Rain down the barrel?

[bpd303]

make a wooden tampon

Or use the real thing. I have a tampion for my 1864 Springfield.

 

[Wirehair]

Have you ever shot with the tampion still in the muzzle and, if so, what was the affect on accuracy?

 

[Rebel bull]

Have you ever shot with the tampion still in the muzzle and, if so, what was the affect on accuracy?

about the same as forgetting the ramrod in the barrel??????

 

[Des52]

Deer Creek products has the muzzle covers and the rings to water proof the caps.

 

[LT Joe]

Have you ever shot with the tampion still in the muzzle and, if so, what was the affect on accuracy?

Unfortunately you need to remove the tampion before firing!

 

[Wirehair]

Joe, easier said than done when a 10 ptr. walks out. One advantage of electrical tape is you don't have to think about it.

 

[Horizontal Hunter]

Tape over the muzzle keeps out weather and mud. The air pushed out ahead of the ball or bullet blows the tape away. Some people use balloons or other devices for a cover.

Same here. I use electrical tape. I also use it on my unmentionables as well.

Bob

 

[saculmot]

Have you ever shot with the tampion still in the muzzle and, if so, what was the affect on accuracy?

Some claim the gun develops an attitude, but it can be resolved using midol as a buffer.

 

[Brokennock]

I haven't used it in falt out rain, just a light mist and some light snow, but I made a wool cover that extends from around the muzzle to over the lock and it works well. It is only sewn around the muzzle end and back 4 or 6 inches, maybe 8. It falls away quietly and easily if a shot presents itself...

Sorry, these are the best pics I have.
Just made with a scrap of wool I had leftover from a other project. Figured it would be a good use for the hunter orange wool that I wish I could get more of.

 

[Daveboone]

The period correct solution is to make a wooden tampon to stick down the barrel. I've made them for all of my rifles/muskets. That and a cow's knee will keep everything dry.

Tampion.

 

[Grenadier1758]

You need a loose fitting tampion or the tampion becomes an obstruction at the muzzle and may cause the barrel to burst at the muzzle.

 

[BlackRock52]

There are gizmos called, “finger cots” that basically look like a small rubber condom, but are for protecting fingers (injured or not) during certain tasks. They’d work well for keeping water out.

I found some at Walmart, but they’re usually found in the first aid section where you’d find elastic bandages in any store that sells that sort of thing.

Link to black finger cots
https://www.amazon.com/Disposable-F...d=3762751&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9tdGY&th=1

$6.99 for 230 at Amazon
Way cheaper than Strike Industry's Muzzle Condom at $1.95 each

Use tape -- cheap and effective

Don't overthink it

 

[Ohio Rusty]

A tompion or a condom will stop.that rain down the barrel issue.

 

[Eterry]

I've used electrical tape, 2 pieces, and candle wax on the cap. Be sure and scrape the wax off the top of the cap

 

[Crow Choker]

Alot of guys I know who served in Vietnam advised they used a condom. While I've never used them, I have used a dark colored balloon that is easy to take off when ya need to shoot, have used a small snack size sandwich bag, a double thickness of handi-wrap with a rubber band around it, even have used a spare glove over the muzzle. All kinds of possibilities unmentioned. These all work fine for stand sitting, when walking where a fast shot may need to be taken you may have time to take off or take off and keep yer muzzle not skyward.

 

[FishDFly]

Before the had modern stuff, I imagine the old timers just pointed the barrel down.

 

[Crow Choker]

Before the had modern stuff, I imagine the old timers just pointed the barrel down.

Ya thought of adding that also to my post above yours, seems the logical thing to do if nothing is available to cover. Have done that in the past doing all kinds of hunting.

 

[Banjoman]

Whenever hunting with or shooting a traditional muzzleloader, I try to consider how it would have been done in the 18th or 19th centuries. A few drops of rain in the barrel probably ain’t gonna hurt much if using a patched round ball. The lubed patch should create an adequate seal. Seems like the easiest and most logical solution is to keep the barrel pointed slightly downward and if it starts pouring rain, go to the house. Not trying to be a smart aleck, just trying to keep it simple.

 

[Brokennock]

The muzzle down thing works for sure,,,, to a degree. But the practice of it leaves me wondering how much hunting some guys do. Practically, keeping one's muzzle down the entire time one is seeking a shot in the woods, just isn't feasible. Unless one wants to lay their gun down on the wet ground entirely when answering a call of nature or doing a map check, or assorted other things one might set their gun down for.
I also do agree with the above posts that a bit of water in a well greased bore loaded with a well sealed ball won't matter much.
But I will add, in the favor of keeping that muzzle down if the entire gun isn't covered, in the case of a flintlock muzzle down will help keep water out of the pan.

 

[Crow Choker]

Agree a tiny bit of water/snow down a barrel that has a bit of oil for protection most likely will not hurt much but I don't care to allow any if possible. Hunting in rain/snow having the barrel angled from a vertical position isn't always possible. I've always when leaning a rifle or shotgun no matter the type against a tree or whatever if I don't have some sort of protection over it always take my hat or a glove and place it over the barrel to keep any debris besides rain/snow from getting into it. Never know when a bit of bark, bug, or whatever could fall/crawl into it. I don't mind hunting in a snowfall, but avoid rain if possible, slight mist ok, but gave up rain hunting a long time ago. Same attitude when bow hunting.