Taping the muzzle on a muzzle loader - foul weather

Balloons work well

Mind your muzzle.
Imho the snow showers won't effect your powder charge.
I used 'press n seal ' saran wrap over my lock in rainy weather years ago. It always worked. I just kept my muzzle from being rained directly into for prolonged amount of time.
Personally, I would be more anxious about putting something over my muzzle than a few stray raindrops or snowflakes finding their way to your powder charge past a tight fitting lubed projectile.

Finger cots.

I use the 'finger cots, but plastic wrap would work. Years ago a made a 'calfs knee' and sealed it with snow seal for my flint lock, works great on caplocks too. Tom

Tape is fine. Happy hunting!

I don't hunt with a muzzle loader, but tape the barrels on all of my hunting rifles and shotguns at the beginning of the season and remove them at the end, or after taking a shot. I keep spare tape on the barrel to replace the tape in the field if I do take a shot. A muzzle loader should be no different.

There are a lot of things that can fall down into the muzzle of a rifle or shotgun. I've even taken a fall a few times while hunting and while It's never happened to me there is the possibility of the gun going into the ground muzzle 1st.

I may never need it, but the way I see it there are no downsides to covering the muzzle. Tape is fine, but if you prefer to use anything else then use what makes you happy.

Electrical tape is the preferred method up here.

No one mentioned the back end of the gun. That would be called a "cow's knee". Kinda like a teepee or tipi, but without a pointed top that is tied to the trigger guard. Made like a leather cup, it protects, trigger, hammer, lock or frizzen from getting wet. And it works well for both black powder and conventional rifles. Some might say when does this ever happen to a modern shooter? Several years ago I was hunting in U.P of Michigan in snowy weather and got off a stand to stretch my legs. Leaned my 30.06 against a pine tree and walked around for a few minutes. Went to pick up my rifle and the muzzle was covered in ice. Water dripping off the tree froze again hitting the cold barrel. Took it in the cabin and found water had dripped several inches inside the barrel.

jmr40 said:

is the possibility of the gun going into the ground muzzle 1st.

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I saw one go that way when an atv flipped down hill and drove it into the ground. Had mud a good ways up the barrel. Not sure tape would have held in that case but I do keep black tape on my barrel. Killed many animals that way over the past 20 years.

Tape, balloons , plastic wrap all work fine. Air pressure blows it off long before the bullet gets there (relatively speaking).

I always taped my muzzles when hunting in Montana.

i use muzzleloader rain gear. The little plastic things are for waterproofing #11 caps:

alsaqr said:

i use muzzleloader rain gear. The little plastic things are for waterproofing #11 caps:

View attachment 972480

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Finger Cots for muzzle and pressing the shank of a 5/16" drill bit (.312") into a fired .32 ACP cartridge case expands case for a snug fit water resistant cap on standard percussion nipples. Lowering hammer holds case firmly in place. Never had any issues on either TC percussion Hawkens or Browning in snow or drizzle.

Regards,
hps

I don't do muzzle loaders, but in the Nam we used condoms during the monsoon season.

I have used electrical tape on my muzzleloaders for years. Slipped on some mud last year and ended up with dirt lodged in the choke of my shotgun while turkey hunting, will be taping up all long guns in the future.

I used prophylactics on the muzzle of my A1 in wet weather like bikerdoc. Never used one for a muzzleloader, any precipitation during M/L season here is snow, I usually keep the muzzle low enough to keep any from entering.

I got a large package of finger cots a few years ago on amazon. I just keep a few in my bag-o-stuff for BP hunting.

LD

Nice legs.

Finger cots,(gundoms) over the muzzle are a good idea for hunting in snow. A fall can quickly put a rifle out of service if the bore gets filed with snow,or mud. I use them on most black powder hunts,as clearing the bore is not as easy as with a bolt gun.

I finger cot mine, we get dumped on fairly regularly.

Alaskan Ironworker said:

Electrical tape is the preferred method up here.

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What my dad taught me to use.

Never taper any of my MZ. Hunted bad weather too. Killed deer in the wet n nasty late season. Usually got sick too. Not worth it.

I always start w a fresh loading. PITA w sidehammers, but i didnt get the dreaded " pop" and no "boom".

One opening day of gun yrs ago i heard the neighbor guy set off 3 caps.

Next day i heard his shotgun go off LMAO