Taping Your Color Guard Rifle

Maybe you just got a beautiful, brand-new rifle, or maybe it’s the start of a new season – either way, Band Shoppe can help you keep it from breaking the first time it hits the ground.

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Wood rifles require taping to reinforce naturally weak areas. While plastic molded rifles are definitely tougher, no rifle is indestructible. Many color guard instructors suggest taping your plastic rifles too. This little bit of extra care allows your rifle to withstand more shock without cracking.

Remember, there are plenty of ways to tape a rifle; this is just one basic way. You can also tape the entire rifle, the bolt, or the strap to make it a different color! Some people use sparkle tape or glow-in-the-dark tape to create different effects. 

The most crucial supply you need for taping your rifle is strapping tape. The strapping tape has nylon filaments for additional support. You can find it on bandshoppe.com for less than $5.00 a roll. Band Shoppe also suggests electrical tape for taping over the strapping tape. Electrical tape has a little stretch that helps the tape cling tighter; it’s economical at around $2.00 a roll and comes in a range of colors. Professional quality gaffers tape, such as our Deluxe Rifle Tape, also works really well. The choice is yours!

Start with a clean rifle, free of old tape and adhesive residue. Wipe your rifle down with a clean soft cloth to remove skin oils; this lets the new tape stick better.

Ready to get started? Great! First, gather your supplies.
Here’s what you’ll need:

• 1 Phillips-head screwdriver (the one with the + shaped tip)
• Nylon Strapping Tape (item #64324)
• White Electrical Tape (item #64320)
• Electrical Tape that matches your strap

Remove all rifle hardware with your Phillips head screwdriver, including the two screws holding the bolt and the two screws holding the strap in place. If your rifle has rubber end pads, like the Endura Rifle, you can go ahead and leave them in place. 

STRAPPING TAPE  

Wrap separate pieces of strapping tape all the way around the nose (1), front strap bolt hole (2), under the bolt starting at the neck and moving forward (3), and round the back bolt and butt pad (4).

ELECTRICAL TAPE

1. Referencing the diagram above, wrap the electrical tape continuously around the rifle, starting at the neck and moving forward to a couple inches past the bolt. *Be sure that the tape overlaps slightly on each turn. 
2. Attach your clips and o-rings with the screws provided, then wrap the tape a few turns around the area over the front screw. This will help prevent the screw from coming loose or scratching you while you spin.
3. Next, place a few strips of tape parallel over the rifle butt from top to bottom long ways. Repeat this step on the rifle nose with shorter strips of tape to hold the pads in place and protect the ends from additional wear.
4. Wrapping continuously toward the nose and over the strips of tape from step 3, repeat on the butt of the rifle taking care to wrap over the back screw.
5. Attach the rifle strap to the O-rings. Using electrical tape that matches the color of your strap, wrap three times around points A and B to ensure that the strap screws don’t come loose.

ATTACH YOUR BOLT, AND THAT’S IT!