How to Temporarily Cover Glare From a Gun Barrel, Suggestions?

[Sabre]

I have a rifle I would like to use for a specific hunting situation. It has an incredibly reflective barrel. The spot I would be hunting is relatively thick, so shots and game are often very close, but the spot I would be sitting in has a good amount of direct sunlight in the afternoon. It creates an almost blinding reflection. I have had instances where game has come in and been spooked off by the reflection.

Because of this, for the last couple years, I have switched to another gun. But I would really like to use the one with the reflective barrel for sentimental reasons. I know I could cerakote it, but other than this one specific instance I am fine with the looks and functionality in other circumstances and don't want to permanently change it.

I am looking for suggestions for temporary solutions. The most obvious thought is a camo gun wrap/tape. I haven't used this before as I have generally just cerakoted or painted guns I wanted to change. I am slightly concerned it could mess with barrel harmonics and/or accuracy.

I am not interested in unhelpful suggestions of "use a different gun", "sit in a different spot", "paint the gun". So fight the urge to post the unhelpful snide comment that doesn't offer a solution to the real problem.

Thanks in advance!

 

[KMG Hunting Safaris]

Tape should not interfere with the harmonics at all. Once you have taped up the barrel, do you have anything preventing you from checking it at the range again after the work has been done?

 

[NoStepOnSnek]

I have a rifle I would like to use for a specific hunting situation. It has an incredibly reflective barrel. The spot I would be hunting is relatively thick, so shots and game are often very close, but the spot I would be sitting in has a good amount of direct sunlight in the afternoon. It creates an almost blinding reflection. I have had instances where game has come in and been spooked off by the reflection.

Because of this, for the last couple years, I have switched to another gun. But I would really like to use the one with the reflective barrel for sentimental reasons. I know I could cerakote it, but other than this one specific instance I am fine with the looks and functionality in other circumstances and don't want to permanently change it.

I am looking for suggestions for temporary solutions. The most obvious thought is a camo gun wrap/tape. I haven't used this before as I have generally just cerakoted or painted guns I wanted to change. I am slightly concerned it could mess with barrel harmonics and/or accuracy.

I am not interested in unhelpful suggestions of "use a different gun", "sit in a different spot", "paint the gun". So fight the urge to post the unhelpful snide comment that doesn't offer a solution to the real problem.

Thanks in advance!

Easiest ways would be tape, a burlap wrap, or applying a lair of soot over the barrel

 

[Sabre]

Tape should not interfere with the harmonics at all. Once you have taped up the barrel, do you have anything preventing you from checking it at the range again after the work has been done?

Thank you for the reply. There is nothing preventing me from checking it at the range afterwards, and I certainly would.

The main reason I haven't used the tape yet is because the barrel is free floating from the stock, but there isn't a ton of room between barrel and forend.

What I might do is cut the tape strip in half and only cover the top of the barrel where it meets the forend, and cover the front area completely.

 

[Ridge Runner]

I have used the camo tape you mentioned. It didn't alter the barrel harmonic nor accuracy of my Remington 700 7mm Rem Mag.

Looks like @KMG Hunting Safaris was quicker posting.

Another suggestion is (old school) to wrap burlap or a [gun] sock to cover the barrel. I don't know if the gun/barrel sock is produced any more. But you can make your own by cutting a small hole slightly smaller than the barrel muzzle in a currently advertised silicone gun sock to force the muzzle through, trim the excess material away. Leave enough material for a tail to secure the sock to the forward scope ring; Or cut the sock material out and away at the action and trigger, tighten the draw string at the end of the stock forward of the butt pad.

 

[Sabre]

Easiest ways would be tape, a burlap wrap, or applying a lair of soot over the barrel

Soot is an interesting suggestion. When I was trying to find unique solutions online before posting I had seen one person mention matte wax. I don't have experience with whatever that is, but I imagine wax would be harder to remove than a bit of soot.

 

[Sabre]

I have used the camo tape you mentioned. It didn't alter the barrel harmonic nor accuracy of my Remington 700 7mm Rem Mag.

Looks like @KMG Hunting Safaris was quicker posting.

Another suggestion is (old school) to wrap burlap or a [gun] sock to cover the barrel. I don't know if the gun/barrel sock is produced any more. But you can make your own by cutting a small hole slightly smaller than the barrel muzzle in a currently advertised silicone gun sock to force the muzzle through, trim the excess material away. Leave enough material for a tail to secure the sock to the forward scope ring; Or cut the sock material out and away at the action and trigger, tighten the draw string at the end of the stock forward of the butt pad.

I was just looking up your barrel sock suggestion and I found something called a Boca Shield. It looks like an interesting idea. It is made of neoprene, so I think it might be a bit thick for my use to fit between the barrel and forend on this specific gun. But I really like the idea of something I can slip on and slide over the whole barrel and remove easily.

 

[whisk(e)y hunter]

Possibly try wrapping cloth (like strips from an old dull, dark shirt) around the barrel, then tape over it to hold it in place, and re-zero your scope to address any poi shifts

 

[R eight]

Stove black.

 

[R eight]

or sight black

 

[Hogpatrol]

If it intends to be permanent, cerakote, bead blast, or hydro dip.

 

[Luvthunt]

Use a can of dull spray paint. Flat black would do it.

 

[Tbitty]

You could likely have a custom slip-on cover made. Think of a compression sleeve like you see a lot of athletes wearing, but sewn specifically to the right size that would slip over your barrel/forend, and tapered much smaller to fit the barrel only, or have 2 separate pieces (1 for barrel/forend, 1 for barrell only). Do it with a camo or dull colored fabric of choice.

 

[KEC]

Paste wax was my thought as well, plus you get moisture protection.

 

[Wyatt Smith]

What about pantyhose or some other fine mesh fabric.
My other thought is it smoke it with a candle.

 

[tward1604]

Can you set up a ground blind or do you need the full 360 visibility? If you're worried about affecting the free float just run a piece of tape lengthwise on the barrel section over the forend if you can.

 

[mark-hunter]

Dark duracoat, or ceracoat. Simple

 

[375er]

Coban, the stretchy bandage material comes in many colors and works well for most of the barrel. From the stock rearward you would need something else. What about the many camouflage make-up colors available and just smear it on the barrel? Easy to wipe off afterwards.

 

[Art Lambart II]

Camo goon tape,it works great.

 

[ChooChoo404]

Gaffer tape