Tape over the muzzle?

[NYDAN]

Has anyone here actually done a test to see if tape over the muzzle to keep snow out of the barrel affects accuracy? If so, what were your results.

If not, has anyone seen other people's results that you trust?

Seeing how little things (such as 0.2 gr. of powder, or 0.010" of seating depth, or neck tension) can affect accuracy, I often wonder how tape over the muzzle cannot affect accuracy - particularly if taking a long shot at 400 yards or more.

 

[hunter24605]

I’ve never given it much thought because a long shot for me is 250 yards. I always thought water or other debris in the tube would affect accuracy/ dependability more than a piece of tape. But according to outdoor life field test:

Group Center Shift Taped vs Un-Taped​

• Savage .17 Hornet: 0.193 inches
• Remington .30/06: 0.184 inches
• Browning 6.8 Western: 0.170 inches
• Winchester 6.5 Creedmoor: 0.546 inches
• Average Group Center Shift: 0.273 inches

Variables and Observations​

Group sizes and group center locations didn’t indicate any trends or notable changes across the rifles and the only real outlier in the group was the Winchester XPR in 6.5 Creedmoor with which I shot uncharacteristically poor groups. It’s outfitted with a 7X magnification scope making it a little more challenging to shoot for precise accuracy testing. A couple of outlying shots certainly affected the group centers, but the shift between the two groups is still within a reasonable margin of human error, considering it’s typically a one-inch gun, and the group centers varied by just over half an inch.

Some shooters will be concerned about taping over a large muzzle brake, like the Recoil Hawg, but in my test it appeared to have no perceptible effect on the brake or rifle’s performance. All the tape was completely blown off the brake with each shot.

Even with one outlier, the average difference between the centers of only 2 groups was slightly over a quarter inch at 0.273 inches. For perspective, if you dropped two .30-caliber bullets onto spots with their points .273 inches apart, the holes would be overlapping. That’s well within the pattern of how groups from those rifles will fall. So tape your rifle muzzles to keep debris out, and go to the field knowing that shooting through the tape is one factor you don’t need to worry about.

 

[Charlie-NY]

The exiting bullet does not push the tape off, the air in front of the bullet does.

 

[TackDriver284]

It should not shift accuracy, I haven't had any issues. If I go hunting in very humid, dusty or rainy conditions, I use the latex finger cots that you can buy off Amazon, just pop that over the end of the barrel, ( cough cough ) like a rubber.

 

[wvbuckbuster]

Never tested on centerfire but saw done on muzzle loader and it didn't change anything. Dan.

 

[IdahoCTD]

I hunt with tape over my muzzle brakes all the time. My son and I both shot our elk this year that way. I've never seen it effect anything if it's just one level of tape. So I just run one up and over piece and then wrap it one time around the barrel so it doesn't unravel.

 

[hunter24605]

My buddy uses tiny party balloons, as a joke we’ve often considered sneaking some glitter in his ballon.

 

[salmonchaser]

Been doing it for about 100 years, at least 50 for sure. Always have a roll of tape handy at camp and enough of a partial roll in my day pack to re-tape.
No available data but my logbooks I kept for my duty rifles would reveal no change in cold barrel POI. There is certainly nothing to worry about from a hunting rifle perspective.
I was in the habit of removing the tape at night when I brought my rifle into the tent to avoid condensation forming in the bore. No idea if it would,

 

[Teknys]

Ben putting tape on muzzleloader almost 40 years. Used RED electrical tape on my son’s first rifles when he started carrying to help visualize where his muzzle is pointed. Part of the safety training. Never ran test but the occasional shot at a target with no apparent shift.

 

[bdbrown66]

Yeah, I always keep some kids' water balloons in my possibles bag. If the weather turns foul, slide one over the muzzle. The deer have never noticed the difference, lol.

 

[Wolfshead]

My first year rifle hunting the muzzle on my rifle got packed with snow, and basically ended my hunt that day as I had no way to get it out until I warmed up the rifle.
Since then I always put electrical tape on the muzzle.
The pressure from the bullet igniting blows the tape open before the bullet gets there not effecting accuracy.
I thought I remembered someone doing a test on it, but can’t seem to be able to find it….

 

[diverdown]

My first year rifle hunting the muzzle on my rifle got packed with snow, and basically ended my hunt that day as I had no way to get it out until I warmed up the rifle.
Since then I always put electrical tape on the muzzle.
The pressure from the bullet igniting blows the tape open before the bullet gets there not effecting accuracy.
I thought I remembered someone doing a test on it, but can’t seem to be able to find it….

A number of years ago I believe Sierra did an extensive test on this issue. They came away with positive results in that nothing accuracy wise changed with tape on the muzzle.

 

[clearwater]

Once slipped and filled my barrel with snow. Had to use some nearby timothy hay with the awn attached as a pull thru to clear the barrel.

Somewhere I have a photo of my Grandad's from a customer needing a barrel replacement. He shot a weatherby with mud in the barrel. The barrel looks like the peels of a banana, like a cartoon.

I like hunter orange tape so I don't have to wear a vest.

 

[NYDAN]

Guys, thank you for your feedback. I appreciate it.
Dan

 

[Charlie-NY]

My buddy uses tiny party balloons, as a joke we’ve often considered sneaking some glitter in his ballon.

Now that's a great idea !!

 

[Darkhorse]

Not a scientific test, BUT before my last elk hunt I had my .300 wm shooting 1/2" groups at 100 yards. It started snowing the night before opening day. So the next morning the outfitter taped my muzzle with electrical tape, said it wouldn't affect accuracy at all. It was still snowing when we got to camp for lunch. I was still unsure so me and my guide went to the bench to check my rifle. I only fired 2 shots and were both in the same oblong hole and printed just where they were supposed too. So we retaped the muzzle and went hunting.
On the 3rd day I got a 400 yard shot at a nice 5X5 bull, distance was lasered by the guide previously. One shot through both shoulders put the bull down on the spot where he kicked twice.
So as far as I'm concerned taping the muzzle has little to no effect on accuracy.