TUNER SCEPTIC NO MORE

Post by **AlanF** » Sun Aug 31, 2008 12:40 am

I had a new Broughton barrel fitted a couple of months ago, and couldn't get it to shoot. I tried different loads with different powders and different projectiles, but it was struggling to shoot much better than about 3/4 MOA, which just won't cut the mustard in F Open. It is the best barrel I've had for running in and staying clean, so I thought it was worth persevering with. I mentioned it to Gary Hunt who is a gunsmith in Bendigo, and he suggested it might be time to try a tuner. Now I've always thought that whatever a tuner can do, you can do it by powder load testing. Wrong! I tried a wide range of loads in this barrel but it just wouldn't group. After about 7 shots with a Hunt-Davies tuner fitted, under the guidance of club mate Rod Dolman, I shot the small group in the picture.

The tuner converted this barrel from the worst to the best grouper of any of the 6 barrels I've used on the 6.5-284. I'm not getting too carried away however, because it may not be as effective at the longs, and of course the tuner setting may need to be different for different temperatures etc. But from now on, if I'm not happy with a barrel, it will be getting a tuner! To Gary and Rod, thanks fellas - you've caused a grin that I don't expect to be rid of for some days!

Alan

Ben C · Post by **Ben C** » Sun Aug 31, 2008 7:50 am

Hey Alan,

Glad to see you've had some positive results with the barrel and tuner. I remember we spoke about tuners at the Nationals - and my opinion on them was much the same as yours was. I thought they were a 'novelty' ](*,)

, although now I'm interested to learn more.

I'm interested to find out a bit more about the tuner you've fitted, as I too have a new barrel sitting in the corner that I can't get to group well enough.
Questions
1. How does it fit on the barrel?
2. What about thickness of the barrel? (I had to mention that didn't I :roll:

)
3. And when you've got it on, how did you go about tuning it? Is it trial and error or is there a method?
4. How much did it cost to buy and get fitted??

Note: I've heard on the grapevine that Maddco has been selling a lot of 'heavy barrels' lately, and hardware stores have record sales of hacksaw blades and wood chisels :mrgreen:

.

Thanks in advance
Ben...

Post by **AlanF** » Sun Aug 31, 2008 9:27 am

Ben,

Glad to help a struggling shooter :lol:

.

1. This particular model has a brass sleeve that is fitted to the barrel i.e. the end of the barrel is turned down to suit. The sleeve is threaded on the outside, and the body of the tuner winds onto that.

2. My barrels have a straight taper from about 1.25" down to 0.95".

3. I believe tuning methods vary widely - it is quite a new science (or black art perhaps :shock:

). In my case, just fitting the tuner made the main difference, then we adjusted in increments of about 10 thou.

4. I got the tuner fitted as part of a deal, so can't give you details. Try the Davies website http://www.daviestriggers.com.au/ - they manufacture the tuner.

Alan

Surgeon · Post by **Surgeon** » Sun Aug 31, 2008 9:31 am

If anyone is interested in "how and why" on Tuners ,have a look here with an open mind ..

http://www.varmintal.com/atune.htm

dennisj · Post by **dennisj** » Sun Aug 31, 2008 9:37 am

If you are able to get hold of Rifleman's Guide to Rimfire Ammunition by
Steven Boelter he explains the way to tune a tuner.

It shows how the tuner can achieve the results you are looking for.
Regards
Dennis

Matt P · Post by **Matt P** » Sun Aug 31, 2008 10:34 am

Alan
Keep us posted on if the tune "changes" and how it works at the longs, I to am a sceptic BUT have seen some good results.
How much movement did it require to go from good to unacceptable ???And which way did the groups move, up and down or left and right ???
How does the tuner lock in place, and do you have a deep hole crown so the tuner is forward of the muzzle??? It would be a bitch if it moved during a big shoot.
One last question, how much does the tuner weigh ???
Are you going to Sydney ???

Matt P

VickiMcc · Post by **VickiMcc** » Sun Aug 31, 2008 12:34 pm

Alan

So happy u finally realized what u where missing. good shooting.
hugs vicki mcc

Post by **AlanF** » Sun Aug 31, 2008 2:07 pm

Matt P wrote:Alan
Keep us posted on if the tune "changes" and how it works at the longs, I to am a sceptic BUT have seen some good results.
How much movement did it require to go from good to unacceptable ???And which way did the groups move, up and down or left and right ???
How does the tuner lock in place, and do you have a deep hole crown so the tuner is forward of the muzzle??? It would be a bitch if it moved during a big shoot.
One last question, how much does the tuner weigh ???
Are you going to Sydney ???

