzzle

Make sure the tape isn't blue tape.

why not blue tape? I have used that with no problems.

Blue Tape is fine, its a joke about someone on the net saying deer can see the blue tape.  I need to remember sarcasm doesn't work on the net...

elkhunt Said:
why not blue tape? I have used that with no problems.

Rumor has it he got the elk -

With that much pressure (to split the barrel), is tape really going to hold?  (when stainless steel won't? )

WellArmed,
You're kidding right? Can't tell for sure over the net. If you aren't kidding, they are talking about putting tape over the end of the barrel to keep snow out of the inside, not wrapping it around the barrel for more strength.

Wellarmed - he he you got em going. 

Been hunting all of my life without tape or any of that garbage.... without any issues.
Most likely never will..

Youve gotta use common sense with firearms... you keep the muzzle away from water, mud,rocks...etc, your fine.
I carry a cleaning rod and or rope with me during deer hunting, and frequently check the bore.

To me, tape is just another gimmick. BUT, if it works for people, GREAT. Keep using it if it helps.... Personally, Id rather not use anything that has the possibility of goofing up my rifles finish, or embedds some resin from the tape into the rifles finish.
Id rather take 5 seconds to yank the bolt and look when I question an issue.

3M Super 33+ stays pliable in the cold and any stickum left behind is easily cleaned up with whatever bore solvent you might use.  Properly sized finger cots work just as well and leave behind no residue but cost lots more than a strip of tape.  The video shows the extreme case of what might happen, much more often the barrel just bulges near the muzzle which means you're off to the gunsmith for a cut and re-crown if the barrel's long enough, or a re-barrel if it isn't.

Hunting in the rain or a heavy snow with your rifle slung on your shoulder  can cause the above problem.  So can riding around in the pickup with your rifle's muzzle down on the floorboard by your feet.  The crown grinding into whatever sand or gravel is left behind since your last vacuum job, or potentially plugging with mud when we have weather like we did last deer opener.  We don't have much for evergreen trees but a hunt in the mountains through snow-laden evergreen branches without tape can plug your bore pretty easily, that very thing happened to a Sako 300Win that my dad borrowed out and that barrel ended up 2" shorter due to a bulged barrel.

Blue tape is a no-no......I'd NEVER use blue!!!



As far as tape in general goes; An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

 Not saying that Im immune from random issues like that, we all from time to time make mistakes or overlook things.... it's only human.
I "try" to take good care of my weaponry in that sense, including looking down the pipe for any debris... but it's never a 100% because when the shot comes, the LAST thing anyone thinks about is a misfire, or debris in the barrel... all Im thinking about is shoulderblade.

I've heard blue tape acts just like the Simms Barrel Deresonator.  Move your extra tape up and down the length of the barrel  and vary the number of wraps to find the sweet spot.  

You could use the tape to create tip pressure between your barrel and the stock essentially creating an effect similar to a deresonator, in fact it'd be a good way to test whether or not you needed tip pressure (which some do) and how much you need.

Of course we knew you were just joking though.

A VTR f-upped triangular barrel is darn near impossible to plug, and you'd need an easy-out or drill bit to ding the crown.  But, looks on a hunting rifle are really important to some people...

Rain similar to that in the video from the original post could cause the same situation in a VTR.  Shooting and unknown involuntary hydraulic pressure don't mix.  I know the crown is deep but the actual hole in the end of the barrel is much larger than a standard crown vs. bore dimension, even with the vents there's bound to be a "funnel effect".

It looked like he was shooting downhill....water should have run out of the barrel.  Whatever was in his barrel, it damn sure made a banana peel out of it.  Cool video.

wow that is one lucky dude!