May be a silly question but, I have always put electrical tape on my rifle muzzle while hunting elk or deer to protect from snow and water. Is there any need to do the same in Africa to protect from dust and dirt?

It won't hurt anything. Some safaris late in the season can be exceptionally dry and consequently very dusty. I've only used the tape on the barrel when hunting in snow or rain but have considered it for my next safari, since I rarely clean a rifle bore while on safari. I do wipe down the exterior every evening at a minimum and clean all glass often.

Often use it in Africa, less for dust and dirt than for leaves and bracken from bush and trees...

Best of the Season

Do they make extra wide electrical tape for those of us shooting 50s?



Chuck

I use tape everytime I hunt - just in case. Had an interesting experience last time I flew with my rifle and gear. They took my little roll of electrical tape off me - said it could be used to tie people up with - I didn't think the aircrew were allowed to play those sorts of games anymore !

Promise not to laugh?

Condoms work great. Get the green ones.

Rich

Don't ask!

There is one thing that I learned the hard way about electrical tape on the end of the barrel. Make sure you pull off the tape if you had not shot the gun before you store it. Rust will set in real fast. That said, electrical tape save a Montana hunt when I fell through some soft snow and jammed the barrel into some slush.

JDK

quote:

Originally posted by Idaho Sharpshooter:
Promise not to laugh?

Condoms work great. Get the green ones.

Rich

Don't ask!

Green ones? I obviously don't have enough experience with these things.

quote:

Originally posted by Idaho Sharpshooter:
Promise not to laugh?

Condoms work great. Get the green ones.

Rich

Don't ask!

Not the edible ones with fingers surely?

I have a slight concern that you know about all that sort of thing...

Rich

quote:

Originally posted by Idaho Sharpshooter:
I have a slight concern that you know about all that sort of thing...

Rich

Having brought up a few lads and gals, nothing surprises me now.
Seriously now you are right, I have seen and heard of condoms being used as muzzle covers.

Then again, you could just use 1 1/4 inch insulating tape instead.

Works a treat on my .500

quote:

Originally posted by chuck375:
Do they make extra wide electrical tape for those of us shooting 50s?



Chuck

For wider than 'normal' barrels, just tear off a piece and then tear off another piece and slightly overlap the first piece, let's call it a double wide -- works great for drillings, Waidmannsheil, Dom.

Here's a very odd reason to tape your barrel. Kevin "Doctari" Robertson wrote of a family trip in Zim where they were having lion problems in camp. He grabbed a rifle one night to investigate, run off or, if needed shoot. In the morning he examined the rifle for some reason and found that ants had built a substantial home in the bore. Just imagine the consequences!

Here's a another suggestion: surgical gloves, come in different sizes - cut off the fingers and bingo! - shoot straight through and just fit another - buy them by the box from any chemist for peanuts.

I have also seen 'mini-condoms' used by bank tellers for counting notes used as muzzle covers.
Again, shoot through and replace.

quote:

Originally posted by fujotupu:
I have also seen 'mini-condoms' used by bank tellers for counting notes used as muzzle covers.
Again, shoot through and replace.

Mate, I can't ever see any man walking into a shop and asking for a packet of mini condoms!

quote:

I have also seen 'mini-condoms' used by bank tellers for counting notes used as muzzle covers.
Again, shoot through and replace.

For those who even care...those are properly termed "finger-cots".

In Steve"s case finger cots are called xtra large

quote:

Originally posted by shakari:

quote:

Originally posted by fujotupu:
I have also seen 'mini-condoms' used by bank tellers for counting notes used as muzzle covers.
Again, shoot through and replace.

Mate, I can't ever see any man walking into a shop and asking for a packet of mini condoms!

You're behind the times Steve - in India there were complaints that the standard sizes kept coming off and I believe there is an option on size available in that part of the world However Lane has graciously enlightened us on the proper terminology (reason why I indicated 'bank tellers')

Edod,

Some good points made here. Tape, finger-cot, condemns etc all work well to keep foreign objects out of your bore.

When I was with Neil Duckworth in Mozambique in '07 we had stopped for lunch one day and Neil leaned his 458 Lott against a tree near where I was sitting. I noticed a wasp of some sort land on the muzzle and disappear down the bore of his rifle. Enentually he came back out and flew away. A few minutes later another wasp shows up and also goes down the bore. This went on through out lunch. Before we packed up I told Neil what I had seen and he examined the barrel and found it completely blocked with mud. That could have been unpleasant if he had needed to fire a shot. I always use a piece of tape over the muzzle.

Mark

I might suggest a small party ballon rather than a condom. Cheaper (3 cents a piece??), elastic where it might stay on the barrel better and you can buy them by the 100's at a time. If you buy bright colors you can see where all the barrels are pointing around you. You can re use them. I would suggest you take them off and let the barrel breathe a bit as not to trap condensation. I use them and it does keep all sorts of stuff out of the barrel however It can mess up your open sights if you need to shoot in a pinch. In that case the tape may be a better option as to not cover the front ramp.

