Camo-tape for turkey guns

Horntord · February 19, 2010, 09:39 PM

Has anyone used the camo color tape that you can wrap around the shotgun barrel and its stock for turkey hunting. What I’m concerned about is what it does to the gun if I decide to remove the tape.

bswiv · February 19, 2010, 09:50 PM

Depends on what kind of finish is on the gun. Used it on the wifes Model 500 20ga with a Parkerised finish. Put a good coat of oil on first and then the tape.

Admittedly the tape did not stick prfectly but when the time for it to come off came there was no residue. Might not work so well with a blue finish though.

lockedcj7 · February 19, 2010, 10:07 PM

The cloth tape will trap moisture against the metal if left for any length of time and cause surface rust. Ask me how I know

I have liberally oiled the gun first and the tape didn't stick worth a darn as bswiv suggested.

My new technique is to cut an old pair of BDUs into strips about an inch wide and 8-10" long. I liberally oil the barrel and then thread a strip between the barrel and vent rib (works on any pump or auto that has a vented rib). I tie an overhand knot below the barrel an let the remaining part of the strip hang. It does a great job of breaking up the outline of the barrel and giving it some dimension. I don't worry about the reciever or stocks because my hands, face and body are going to be covering or obscuring those parts anyway. Just play with the length of the strips and cut them if necessary. You don't want the ends to be able to flop up on top of the rib and screw up your sight picture in the event that you have to move quickly.

zippy13 · February 19, 2010, 10:49 PM

Camo finishes do little to alter a gun's profile. Instead of tape, have you considered something more like the ghillie gun approach employed by snipers -- tie on items from your shooting environment. As lockedcj7 advocated, break up the gun's profile and add some dimension.

bswiv · February 20, 2010, 05:30 AM

""My new technique is to cut an old pair of BDUs into strips about an inch wide and 8-10" long. I liberally oil the barrel and then thread a strip between the barrel and vent rib (works on any pump or auto that has a vented rib). I tie an overhand knot below the barrel an let the remaining part of the strip hang. It does a great job of breaking up the outline of the barrel and giving it some dimension. I don't worry about the reciever or stocks because my hands, face and body are going to be covering or obscuring those parts anyway. Just play with the length of the strips and cut them if necessary. You don't want the ends to be able to flop up on top of the rib and screw up your sight picture in the event that you have to move quickly.""

Now there is one heck of a good idea. You should try it, I'm going to..

swsnub · February 20, 2010, 07:50 AM

There's really no need to post following lockedcj7's sound advice. I'll be trying that one this April. However, if you must use tape, just don't forget to remove it after the season. The only damage that might be done is when the tape has been left until the NEXT season. Also make sure the tape has not been sitting around in the heat for years and turned the adhesive side into that gel/mess (live in TX). Never had a problem otherwise.

Adventurer 2 · February 20, 2010, 11:36 PM

I used to camo tape my pump shotgun every turkey season. Last time I did this I put my shotgun away with the tape still on. Much later, I peeled the tape off and the entire shotgun was covered with sticky residue. Per advice on this forum, I used WD-40 to remove the sticky residue - easy to do. Since then I have bought a dedicated, camouflaged, turkey gun.
Like the strip idea - think I will swap the BDU strips out for burlap strips.

bamaranger · February 23, 2010, 02:27 AM

if you count this upcoming spring season. I hunt hard, say 30 hunts out of a 45 day season on a good year. Taping was about the only option short of paint before camo guns.

I've used both the HS type tape and the cloth tape as well. My drill is to spray the shotgun down w/ WD-40, and wipe it off, allow the gun to dry for a bit, and then tape.

If the gun gets moderately wet, as in dew or hunting after a rain, I hose the whole gun down with WD again, very liberally. If the gun gets really wet, as in hunting in a rain, I strip the gun of tape, re spray, and re tape.
I do not allow the gun to remain in a case between hunts, wet or not.
I have had only a few instances of rust under the tape in all those years.
I always remove the tape at the end of the season.

Taping is sort of a pain, but I've carried that 870 so long and so far, its just part of my spring season. I can get a couple of seasons out of a roll, as remove the glossy wood stock and fore grip, and add painted synthetic same, thus do not have to tape wood.

If I were to buy a new, dedicated turkey gun, it would have a camo or matte finish, to avoid all the above.

Uncle Buck · February 23, 2010, 08:33 AM

My ex-brother in law did this to a really nice turkey gun before he went to prison. The gun was put in a gun safe and left there as was.

When I was given the gun, and proceeded to pull the tape off (It was a cloth tape) it was a mess. Where the rust did not get to the gun, the sticky, white adhesive was almost impossible to remove.

I agree with the guys above, use something else to break up the outline of the gun, or if you have to use the tape, after the season make sure you remove it and clean the gun thoroughly. What a hassle...

February 19, 2010, 09:39 PM	#1
Horntord Junior Member Join Date: November 27, 2009 Location: Pensacola Posts: 13	Camo-tape for turkey guns Has anyone used the camo color tape that you can wrap around the shotgun barrel and its stock for turkey hunting. What I’m concerned about is what it does to the gun if I decide to remove the tape.

