Tuner effectiveness on a prone gun?

[velocette]

All or most of the folks in club's rimfire benchrest competition use tuners on their rifles.
I have never seen a tuner on an NRA prone rimfire rifle. Is there a reason for this, or am I just not
been around where these tuners were used on a prone rifle?

 

[USMCDOC]

All or most of the folks in club's rimfire benchrest competition use tuners on their rifles.
I have never seen a tuner on an NRA prone rimfire rifle. Is there a reason for this, or am I just not
been around where these tuners were used on a prone rifle?

http://www.warpc.org/articles/beesting-barrel-tuner/

 

[mgdietrich]

I use one on my prone rifle, as do many other top shooters. Uptagrafft bloop tubes have tuners integrated, as do Bee Sting and Starik.

They are out there, but also not needed for many shooters depending upon ability.

 

[Bob3700]

I use one on my prone rifle, as do many other top shooters. Uptagrafft bloop tubes have tuners integrated, as do Bee Sting and Starik.

They are out there, but also not needed for many shooters depending upon ability.

Morgan,

I understand the purpose of the tuner. Tune the bbl to the ammo. BUT, If you have had your rifle tested and have selected a lot of ammo that is tuned to the rifle (shoots small groups), will a tuner shrink the size of the groups further? Any experience doing this?

Would assume that the bbl has a limit of how small it will shoot.

Bob

 

[Tim s]

Morgan,

I understand the purpose of the tuner. Tune the bbl to the ammo. BUT, If you have had your rifle tested and have selected a lot of ammo that is tuned to the rifle (shoots small groups), will a tuner shrink the size of the groups further? Any experience doing this?

Would assume that the bbl has a limit of how small it will shoot.

Bob

A tuner will usually improve most barrels. That said, be aware, the better the barrel is to begin with the more difficult it may be to realize incremental gain, which will be modest, however once tuned, leave it unless you switch brands.

 

[mgdietrich]

I tuned mine with my first ammo and have not moved it since. Gun is very accurate, so I have no data to show how accurate it was without it. I would have not problem shooting a prone rifle without a tuner, but since I use a bloop tube anyway adding a tuner was not much more of an added expense.

 

[Chfcemerson]

I would look at the posts that Carlsbad has put up. He has been trying them with good success.

 

[MarkTrew]

Morgan,

I understand the purpose of the tuner. Tune the bbl to the ammo. BUT, If you have had your rifle tested and have selected a lot of ammo that is tuned to the rifle (shoots small groups), will a tuner shrink the size of the groups further? Any experience doing this?

Would assume that the bbl has a limit of how small it will shoot.

Bob

Bob, I was at the Lapua test center and had a Starik on my barreled action. I had the tuner adjusted for the best performance. Darrel shot a group with the tuner optimized. We adjusted the tuner and the group opened significantly. We reset the tuner and the group size was essentially repeated.

MarkTrew

 

[Bob3700]

Mark,
so if you had Darrel test the rifle without the tuner on, and found the ammo that shot the best groups, would installing the tuner and adjusting it have made the groups smaller?

Bob

 

[MarkTrew]

I cannot respond with definite knowledge. I will respond with my belief, the Starik has a positive improvement. Then, you set the tuner for better improvement. This is, obviously, not the best phrasing but hopefully the point is understood?

Having said that, I am limited to prone and sling knowledge. Guy Starik had a word of caution for bench shooting with his tuner. You will have to inquire for further details from Guy.

MarkTrew

 

[patriot]

I shoot Bee-Stings on two 1913's, but the 40X custom and 54.30 shoot just fine without. The tuners allow me to find the best ammo (ES & SD) then make it work in the 1913s, which it might not otherwise. But there are no miracle cures for poor ammo. There does seem to be narrow tuning points that will work for a particular ammo and broad ones that work for most, but not all. Tuning a rifle off the bench then shooting it prone may not work, so I tune in position with a support under the sling glove while watching a chronograph to correlate the speed and impact. I tune for 100, not 50 yards. One thing is certain, if you get the tuner in the wrong position rounds will fly all over.

Mark