Why isn’t this a thing anymore?
Might be a bad thing if you forgot to uncover that if you shoot, which you can’t always trust the below 2.0 GPA, barely literate soldier to handle with.
I’m not a gunsmith but I’m pretty sure the first shot is going to open that hatch
Having your barrel filled with mud will make the barrel kaboom and split open like a banana peel. So will this trap door most likely, but it can be easily removed before firing if you don’t forget about it. Obstructing the release of pressure in front of the projectile generates insane amounts of pressure.
It’s a good thing you’re not a gunsmith.
Barrel obstructions are serious business. But I don’t think the sheet metal would pose much danger given it’s designed to move and doesn’t create an airtight seal.
That said, if asked to test fire it with the gate equipped, I bet we’d both be like “nahhhh man I’m good”
I would with no hesitation. There’s no danger other than to the mechanism, which might or might not survive the ordeal.
Now I’m kinda curious whether it would still work after that.
It is on a hinge, it might fly off behind the firing line and hit someone.
Such a light and hinged obstruction will be no issue.
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You speak with such authority.
I may not be a gunsmith either, and I wouldn’t fire with an obstructed barrel. But have you seen demolition ranch trying to kill some hipoint pistols by obstructing the barrels? It took a bit more than some mud to break a gun.
Will it always blow up? Nope. Is it worth the risk? Also nope.
That’s what the giant flap that blocks the iron sights is for.
It is with plastic covers. These were and are still issued in at least the US military. Quick and easy, and if you forget to remove it, it is just shoot through plastic.
Here’s one affixed to a Sig rifle.
This same idea is used often with makeshift designs still. I made a post a while ago of people using condoms to do this.
Here’s soldiers using used rocket shells for it:
Improvised methods typically cheaper and less likely to inhibit your ability to shoot. I’ve also seen hunters use painter’s tape to do this.
In the US Marines, in boot camp they taught us to wrap the muzzle device in electrical tape to keep dirt out. I still do it if we are going to the field and we aren’t shooting. I’ve never seen the plastic caps. If we had a built in cover like OPs picture, so many people would shoot right through them.
PING!!!