February 19, 2010, 10:07 PM	#3
lockedcj7 Senior Member Join Date: February 15, 2007 Posts: 1,215	The cloth tape will trap moisture against the metal if left for any length of time and cause surface rust. Ask me how I know I have liberally oiled the gun first and the tape didn't stick worth a darn as bswiv suggested. My new technique is to cut an old pair of BDUs into strips about an inch wide and 8-10" long. I liberally oil the barrel and then thread a strip between the barrel and vent rib (works on any pump or auto that has a vented rib). I tie an overhand knot below the barrel an let the remaining part of the strip hang. It does a great job of breaking up the outline of the barrel and giving it some dimension. I don't worry about the reciever or stocks because my hands, face and body are going to be covering or obscuring those parts anyway. Just play with the length of the strips and cut them if necessary. You don't want the ends to be able to flop up on top of the rib and screw up your sight picture in the event that you have to move quickly. __________________ To a much greater extent than most mechanical devices, firearms are terribly unforgiving of any overconfidence, complacency or negligence.

February 23, 2010, 02:27 AM	#8
bamaranger Senior Member Join Date: October 9, 2009 Location: North Alabama Posts: 8,309	I've taped my blued 870 for 30 years........... if you count this upcoming spring season. I hunt hard, say 30 hunts out of a 45 day season on a good year. Taping was about the only option short of paint before camo guns. I've used both the HS type tape and the cloth tape as well. My drill is to spray the shotgun down w/ WD-40, and wipe it off, allow the gun to dry for a bit, and then tape. If the gun gets moderately wet, as in dew or hunting after a rain, I hose the whole gun down with WD again, very liberally. If the gun gets really wet, as in hunting in a rain, I strip the gun of tape, re spray, and re tape. I do not allow the gun to remain in a case between hunts, wet or not. I have had only a few instances of rust under the tape in all those years. I always remove the tape at the end of the season. Taping is sort of a pain, but I've carried that 870 so long and so far, its just part of my spring season. I can get a couple of seasons out of a roll, as remove the glossy wood stock and fore grip, and add painted synthetic same, thus do not have to tape wood. If I were to buy a new, dedicated turkey gun, it would have a camo or matte finish, to avoid all the above.

February 23, 2010, 08:33 AM	#9
Uncle Buck Senior Member Join Date: June 21, 2009 Location: West Central Missouri Posts: 2,592	My ex-brother in law did this to a really nice turkey gun before he went to prison. The gun was put in a gun safe and left there as was. When I was given the gun, and proceeded to pull the tape off (It was a cloth tape) it was a mess. Where the rust did not get to the gun, the sticky, white adhesive was almost impossible to remove. I agree with the guys above, use something else to break up the outline of the gun, or if you have to use the tape, after the season make sure you remove it and clean the gun thoroughly. What a hassle... __________________ Inside Every Bright Idea Is The 50% Probability Of A Disaster Waiting To Happen.

February 19, 2010, 09:50 PM	#2
bswiv Senior Member Join Date: June 4, 2006 Location: NE FL....... Posts: 1,081	Depends on what kind of finish is on the gun. Used it on the wifes Model 500 20ga with a Parkerised finish. Put a good coat of oil on first and then the tape. Admittedly the tape did not stick prfectly but when the time for it to come off came there was no residue. Might not work so well with a blue finish though.

February 19, 2010, 10:49 PM	#4
zippy13 Senior Member Join Date: August 23, 2008 Location: SoCal Posts: 6,442	Camo finishes do little to alter a gun's profile. Instead of tape, have you considered something more like the ghillie gun approach employed by snipers -- tie on items from your shooting environment. As lockedcj7 advocated, break up the gun's profile and add some dimension.

February 20, 2010, 05:30 AM	#5
bswiv Senior Member Join Date: June 4, 2006 Location: NE FL....... Posts: 1,081	""My new technique is to cut an old pair of BDUs into strips about an inch wide and 8-10" long. I liberally oil the barrel and then thread a strip between the barrel and vent rib (works on any pump or auto that has a vented rib). I tie an overhand knot below the barrel an let the remaining part of the strip hang. It does a great job of breaking up the outline of the barrel and giving it some dimension. I don't worry about the reciever or stocks because my hands, face and body are going to be covering or obscuring those parts anyway. Just play with the length of the strips and cut them if necessary. You don't want the ends to be able to flop up on top of the rib and screw up your sight picture in the event that you have to move quickly."" Now there is one heck of a good idea. You should try it, I'm going to..

February 20, 2010, 07:50 AM	#6
swsnub Member Join Date: February 12, 2010 Location: Texas Posts: 34	There's really no need to post following lockedcj7's sound advice. I'll be trying that one this April. However, if you must use tape, just don't forget to remove it after the season. The only damage that might be done is when the tape has been left until the NEXT season. Also make sure the tape has not been sitting around in the heat for years and turned the adhesive side into that gel/mess (live in TX). Never had a problem otherwise.

February 20, 2010, 11:36 PM	#7
Adventurer 2 Senior Member Join Date: September 5, 2006 Posts: 663	I used to camo tape my pump shotgun every turkey season. Last time I did this I put my shotgun away with the tape still on. Much later, I peeled the tape off and the entire shotgun was covered with sticky residue. Per advice on this forum, I used WD-40 to remove the sticky residue - easy to do. Since then I have bought a dedicated, camouflaged, turkey gun. Like the strip idea - think I will swap the BDU strips out for burlap strips.