Barrel Tuners for NRA F/TR competition

[DougMH]

All,

Looking through the rule book, compensators and muzzle breaks are specifically prohibited for NRA High Power rifle competition based on these two paragraphs.

3.16.1 Compensators and Muzzle Brakes—The use of compensators or muzzle brakes is prohibited. An extension tube that has been installed on the muzzle of a rifle to extend the sight radius shall not be considered a “muzzle brake.” The extension tube must have an interior diameter of .5 inches or greater and may have 1/4 inch x 1 inch slots cut at 12 and 6 o’clock to remove cleaning patches. Threaded holes along the top of this tube for the installation of sight bases will be allowed.

Glossary

Compensator or Muzzle Brake—A device such as an attachment at the muzzle, or pods provided near the muzzle, which release powder gases laterally or rearward in order to reduce muzzle jump or recoil.

Since a barrel tuner does not reduce muzzle jump or recoil in any way, it seems like it should be allowed. Certainly seems like a much easier way to do load development than changing powder charges.

 

[Steve Blair]

Yes, they are allowed. In F-Open, Shiraz Balolia shot with one to win the Berger SW LR Nationals this year and Erik Cortina and I (among others) shot with tuners at Raton. If you decide to use one, and I think that is a good choice, watch your weight. Most commercial tuners are made for short, stiff BR barrels and are fairly heavy. Our long, relatively flexible barrels do not need that much mass.

 

[DougMH]

Yes, they are allowed. In F-Open, Shiraz Balolia shot with one to win the Berger SW LR Nationals this year and Erik Cortina and I (among others) shot with tuners at Raton. If you decide to use one, and I think that is a good choice, watch your weight. Most commercial tuners are made for short, stiff BR barrels and are fairly heavy. Our long, relatively flexible barrels do not need that much mass.

Thank you... and especially for the advice about weight. I was going to with the heavier one a guy named Bostrom makes. He has 2 pretty much identical except one is 5.625 ounces, the other 3.250 ounces.

I have a 30" BRUX large shank barrel for Savage. May I ask what does yours weighs?

 

[savagedasher]

Bostrom stainless is the only way to go with heavy barrel. Good Shooting Larry

 

[Steve Blair]

Mine weighs six ounces. However, it adds nothing to the barrel's weight. Erik makes the tuners from barrel stock, they are the same diameter (Ø1.25") as the barrel and do not extend past the muzzle. So, when the barrel is threaded and the tuner installed, nothing is added. Since you have a smaller diameter barrel, it would add a few ounces.

 

[DougMH]

Mine weighs six ounces. However, it adds nothing to the barrel's weight. Erik makes the tuners from barrel stock, they are the same diameter (Ø1.25") as the barrel and do not extend past the muzzle. So, when the barrel is threaded and the tuner installed, nothing is added. Since you have a smaller diameter barrel, it would add a few ounces.

My Brux is LARGE SHANK TARGET = 1.120" breech > 1" muzzle

 

[siracusap]

Mine weighs six ounces. However, it adds nothing to the barrel's weight. Erik makes the tuners from barrel stock, they are the same diameter (Ø1.25") as the barrel and do not extend past the muzzle. So, when the barrel is threaded and the tuner installed, nothing is added. Since you have a smaller diameter barrel, it would add a few ounces.

Steve,

Can you post a picture of your tuner or PM it to me? I would be interested to see if my gunsmith could do something like that if it doesn't add any weight.

 

[Steve Blair]

Erik Cortina makes and sells the tuners that I use. He can be contacted via PM on this forum.

 

[Jay Christopherson]

So, does the tuner weight (the "ring" on various tuners) just adjust forward and back a few thousandths to affect the vibration/mode of the barrel?

 

[Steve Blair]

So, does the tuner weight (the "ring" on various tuners) just adjust forward and back a few thousandths to affect the vibration/mode of the barrel?

[br]
Correct. It often takes more than a few thousandths of movement, but the idea is the same.

 

[Jay Christopherson]

Interesting. I've never really taken a look at tuners before, but it seems like that instead of tuning your load to match the barrel, you are tuning your barrel to match your load... I'm guessing it must be after you've done all the load tuning you can (powder, seating depth, etc...) and then you can tweak your barrel tune a bit to bring it in even tighter. I know that rimfire guys swear you can't be competitive without it, but it's interesting to see it make it's way into the HP world.

I'm sure I'll jump on the bandwagon at some point. Can't pass up a new toy....

 

[aj300mag]

Interesting. I've never really taken a look at tuners before, but it seems like that instead of tuning your load to match the barrel, you are tuning your barrel to match your load... I'm guessing it must be after you've done all the load tuning you can (powder, seating depth, etc...) and then you can tweak your barrel tune a bit to bring it in even tighter. I know that rimfire guys swear you can't be competitive without it, but it's interesting to see it make it's way into the HP world.

I'm sure I'll jump on the bandwagon at some point. Can't pass up a new toy....

I'm thinking you might find that a tuner isn't a set and forget item...

A few years back I played with a Browsing A-Bolt in 7mm mag that had a BOSS installed. With load development I could get three shot cloverleaf groups that measured 1/2 MOA. Tweaking the tuner would produce a group where it was hard to see three bullet holes. The instructions stated that the accuracy would last for approximately twenty rounds which proved to be true. I've shot centerfire benchrest for a few years and have watched competitors who have had tuners mounted on their barrel. They're always adjusting the tuners to compensate for atmospheric changes that occur between matches. As usual, YMMV.

Maybe someone could yank on Eric's chain and he could elaborate on his experience with tuners.

 

[Steve Blair]

A tuner setting is no more tolerant than the load fired through it. If you have a touchy load that tunes at one powder charge with no breadth, a tuner setting will likewise be touchy. If you have a load like my .300 WSM, consistent across a .8 grain range, the tuner is stable and can be set to produce groups in the ones, like the one attached, shot during tuner setting. [br]
First, determine your powder charge and seating depth, then set the tuner.

 

[4xforfun]

All,


Since a barrel tuner does not reduce muzzle jump or recoil in any way, it seems like it should be allowed. Certainly seems like a much easier way to do load development than changing powder charges.

Every tuner on the planet reduces recoil. That's pure physics.

 

[Erik Cortina]

All,


Since a barrel tuner does not reduce muzzle jump or recoil in any way, it seems like it should be allowed. Certainly seems like a much easier way to do load development than changing powder charges.

Every tuner on the planet reduces recoil. That's pure physics.

??? How?

 

[aj300mag]

Magic pixie dust!

Don't you know nuthin?

;D

 

[Jay Christopherson]

All,


Since a barrel tuner does not reduce muzzle jump or recoil in any way, it seems like it should be allowed. Certainly seems like a much easier way to do load development than changing powder charges.

Every tuner on the planet reduces recoil. That's pure physics.

Uh... I'm no physicist, but that sounds more like pure internet horse hockey than pure physics... :-\

 

[memilanuk]

...unless he's asserting that the added weight would, in a minimal way, reduce recoil.

 

[Erik Cortina]

...unless he's asserting that the added weight would, in a minimal way, reduce recoil.

But that is only if the tuner adds weight, not all tuners add weight.

 

[memilanuk]

Ummm... care to explain how that works? ???