1st Time to Lapua Test Facility ??

[Bobr]

New to world of RF F/class-BR have 2 rifles built by Mark P and have reservations at Lapua Ohio facility but have some questions.
Rifle A 2500x-Ratchet barrel-Mac straight edge-Harrell tuner. 1000rds have good tuner setting and Midas+ lot no longer available. Should I
A Test in stock or facility fixture
B Test with or without tuner
C Try remaining Midas that worked as a base line

Rifle B 2500x-BM 3 groove-Mac straightedge-Harrell tuner no rds fired should I as above ABC and
D Break in barrel some before testing
E Try to establish some reasonable tuner setting during break in or just leave off
Both Barrels are 26.5”
Appreciate the wisdom
Thanks Bob

 

[linekin]

I can only go or what I've read or spoke with others over the years. I have NEVER used either center so take it for what its worth, exactly what you paid for it.
If it were me:
A Both rifles in the stock.
B. If there's time to test with & w/o thats what I'd do. Otherwise I'd test without the tuner. Your testing ammo, not your tuner setting.
C I would ask that it be tested as well so you have something to compare to.
D . I wouldn't worry about breaking it in. Any new barrels I've had shot best right out the gate.
E. If you decide to test with it on I'd leave it where Mark set it unless he's said otherwise.

As an aside, I've got a dollar says the BM shoots best . Keep us posted on what you decide & the results.

Keith

 

[dgeesaman]

I would test rifle A in their fixture, bring your reference lot, and keep the tuner at a baseline setting. I would test rifle B the same as rifle A but break it in first and again whatever tuner setting it’s at, leave it there. 1000 rounds is an ideal break in.

Ammo lots that shoot well in a barrel, shoot well regardless of setting. From there they can only get better. So the goal is to minimize variables. Clean both barrels and shoot a box through each before you go. These the the guidelines I received.

There are no rules in this game and I know some top shooters have brought in their whole bench rig for the test but if that doesn’t go perfectly the test simply won’t work. Keep it simple and you’ll get a good lot for sure.

 

[R.Morehouse]

I would leave the tuner on set at 0. Easy place to start from. From what I understand, torque values can be a very important variable in mating the action into the stock ( my stuff is glued in ) so I would consider using their fixture to eliminate that variable for your fine-tuning when you return home......Best of luck

Regards
Rick

 

[biggun2869]

1st I don't compete, so I really don't have a dog in the fight but I can't help agreeing with 'linekin. No matter where you set the tuner it is my belief that it can change the outcome. Gary

 

[jeffp400]

Bob,
Take both rifles for sure! During 1 trip you have increased your chances of getting something that shoots better than your competition. Break in #2 rifle and bring a sample of the ammo that shoots best in each rifle. Shoot a sample with and without the tuner, now you have a good baseline. I've tested in and out of stock both have their pros and cons and once you're bitten by the accuracy bug will lead to your own opinions... that can be said about tuners and whatever else you put on your rifle.
I've never thought of a tuner being a tool to make average ammo shoot great, but rather make great ammo aid in winning matches, therefore test without the tuner 1st then once you narrowed down to a couple of lots put on and try a known setting and see. Also don't overlook centerX.
Best of all you'll be in great hands with Shane.

 

[Hi-NV Shooter]

New to world of RF F/class-BR have 2 rifles built by Mark P and have reservations at Lapua Ohio facility but have some questions.
Rifle A 2500x-Ratchet barrel-Mac straight edge-Harrell tuner. 1000rds have good tuner setting and Midas+ lot no longer available. Should I
A Test in stock or facility fixture
B Test with or without tuner
C Try remaining Midas that worked as a base line

Rifle B 2500x-BM 3 groove-Mac straightedge-Harrell tuner no rds fired should I as above ABC and
D Break in barrel some before testing
E Try to establish some reasonable tuner setting during break in or just leave off
Both Barrels are 26.5”
Appreciate the wisdom
Thanks Bob

