"Waterproofing" Your Muzzleloader

[TheLBLman]

OK, I know this has been mentioned and discussed before, but are there any downsides to covering your bore with electrical tape to seal out moisture?

And what about if doubled, i.e. a criss-cross over the bore?

Any other ideas for "waterproofing" your muzzleloader?

 

[Brisco Darlin]

i've always used electrical tape over the muzzle. i've killed two deer in pouring rains and it went off fine. by the way it was a traditional sidelock .
i also cut small pieces of rubber tubing to slide down over the cap and nipple as an added precaution.

 

[FrontierGander]

Keeping the barrel pointed down in foul weather is my style.

 

[ImThere]

Balloon, thats what i use

 

[Backwudz]

Balloon, thats what i use

X2

 

[ratsnakeboogy]

Finger cot.

 

[RussellvilleRob]

Condoms over the muzzle of your M4 in the "Sandbox"....

 

[quigleysharps4570]

Keeping the barrel pointed down in foul weather is my style.

Yep...never saw any sense in sitting/carrying one pointed skyward in foul weather.
On the caplocks I'll put on a "Quick Seal" over the percussion cap and the flinter has a treated cover I'll put on it if the weather gets too bad.

 

[BuckHunter511]

Condom

 

[TheLBLman]

I've tried all the "tricks" before mentioned EXCEPT using electrical tape over the bore. My main concern is how it effects accuracy, say out at 100 to 150 yards when you shoot thru it. Just thought someone who has already done more extensive range testing might chime in.

By the way, by simply keeping your barrel pointed down, even on a non-raining but very humid day, you can get so much moisture sucked into your powder that your gun will not shoot. Some powders are worse than others when it comes to sucking up moisture from humid air (which is in your barrel if the bore isn't covered).

 

[WestTn Huntin man]

We always have a box of surgicial gloves around the house and I keep a few in my pack . Cut the thumb or a finger off a glove fits tight thin enough to not mess up a shot and very cheap.

 

[TheLBLman]

. . . . . thin enough to not mess up a shot and very cheap.

I agree, at closer ranges.
I've done this, used finger cots, condoms, you name it.
Have also found most above mentioned to be somewhat "fragile" and often tear or develop a break.

Electrical tape is a little thicker and tougher, and what I had been told was to place a piece over the bore, then wrap another piece around the barrel (covering both ends of the piece over the bore). This would be more durable, but to what extent does it effect accuracy?

 

[muddyboots]

I never had any issues with the encore not working in an weather.

 

[bigtex]

We always have a box of surgicial gloves around the house and I keep a few in my pack . Cut the thumb or a finger off a glove fits tight thin enough to not mess up a shot and very cheap.

Exactly what I do as well. I always have a couple of pair in my pack so they are always with me. Heck ya get five off one glove, lol.
I also use them on my centerfire rifles during rainy weather, water down the barrel "probably" wouldn't affect it but I don't like the idea of water in there.
BTW, to answer the original question, I have fired my M/L with and without a covering on the barrel and there was no difference in point of impact.

 

[quigleysharps4570]

By the way, by simply keeping your barrel pointed down, even on a non-raining but very humid day, you can get so much moisture sucked into your powder that your gun will not shoot. Some powders are worse than others when it comes to sucking up moisture from humid air (which is in your barrel if the bore isn't covered).

Not sure what you're shooting but that's never been my experience with the real blackpowder I use. I've been caught out in alot of rain and snow storms and never had any moisture get around a patched roundball to cause it not to fire. Also spent many, many hours squirrel hunting along our river bottoms during the summer with the high humidity we get and never had it happen.

 

[Brisco Darlin]

electrical tape never affected the accuracy when i shot mine.

 

[East TN Hunter]

. . . . . thin enough to not mess up a shot and very cheap.

I agree, at closer ranges.
I've done this, used finger cots, condoms, you name it.
Have also found most above mentioned to be somewhat "fragile" and often tear or develop a break.

Electrical tape is a little thicker and tougher, and what I had been told was to place a piece over the bore, then wrap another piece around the barrel (covering both ends of the piece over the bore). This would be more durable, but to what extent does it effect accuracy?