EZ

Many years ago when I was guiding a client in Scotland my German client asked me what the tape over the end of the barrel was for (we have very high rainfall in the West Coast where I was guiding at that time). I told him, completely deadpan that it was for safety to stop the bullet and that sometimes we just put our finger over the barrel.
He looked at me kind of strange but never said anything or asked about it for the whole week.
I think he's still scratching his head

quote:

MARK H. YOUNG: I noticed a wasp of some sort land on the muzzle and disappear down the bore of his rifle. Eventually he came out and flew away. A few minutes later another wasp shows up and also goes down the bore. This went on through out lunch. Before we packed up I told Neil what I had seen and he examined the barrel and found it completely blocked with mud. That could have been unpleasant if he had needed to fire a shot. I always use a piece of tape over the muzzle.

I observed this phenomenon early this deer season while hunting from a box blind full of mud daubber nests. Didn't have any tape (or condoms) but kept an eye on my muzzle and made damn sure they stayed out.

Thanks for all the suggestions. Will plan to protect my muzzle by one means or another.....

Edod, Fujotupu, Mark,
Good thread, gentlemen. Very interesting to read of things I had not thought of that can happen in the field. I like the surgical gloves idea. Thanks!
Shoot well.
Brittman

Edod,
Ask your outfitter or PH to pickup some of the local camo tape in South Africa. Works well against all of your concerns and has the local camo print on it. A roll of 10m wil cost you about $10.
If you are having a hard time getting your hands on some, drop me a message and I will mail you a roll.

All the best,

In Zim, Condoms are handed out at clinics free of charge. Every month we hand out these packs to camp staff etc with their salaries and a provision pack. I have used them over the end of my barrel for years ,which I seem to recall was a trick used by both sides in the Rhodesian Bush war.

I would suggest though that your PH should ensure that you dont go home to the wife and family with a wad of condoms or worse still empty packs in your gun box......

quote:

Originally posted by zimFrosty:
In Zim, Condoms are handed out at clinics free of charge. Every month we hand out these packs to camp staff etc with their salaries and a provision pack. I have used them over the end of my barrel for years ,which I seem to recall was a trick used by both sides in the Rhodesian Bush war.

I would suggest though that your PH should ensure that you dont go home to the wife and family with a wad of condoms or worse still empty packs in your gun box......

Or even worse, a bunch of unwrapped condoms each with a hole in the end of 'em!

quote:

Originally posted by Wink:

quote:

Originally posted by Idaho Sharpshooter:
Promise not to laugh?

Condoms work great. Get the green ones.

Rich

Don't ask!

Green ones? I obviously don't have enough experience with these things.

NOTE; the green ones, NOT the mint flavoured ones.

quote:

Originally posted by shakari:

quote:

Originally posted by fujotupu:
I have also seen 'mini-condoms' used by bank tellers for counting notes used as muzzle covers.
Again, shoot through and replace.

Mate, I can't ever see any man walking into a shop and asking for a packet of mini condoms!

Now you know why you see "Basset" faced women leaving the pharmacy.

Steady as we go boys!
This thread has gone from electrical tape to mint flavoured condoms - we may end up getting our ears boxed by the "anti thread-hijack policeman"

ONE WORD DUCT TAPE it works as a stopper for your rifle barrel and in case of emergency it can be used a a condom too. But if you use it as a condom you have to expect extreme back pressure that will make your eye Bulge for a few day after uses

quote:

Originally posted by ddrhook:
ONE WORD DUCT TAPE it works as a stopper for your rifle barrel :

And you'll all be pleased to know we have plenty of duct tape in all sorts of sizes and colours over here in Africa so no need to waste your baggage allowance in bringing your own over with you.

Ya but Steve would love it if everyone would send him a nice big bundle of plastic zip tie(wire ties) you know they don't have those in Africa!!!!!!!

quote:

Originally posted by shakari:

quote:

Originally posted by ddrhook:
ONE WORD DUCT TAPE it works as a stopper for your rifle barrel :

And you'll all be pleased to know we have plenty of duct tape in all sorts of sizes and colours over here in Africa so no need to waste your baggage allowance in bringing your own over with you.

Coming from the proud owner of a Land Rover that's not surprising - sticks really well on aluminium

Nah, it's no good on Land Rovers...... because it won't stick to the oil that drips out everywhere!

Give me a Jeep every time:



The oil leaks are just as bad but at least they're more comfortable!

the oil leaks is why he need so many wire ties!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Marius,
Thank you for your kind offer. Will take you up on it if I run into trouble getting some.
Ed

quote:

Originally posted by ddrhook:
ONE WORD DUCT TAPE it works as a stopper for your rifle barrel and in case of emergency it can be used a a condom too. But if you use it as a condom you have to expect extreme back pressure that will make your eye Bulge for a few day after uses

Just could have Aubs458 checking for tick infestations.

Aubs458 could use Duct tape to get the ticks off!!!!!!! apply the tape to his nades then tear it off really fast it will take the ticks off really well He may walk funny for a day or two but what the heck