Load development with a barrel tuner

[DiRTY DOG]

What is the proper load development method for using a barrel tuner? What are the specific steps?

Do you work up a load from scratch WITH the tuner on and set to zero, then only adjust the tuner at the very end?

What about seating depth and jump vs jam? Do you just seat 20 thou off and then dial the tuner?

 

[Straightshooter1]

What is the proper load development method for using a barrel tuner? What are the specific steps?

Do you work up a load from scratch WITH the tuner on and set to zero, then only adjust the tuner at the very end?

What about seating depth and jump vs jam? Do you just seat 20 thou off and then dial the tuner?

Here's what I do that works well for me:

1. Just choose a COAL (mag may determine this as well as the size of the projectile). I like to start at .015 - 020: off the lands.

2. With a tuner setting at -0-, work up a powder load that works well (OCW test).

3. Once a good powder charge is found, dial the tuner to shrink the groups.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

I like to start with the tuner halfway out and set on zero. I fully work up a load before ever touching it then fine tune bullet hole sizes on the tuner. The tuner wont make a bad load shoot good so you gotta start there and introduce as few variables as you can

 

[R.Morehouse]

I do just as Dusty said. I found a little reminder saying that lets me know which way to turn the tuner once everything is said and done..." Down & Out "......When the temp. goes down, I adjust the tuner out and visa versa. I use Ezell tuners and this method has always worked for me.......Very Small Adjustments.

Regards
Rick

 

[JEFFPPC]

I do the same as Dusty. The tuner is used to stay in tune. Lazy shooters try to use it to make a load and most often end up disappointed. I start my Bob Green tuners about 3 turns out from "stop" when starting. When I have my load I will bump both ways 1 small adjustment to see if it improves. Seldom does. Usually one way it will stay the same and the other way it will be not quite so good. I seldom move it again until after 800 to 1000 rounds. I will add or subtract powder on ocassion based on a temperature swing. Summer matches at 90 and winter matches in single didgets require adjustment.

 

[JMayo]

I about pulled my Ezells off trying to find a load. It was 1.5 turns out to zero.
I decided to turn it all the way in and see what the rifle would do
My OCD made me turn it back out to zero, (about 8 #s out on my 30br) i went out tiny bits farther as i shot
. .
^ ^
About that much from zero and it started one holing .
To move Ezells a tiny bit is allot.imo

I've got a RW to put on my 10lb 30br next year ... That'll be interesting !

 

[Bill Norris]

I get best results with finding the powder charge first. Even though the tuner may tune the load from there I still do the seating depth test. Lastly, I adjust tuner to find tightest group. Normally with the E C Tuner/Brake it will show up within the first complete rotation of the tuner but NOT always. Then as temps and environmental changes dictate tune with very tiny increments. "Down & Out" is a theory that works for me with temp changes. Looking at the test below with my 6BRX with 105 gr. Bergers @ 100 yds. one can see how much 1/2 of an increment will affect the groups. At 5.5 & 6.5 the groups was opening up but at 6.0 the groups were consistent on this particular day. With temp. swings the groups may be better at either one of the other settings.

 

[RickyK]

I about pulled my Ezells off trying to find a load. It was 1.5 turns out to zero.
I decided to turn it all the way in and see what the rifle would do
My OCD made me turn it back out to zero, (about 8 #s out on my 30br) i went out tiny bits farther as i shot
. .
^ ^
About that much from zero and it started one holing .
To move Ezells a tiny bit is allot.imo

I've got a RW to put on my 10lb 30br next year ... That'll be interesting !

It started "One Holing" at what distance ??

 

[JMayo]

It started "One Holing" at what distance ??

100yds
3 bullets in each hole

 

[RickyK]

Good Shooting !

 

[gunsandgunsmithing]

What is the proper load development method for using a barrel tuner? What are the specific steps?

Do you work up a load from scratch WITH the tuner on and set to zero, then only adjust the tuner at the very end?

What about seating depth and jump vs jam? Do you just seat 20 thou off and then dial the tuner?

For a long while, people touted doing load work up before installing the tuner. The truth is, it works either way. Tune just repeats over and over with frequency(hz). Without the tuner, the frequency is higher but it repeats, with the tuner, it repeats, just at lower frequencies. I don't think one way is better than the other but I like the idea of doing load work up the way I plan to shoot the bbl..so with the tuner on. Just don't touch it until you've settled on a load.
There are differences in tuners. They all work on the same principle but there are differences in how the bbl responds to respective mark values for different designs and bbls. It's best to talk to the tuner maker, IMHO. They should know more about what to expect and how to make their product best work for you. If it's my tuner, I'm very happy to help in any way but I'll be at a match and won't be back at the shop for a few days. Give me a call next week and I'll walk you through the procedure that I've found to work best. It's about a 20 minute conversation, so call when you have a few minutes. I do this all the time. I only sell my tuners by phone so that I can go over it with my customer. There's just a lot of "stuff" out there on the web and a lot of it is just wrong. I spend this time on the phone to help get people get started on the right path without all the confusion and chasing your tail. When you get your head wrapped around tuners, they aren't that complicated to use. It'll become second nature with some time.

Whoever made it should be able to explain them in pretty simple terms that most anyone will understand. If they can't, you probably need to talk with someone that can.

 

[DiRTY DOG]

Thanks for the info. I'll work up a load normally, with the tuner in place, and then see if the tuner can in better it.

 

[gunsandgunsmithing]

Thanks for the info. I'll work up a load normally, with the tuner in place, and then see if the tuner can in better it.

They're a great tool but if it helps your tune, you weren't really tuned well to begin with. But yes, very often, they can improve your tune a bit. Not really any different than using one to maintain tune as conditions change, just a very different reason for moving it. I don't advocate it, but its not at all uncommon to throw a known good load for a given chamber and adjust the tuner for it to shoot, and you may never beat it. But...I think a tuner can only tune to the potential of that load.