I have used electric tape for years on muzzleloaders and rifles. It does not impact POI. I tested it at the range.

 

[Wobblyshot1]

I'll keep my muzzle lowered and protect the lock area by covering with a layer of my hunting garment.

I still use real black powder. Black powder is far less hydroscopic than some of the substitutes. I've never really had a problem with just high humidity in the air but have seen others using pellets unable to get their gun to fire under the same conditions. The pellets actually seemed to act as sponges and sop up any moisture at all in the air.

 

[dogmatik]

Unlubricated condoms is that I used. Just don't expect to find them at every corner store.

 

[KPH]

I don't use anything and never had any trouble. I find it hard to belive that mosture can get around the bullet or past the primer.

 

[Brisco Darlin]

I don't use anything and never had any trouble. I find it hard to belive that mosture can get around the bullet or past the primer.

on a flintlock or caplock it can.

 

[KPH]

I don't use anything and never had any trouble. I find it hard to belive that mosture can get around the bullet or past the primer.

on a flintlock or caplock it can.

A fleintlock or acaplock is a different story.

 

[Tennessee Todd]

Get you a Knight and use the red plastic jacket system and you could hunt in a swimming pool and it will still go off. Trust me, I've put it to the test.

 

[FrontierGander]

the jacket only seals the primer.

Put a projectile in your bore and with the breech plug removed, look down the barrel " breech plug end" and you'll find out even a saboted load does not seal the bore and allows moisture to get directly to the powder.

 

[HMHunters75]

Condom or finger from rubber glove.

 

[Big J]

I shoot a disc extreme! No worries in the rain!

 

[fishboy1]

I have used electrical tape, duct tape, balloon, packing tape, mailing label(not recommended)

Doesn't change POI. The gasses in front of the bullet blow through the tape before the bullet ever hits it.

Now I wouldnt wrap 10 layers of tape over the barrel or anything stupid like that. Just the one layer across the opening and one piece around the barrel to hold the ends tight.

 

[tellico4x4]

. . . . . thin enough to not mess up a shot and very cheap.

I agree, at closer ranges.
I've done this, used finger cots, condoms, you name it.
Have also found most above mentioned to be somewhat "fragile" and often tear or develop a break.

Electrical tape is a little thicker and tougher, and what I had been told was to place a piece over the bore, then wrap another piece around the barrel (covering both ends of the piece over the bore). This would be more durable, but to what extent does it effect accuracy?

Two pieces of electrical tape criss-crossed is what I have used for 30+ yrs. Started using it way back when with a "Hawkens" on CO ML hunts and still use it on my Pro-Hunter. Kept a load in Iowa last year for a week with rain, sleet & snow and shot fine when the time came. Have tested at range with no detrimental impacts observed.

 

[scn]

Wes,

I use the electrical tape and can't tell any difference. I've been told that even with a tight sabot/bullet seal that there is enough gas ahead of the sabot and bullet that it ruptures the tape well before the bullet gets to it.

The electrical tape is SOP for me.

 

[TheLBLman]

Thanks for all the replies.
Over the years I've tried most, with exception to the electrical tape, and/or shooting thru anything beyond 50 yards. What's helped most for me is simply going to an inline muzzleloader using shotgun primers, as this system is significantly better in rainy weather than the side-locks.

I've done a lot of muzzleloading hunting in "inclement" weather and have yet to find anything that's 100% going to work. I remember one day sitting on stand in a pouring rain, and knowing it was going to be pouring, had very carefully used duct tape to totally seal the bore (criss crossed some strips over the bore, then wrapped some around the barrel). But with my barrel pointed downward, moisture was still able to "run" under the tape, and when the gun was raise, it ran down the inside of the barrel.

I've also used condoms in the rain, then noticed water had "slipped" under them. With some guns, it's hard to get a good seal because of the ramrod and front sight, not to mention fragility. Anytime you're caught in the rain, it would typically seem to make the most sense to keep your muzzle pointed downward, but just keep in mind should water run beneath your tape, it can run right into your chamber when you raise your gun.

Using the electrical tape seems to be the best thing going.

Thanks again.