Muzzle Mitts, Tape on Muzzles, etc

[roundball]

I've always been a believer in some sort of muzzle cover whether electrical tape over the muzzle of my .30-06, or 'muzzle mitts/finger cots' over the muzzles of my sidelocks.

From time to time the subject comes up about covering muzzles to keep out accidental dirt, mud, rain, etc, and the possible effects that things like muzzle mitts, finger cots, or tape might have on accuracy.

The March'08 issue of the NRA American Hunter Magazine has an article showing detailed test results, proving that muzzle covers has no negative affect on accuracy...that the compressed air ahead of the projectile bursts the cover away before the projectile reaches it.

 

[Johnny Tremain]

Condoms work well here in the rainly Pac Northwest.

Nuttin better than safe hunting

 

[SimonKenton]

Don't they obscure the front sight too much?

-Ray

 

[tg]

I have been able to get by quite well by holding the gun barrel somewhat downward as yet I have not had water go down the bore while hunting for quite a few years in pretty foul weather, a cows knee or caped, large sleeved coat/shirt takes care of the other end, I have used rubber tubing on caplock nipples but gave up after deciding it was not needed, if one has any reservations at all about getting anything down the bore while hunting a cover would be a good idea, it will help hunt with confidence in ones gear.

 

[roundball]

I have been able to get by quite well by holding the gun barrel somewhat downward as yet I have not had water go down the bore while hunting for quite a few years in pretty foul weather, a cows knee or caped, large sleeved coat/shirt takes care of the other end, I have used rubber tubing on caplock nipples but gave up after deciding it was not needed, if one has any reservations at all about getting anything down the bore while hunting a cover would be a good idea, it will help hunt with confidence in ones gear.

It's definitely an individual choice...and my point wasn't to advocate the use of them, just the sometimes discussed issue of possible effects on accuracy, and the NRA-AH magazine article on that point which seemed fairly well done...should alleviate any concerns for anyone who uses them

 

[BrownBear]

Yeah, we did similar tests 30+ years ago on the north coast, then again here in Alaska. No big whoop accuracy-wise. Sure a good safety precaution in tough country, even without the rain. Seems like the bigger the bore, the more crap can get down it going through dense brush for hours on end no matter how good you think you are at keeping the muzzle pointed down. Also, with the muzzle pointed down, where's the snow going to go the first time you slip or stumble, much less the 15th time on a busy day?

Individual choices, but I've made mine. If for some reason I couldn't use tape, mitts or condoms, I'd be fashioning a leather "cap" and damn the PC torpedos.

 

[BrownBear]

BTW-

I got enthused about muzzle protection about 30 years ago when hunting snowshoe hare in the snow with my kids. We were pretty close together the whole time, but when I was casing the guns at the end of the day I cut my hand on my daughter's 20 gauge.

What the heck????????

Pulled it back out of the case and the front 3" of the barrel were missing, and I'd sliced my hand on a jagged edge.

Unbeknownst to any of us, something got down the bore.

And thanks to whichever deity you pray to, no one was hit with a piece when it let go.

 

[Little Wattsy]

Just read that article...Made me feel good about what Ive been doing for years. I like a "penny baloon". Cheap for a bag of 50 or so and several dead deer over the years to boot!

 

[roundball]

Just read that article...Made me feel good about what Ive been doing for years. I like a "penny baloon". Cheap for a bag of 50 or so and several dead deer over the years to boot!

When I got into muzzleloaders I realized that a normal size piece of electrical tape didn't quite cover the large bores so I tried a pack of "muzzle mitts" but they were ridiculously expensive at about .40 cents each.

Then switched to drug store finger cots as they were the same thing but a lot less expensive, however a box of them had 1/3 small, 1/3 medium, and 1/3 large and could only use the large ones.

Then I found a place on line that sold a whole box of 500 large size finger cots for just a few bucks...been working off that box for a few years now

 

[BrownBear]

We've resorted to the blue "masking tape" these days, cuzz it comes in all sorts of widths. Only reason we use the blue stuff is the local harware stores stopped carrying the older white version. Bonus points though, because the blue sticks better.

 

[Bountyhunter]

And if yas runs into a "slow elk", then just like a boy scout, yer prepared!!

 

[JCW]

I use tape. Have been doing this for years including my center fire rifles. I prefer to carry rifle muzzle up when busting through the coastal brush.

 

[renovato]

I've used finger cots on my guns for years. They were free and they fit my guns perfectly so I just fell into the habit of using them.

 

[Little Wattsy]

So Im sure Ill sound like a Retard but...
What exactly are finger cots? :redface:

 

[roundball]

So Im sure Ill sound like a Retard but...
What exactly are finger cots? :redface:

They're like a mini-condom usually latex, made to be a tight fitting cover over a finger with a cut and/or bandaide on it...2"-3" long...slide it onto the front half of a finger, etc

Here's just one example...
http://www.all-spec.com/start/fingercots.html?s=GAWA&kw=finger+cot&gclid=CNHbpaXa25ECFT6NOAodankMfw

 

[BrownBear]

When I was lots younger, okay a whole lot younger, a bud was a pharmacist. When I stopped in to buy a 3-pack of condoms for the planned evening entertainment, he gave me a couple of boxes he said he'd received as samples. I should have smelled a skunk, but like I said, I was young.

Came the critical moment about 3AM and I opened the boxes, and he'd put three finger cots in each box.

When I came back in the drug store the next day he saw the look on my face, and headed out the back door. Far as I can tell, he ran close to three miles before he slowed enough to see if I was still chasing him. :surrender:

 

[bucktales]

So Im sure Ill sound like a Retard but...
What exactly are finger cots? :redface:

They're like a mini-condom usually latex, made to be a tight fitting cover over a finger with a cut and/or bandaide on it...2"-3" long...slide it onto the front half of a finger, etc

Here's just one example...
http://www.all-spec.com/start/fing...+cot&gclid=CNHbpaXa25ECFT6NOAodankMfw[/quote]

I manage to bum a bag or two from my dental hygenist.

 

[Little Wattsy]

thank you.

 

[Rat Trapper]

I've been covering my muzzles for over 20 years.
No idea of how many animals have been shot throught the tape, but it must be pushing 100 plus. The muzzle mitts are good, and when using them I try to remember to remove them before the shot. When I was stationed in Germany I notice the Germans had some real nice leather muzzle covers. Also noticed most of them had bullet holes in them! Found tape was cheaper.

 

[Dan Leroy]

I Have Used The Baloon Trick Many Times
Seems To Work Well
----------------
Dan-L