How to keep debris out of your rifle barrel and why
Transcript
Covering Your Barrel: Why It Matters & How to Do It Right
Hi folks, welcome back to our African office. Today’s video is about getting debris in your barrel—the problems it can cause, not just with accuracy, but also with pressure and safety.
We keep getting questions about the tape on my barrel. The truth is, that tape has been there forever—I’m just too lazy to take it off. But I’ll show you the proper way to tape a barrel and why it matters.
Why You Should Cover Your Barrel
When hunting, especially in places like Alaska or Africa, your rifle is constantly exposed to pine boughs, dust, rain, and dirt—especially if it’s slung over your shoulder. If debris gets in your barrel, a few things can happen when you pull the trigger:
Your point of impact shifts, potentially causing a miss or a wounded animal.
Pressure spikes, which can be dangerous and even cause your bolt to stick shut.
In a dangerous game situation, like with a grizzly, losing the ability to fire a follow-up shot could be life-threatening.
The whole point of covering your muzzle is to stay safe and maintain accuracy.
Choosing the Right Tape
Not all tape works for covering your muzzle. You need brittle tape that disintegrates instantly when the rifle is fired. Here’s what works and what doesn’t:
✅ Use: Cheap, brittle masking tape (like African masking tape).
❌ Avoid: Electrical tape, Scotch tape, condoms (yes, people actually use them).
Why? When you fire, the air in front of the bullet blasts through brittle tape instantly, ensuring the bullet doesn’t hit tape debris. If your bullet hits tape particles, it’s the same as having an obstruction in the bore—it throws off accuracy.
Why I Stopped Using Tape in Africa
Back in the States, I used to tape my barrel all the time. But in Africa, I’m not just firing once every two weeks—I’m shooting multiple times a day. Taping and re-taping constantly was too much hassle, so I gave up on it.
However, if I get caught in a rainstorm, I still check and dry my barrel afterward by running a patch and rod down it.
How to Tape a Barrel Properly
Cover the muzzle with a single layer of brittle masking tape.
Wrap extra tape around the barrel for re-covering after a shot.
If you fire through the tape, the brittle tape will disintegrate instantly—no accuracy issues.
I’ve tested this repeatedly at the range. Flexible tape (like electrical tape) stretches instead of breaking—so the bullet can hit tape debris, messing up your shot.
Warning: Do NOT Use Tape with Muzzle Brakes
If you have a screw-on muzzle brake, Magnaport, or any kind of ported barrel, taping the muzzle won’t work.
I hunted with an Alaskan bear guide who had electrical tape over his screw-on muzzle brake. When I asked if he had tested it, he confidently said it didn’t affect accuracy. But guides aren’t ballistic experts—they just buy ammo and go hunting.
So I tested it myself. Taping a muzzle brake ruined accuracy—taking rifles that shot 1.5-inch groups at 150 yards and turning them into 6- to 8-inch groups. That’s because the air pressure escapes through the side ports, but the tape over the muzzle stays intact, causing the bullet to hit tape debris.
If you have a muzzle brake, don’t tape it—just keep your barrel clear manually.
Final Thoughts
I’ve tested all of this over the years because our gear has to work—no exceptions. Hopefully, this answers the questions about the tape on my barrel.
And yeah, the old tape that’s still on there? It’s been there forever, hardened like concrete. I just don’t care enough to take it off. These are using guns, not safe queens.
God bless, and we’ll see you in the next video!