Question, did you ever shoot rifle A without the tuner with the best lot you have? as Ketih mentioned lot testing is testing for ammo performance. therefore, if you find a lot with a bare barrel that shoots very consistent then refining it with a tuner will be easier.
On the other hand, how confident are you on the tuner setting? can you take a different lot, and they will shoot into the same group? one mistake is to test with a tuner that is not at optimum setting for the rifle/setup. do you know how consistent it will shoot for say 5 consecutive 5-shot groups with the best lot you have?
Here are examples of what I am talking about. the 3 5 shot groups with no tuner even with the middle group being .300 ctc the average is still 0.149 ctc with no tuner. oto is 0.372 no tuner.
the 5 5 shot groups during lot testing outside with a tuner average 0.084 ctc with an oto of 0.307

These examples are what you need to know before going to test. if you are confident with rifle A and how it shoots then test as it is clamped in the vise. rifle B I would test bare barrel, but I would shoot at least a box without the tuner and see how it shoots. when selecting the lot go with consistent not smallest if you are lucky, you will find one that will do both.

Lee

 

[Bobr]

I can only go or what I've read or spoke with others over the years. I have NEVER used either center so take it for what its worth, exactly what you paid for it.
If it were me:
A Both rifles in the stock.
B. If there's time to test with & w/o thats what I'd do. Otherwise I'd test without the tuner. Your testing ammo, not your tuner setting.
C I would ask that it be tested as well so you have something to compare to.
D . I wouldn't worry about breaking it in. Any new barrels I've had shot best right out the gate.
E. If you decide to test with it on I'd leave it where Mark set it unless he's said otherwise.

As an aside, I've got a dollar says the BM shoots best . Keep us posted on what you decide & the results.

Keith

Thank you

 

[Bobr]

I can only go or what I've read or spoke with others over the years. I have NEVER used either center so take it for what its worth, exactly what you paid for it.
If it were me:
A Both rifles in the stock.
B. If there's time to test with & w/o thats what I'd do. Otherwise I'd test without the tuner. Your testing ammo, not your tuner setting.
C I would ask that it be tested as well so you have something to compare to.
D . I wouldn't worry about breaking it in. Any new barrels I've had shot best right out the gate.
E. If you decide to test with it on I'd leave it where Mark set it unless he's said otherwise.

As an aside, I've got a dollar says the BM shoots best . Keep us posted on what you decide & the results.

Keith

Will let you know on the BM barrel

 

[Bobr]

Question, did you ever shoot rifle A without the tuner with the best lot you have? as Ketih mentioned lot testing is testing for ammo performance. therefore, if you find a lot with a bare barrel that shoots very consistent then refining it with a tuner will be easier.
On the other hand, how confident are you on the tuner setting? can you take a different lot, and they will shoot into the same group? one mistake is to test with a tuner that is not at optimum setting for the rifle/setup. do you know how consistent it will shoot for say 5 consecutive 5-shot groups with the best lot you have?
Here are examples of what I am talking about. the 3 5 shot groups with no tuner even with the middle group being .300 ctc the average is still 0.149 ctc with no tuner. oto is 0.372 no tuner.
the 5 5 shot groups during lot testing outside with a tuner average 0.084 ctc with an oto of 0.307

These examples are what you need to know before going to test. if you are confident with rifle A and how it shoots then test as it is clamped in the vise. rifle B I would test bare barrel, but I would shoot at least a box without the tuner and see how it shoots. when selecting the lot go with consistent not smallest if you are lucky, you will find one that will do both.

Lee

Did lot test on A without tuner then used tuner to take out the little vertical It had.

 

[Hi-NV Shooter]

Did lot test on A without tuner then used tuner to take out the little vertical It had.

Ok sounds like you have the information you needed. do you think lot testing without the tuner worked in that it helped narrow down lots to choose and tune with?
FYI, I shoot BM only 3G in particular and of the 5 I had done in the last 7+ years all were/are very good shooters. the target examples I posted were all 3G BM. I don't think you will be disappointed.

Lee

 

[Bobr]

Ok sounds like you have the information you needed. do you think lot testing without the tuner worked in that it helped narrow down lots to choose and tune with?
FYI, I shoot BM only 3G in particular and of the 5 I had done in the last 7+ years all were/are very good shooters. the target examples I posted were all 3G BM. I don't think you will be disappointed.

Lee

Thanks for the help

 

[Hi-NV Shooter]

Thanks for the help

You're welcome, hope I didn't make it any more confusing. but sounds like you already know what to do and which direction to go in.
good luck with the testing.

Lee