Hunting Forum

Good afternoon fellas. i hunt during the late season with my TC omega. often tiems it snows some and i have not found a good wait to keep it out of the barrel while hunting.

So my question is what do you guys do to keep the rain/snow out of the barrel to prevent rust from forming?

Thanks
Craig B

Can you say Condom?

Small balloon , handi wrap and a gum band , electrical tape all work well for that too . When the gun goes off the air being pushed down the barrel ahead of the projectile will simply blow it off before the bullet gets to the muzzle .

I too have fought mo nature to keep her tears out of my barrel. I do not make it a habit of carrying condoms when I am hunting but have managed to fight back moisture in the barrel with a variety of objects. First of all do not place anything inside the barrel, that would be disasterous. Some folks use finger cots from a pharmacy. I have used tape. A number of different tapes from electrical tape to even a bandaid seem to work. I have also used a candy bar wrapper a sandwich wrapper, a piece of aluminum foil and several times a glove stripped over the barrel. The glove would have to be removed prior to shooting though. If I am caught in a shower without any of those I head back to the truck carrying the barrel down. A really tough challenge is with a flintlock keeping the pan powder dry.

Hey PA Ridge Runner! Did you know all condoms are individually serial numbered? ..................................................No!.............................Never had to unroll one that far!!!!!! ROFLMAO


Bet they delete this one.

Five fingers in a surgical glove(10 on a pair) cut them off and carry them in your goody bag. They fit tight and my 50 cal. won't slow down when it hits that little condom.

A lot of good ideas that Davy Crockett and Daniel Boone never had. Welcome to "Primitive Weapons Hunting" ! I found on the open market, some ACTUAL gun barrel covers in a package of ten, with little rubber bands packed with them. Little black condoms. Cute as hell, too! Right up your alley, Gutpile!

I picked up a pack of those little black muzzle condoms about ten years ago, never have used them. I never seem to have them with me when I need them. I always try to keep my muzzle pointing down when I'm out in the damp weather and put a piece of electrical tape over the end of the muzzle. When carrying a sidelock, I'll also remove the percussion cap and place a lubed patch over the nipple and lower the hammer down over the patch.

I've been using camo duct tape for years. Never had a problem.

Ha!  I SCOFF at your moisture!  Yesterday I was at the battlefield standing without a poncho holding my cap-lock Lorenz in a steady to driving rain for over 2 solid hours.  Paper-rolled blank cartridges were safely tucked in my 2-flapped leather cartridge box on my belt and caps in my leather cap-pouch on the belt.  After 2 hrs., I put it to the test and loaded the blank 60 grs 3F charge, capped, and waited another 2-3 mins as the ranger finished his talk before the order "Ready-Aim-Fire!" was given.  BANG!  Loaded and fired again, and again, and again, 16 straight shots in all without misfire.  We used the incident to show how the Civil War era guns were the 1st truly 'all-weather' guns used in warfare.  The cannons also fired without misfire with their friction-primers.  I was the butt of jokes from the other guys wondering why I was doing it, but my answer was that once sokaed there was no reason to run for cover only to come back out and get soaked again - and I had decided to put the Secure-Arms position (see attachment) to the ultimate test.

I have learned to do this by using the "secure-arms" hold.  Simply put, the gun is flipped upside down and angled muzzle down & forward with the lock tightly pinched under an armpit.  The lock, being upside down and under the armpit is thus protected from water and any dop that happens to reach it through staturated clothing cannot get up into the upside-down cone/nipple.  With the muzzle angled down gravity alone protects it from getting water up the barrel.  I have used this hold numerous time while hunting and yet to experience a misfire due to moisture.  Now, I do place 1 stip of electrical tape across the muzzle when going out for added insurance because while stalking through wet brush I want to help keep any droplets from getting in, but it is not really necessary.  The old-timers knew these things that we today have just forgotten.  We are rather careless in how we handle our guns today relying on technology to save us from our own lack of care or knowledge.  In the days of the fur-traders and longhunters the man usually carried his gun in a woolen or oiled-canvas sleeve until ready to use.  You'd not have seen Dan'l Boone casually stomping through the snowy KY hills or soaked forest with his longrifle casually slung muzzle-up on a shoulder.  It was carried in its sleeve/case until he was ready to make the final stalk on a taraget and then was un-sleeved, readied and put to use. 

I went to Wal Mart and purchased some finger cots in the Pharmacy. Finger cots are a latex finger that you roll over a cut finger to keep dirt and infection out. Get the large size of them. They will go over the muzzle of your rifle, but be careful if you have a front sight. That can tear them. I have also used a baggie and rubber band. You can shoot right through all of that.

But as Shiloh pointed out.. if you keep the ignition part down and covered. And the muzzle low, they do still fire. I use a cow knee on my flintlock. My percussion I keep tucked under a jacket and the muzzle low. They still fire.

Cayugad I tried a cows knee once but the cow done broke my stock till I realized you have to remove it from the cow first.

Yep, late post but havent been on the web for awhile; besides everything that has already been said, all powders do not react the same to moisture, either rain or wet fog or just barrel sweat from changing temptures, I use the real black powder, have found it more reliable, hate those slow burns worse than a no fire.As for barell down carry, only way to carry under a ponacho, although up side down safari carry is not bad with long barrel rifles.

OK, I wish there was a 'like' button in here. I really like the idea from ternera1. Rubber gloves are around lot more lately. At ther rate we pay Doctors I wouldn't be embarassed to ask for a few pairs. There we go... Simple, Free, and it works. I like that kind of thinking.

You can pick up a box of cheap latex gloves at the local Walgreens or pharmacy for a few bucks. I always keep 2 pair in my hunting bag anyway to use while field-dressing game.