Masking tape or condom secured with a rubber band over barrel

[x_wrench]

i use this "trick" all the time. in fact, Birchwood-Casey makes a "gun condem" just for that reason. those work fine on smaller bore guns, but in the cold, with big bores, they often rip apart leaving the barrel wide open. i typicly use electrical tape. but i think any light tape would work just as well. i do not think i would try duct tape, there might be enough resistance with that to seriously mess things up. my experience with electrical tape has been favorable. no blown up guns, and accuracy has not suffered any appreciable amount over the distances i shoot. if you shoot long range, i would definitly check the accuracy befoe i went hunting. it would be awefull to have a trophy buck all lined up, and miss, or worse, gut shoot him because of the tape at 400 yards. i would think a baggie taped or rubber banded would work just as well also. all you are trying to do is keep debris out of the barrel.

 

[mbruce]

not my expertise but plumber's tape seems ideal if water and other tape's adhesion are not playing well together...

 

[cooch]

Electrical tape. Colour doesn't matter much. Very, very common amongst wet-waether hunters here.

 

[jmr40]

My hunting rifles have the muzzles covered by black electrical tape with spare tape wrapped around the barrel. It goes on at the start of hunting season and is removed at the end.

Good for keeping anything out should you drop the rifle or get caught in rain or snow.

 

[H&Hhunter]

I forgot to place a condom on my .375 H&H two years ago. That rifles was in the same rack as my .30-06. That next spring my .30-06 gave birth to a .330 Dakota!!

Always cover those muzzles guys!

 

[WardenWolf]

If a troopie got dunked, his rifle would fill anyway. Suspect it's more Hollywood.

If there's a cartridge in the chamber (as there was, of course), it would, for the most part, prevent water from getting into the barrel from behind. It'd at least prevent a barrel split.

 

[Gadzooks Mike]

kid's balloon

Sunray got it. Balloons work great.

 

[dhfenno]

If you use a condom be sure and get the receptacle tip.
I hear the lubed ones actually give your bullets a few more FPS.

 

[PandaBearBG]

+1 electrical tape

 

[Alec]

Would plumber's putty work as well? Any danger in silicone-based vs oil-based?

 

[Strykervet]

Condoms on muzzles is supposedly a W.W. II amphib landing thing. Why is another thing. If a troopie got dunked, his rifle would fill anyway. Suspect it's more Hollywood.
The adhesive on masking tape and cheap duct tape is water soluble. A rubber band and a kid's balloon(usually latex too) works. Shooting through either won't send latex frag anywhere though.

The idea was to put the condom on first. Then lube the round with saliva and hand insert that first round. Then water was not supposed to fill the barrel.

Similar idea for the M4 today, although the current problem is dust. The only way to deal with that was to wrap the action with a bandanna and use a barrel plug (it's actually a cap).

 

[jbkebert]

I would not have plumbers putty anywhere near my guns. I don't use that crap for plumbing. If plumbers putty can weaken granite and onyx I sure don't want it around.

 

[geologist]

Electric tape with a couple of extra wraps so I can re-tape it after I shoot.

 

[Art Eatman]

Ehhh...getting to be nothing more than a bunch of repeats...