Matt P

The rifle has only fired exactly 10 shots with the tuner fitted! I'll be doing some more tuning, probably at 800yds, this week so will know more then to answer your questions. Yes I will be at Sydney, so you're welcome to inspect the gadget there.

And thank you Vicki - I'll have to listen to more of your advice!

Alan

RAVEN · Post by **RAVEN** » Sun Aug 31, 2008 10:09 pm

Hi Alan
I have used a tuner on my 6mm I think they work fine but will not make a bad barrel shoot better.
As that is what I have put the 6mm down to (bad barrel).
I am just running in my new 7mm 30" Krieger 1.25 parallel for 8" to 1" at the muzzle.
The ladder test I have just finished 2 different powders ant 2 different bullets
gave me 1 node for each batch
the interesting thing is the previous barrel I had which is the parallel Krieger gave me 2 node in the ladder and testing one of my loads with a large muzzle break on gave me 1 large node over approx. 1.5Gr spread
I have always liked the idea to load to a velocity and then tune it.

I would also be interested to know what the tuner weighs
Give the feed back on the 800 tuning would be interesting to tune for elevation at 800 then see how it shoots at 300
Cheers
RB

Post by **AlanF** » Mon Sep 01, 2008 9:32 am

Will keep you all posted. BTW I'm not recommending this tuner over the others available because I haven't tried any others. I know some are having good success with the Grenfell tuners in Vic. I actually won one a couple of years ago and put it on a .22 BR rifle - I figured that was the appropriate use for them because you can't change .22 ammo loads. Knowing what I know now, I may get that off the .22 and fit it to another 6.5 barrel!

Alan

Woody_rod · Post by **Woody_rod** » Mon Sep 01, 2008 10:06 am

Alan and everyone,

I am now thinking about TR and why the barrel tuners are not seen much on them, even though they can be used to the same extent via the SSR's.

Being a trained pessimist (Safety manager

, I am thinking there can be a number of reasons why barrel tuners are not seen much on TR barrels:

1. The rifles are so accurate as to not need them (this is highly unlikely)
2. The owners don't know about them
3. There is no need for them due to the larger area of the bull eye vs FS or FO (this is a definite possibility I think)
4. TR people are very conservative and will catch up one day...

Along the same lines, I dont know of much load testing and tuning other than some stuff done by some of the AU Palma team members. I have not seen or heard of non-elite shooters around here doing grouping, MV's and such things. Maybe we should?

RAVEN · Post by **RAVEN** » Mon Sep 01, 2008 11:08 am

Tuners are use alot in SA made by one of my club members
Cheers
RB

Woody_rod · Post by **Woody_rod** » Tue Sep 02, 2008 1:30 am

Good point raven, I meant in WA.

Post by **AlanF** » Fri Sep 05, 2008 7:59 pm

I promised to give you the results of further testing with the tuner. Indications are that I can get similar accuracy at higher velocity and longer range. Today after about 12 shots at 600 yds, I found a setting about 20 thou shorter than used at the earlier 300yd testing which gave me a 5 shot group with elevation a tad over an inch (no pic today sorry). Remember this barrel after extensive conventional load testing was struggling to get 4 inches elevation at 600yds. I'm still not getting carried away however, because according to some experts, just a small change in temperature could make this setting wrong. Tomorrow I will be using the same ammo and tuner setting in our 600/700yd range championship shoot. Will report back on the elevation performance.

Alan

Razer · Post by **Razer** » Fri Sep 05, 2008 9:59 pm

Hi Alan,re tuner,you mentioned that according to some experts that a small change in temperature could make your settings wrong.I presume that they were refering to ambient temperature,if so,and you fired your 12 shots in a normal course of fire,and from a cold barrel,the temperature of the barrel,plus some degree of heat transference to the tuner would surely be far greater than any change in ambient temperature??
I owned a Savage 22cal in 1960.It had a threaded end and a silencer screwed on. There was no adjustment as it was either fully screwed on or it was off.The rifle showed a marked difference in accuracy with silencer on so just the added weight on that barrel was enough to dampen vibrations.If I recollect correctly,some shooters refered to what is now called a "tuner" as a "dampener".
As silencers are now illegal I no longer own that rifle which is a shame as you could sit all day over a large warren and pot bunnies all day.
Regards,Ray.