The tip and the diffuser both get covered in spatter if you remove the shroud.
I cut some slots down the end of the shroud and squashed them up giving an impressive 61.7%,* increase in visibility around the tip area.
Is the nozzle preventing access to the joint?
Is the nozzle preventing you from seeing what's going on?
If the answer is yes, remove the nozzle or shorten it a bit so that the tip extends further than the nozzle. Sometimes you can get a smaller diameter (of the tip) nozzle as well if you think a nozzle-less gun looks a little undressed.