The whole "let's climb up the rope to get as close as possible to the soon-to-explode barrel" thing wasn't really one of Wile's shining moments either.
Not to say this whole episode isn't full of examples of his typical lack of foresight.
I'm surprised he even tried something as mundane as a rifle at all. I love how just a little later he's got some helmet with a wheel and a cord. C'mon, guy, what's that gonna do?