Rimfire barrel tuners ??

[Camel]

Hey fellas that shoot rimfire target and benchrest stuff, do you use barrel tuners of any sort ? If so, would like to know how they work. i.e. what is the principle idea of them? Is it some sort of barrel vibration damper? Or does it work on evening out the escaping gas from the discharge ?

My CZ 453 Varmint that I use at work is very accurate, usually can put 5 into 19mm at about 40 metres, but was thinking that any improvement in accuracy has got to be good, even if it saves me 10 percent of the missed shots I get each night. I just use Win Power Point 40gn HP and every now and then I seem to get a couple of misses. But I spose thats rimfires for you.

Any ideas would be greatly appreciated, thanks

[Brett33]

Hi Camel,

There are plenty of people who believe tunners work, amoung them there are just as many thoughts about how a tunners work.
I think they work, and I subscribe to the "Node" theory. In short
Rifle goes bang.
The explosion makes a vibration in the barrel.
This vibration looks like waves running down the barrel.
So the crown is moving up, reaches the top of the wave, then goes down till the bottom of the wave and starts again.
Small changes in velocity mean the bullet leaves the barrel at differnt points in the wave = dispersion at the target.
Now the "Node" is the point where the wave stops going up and starts go down or vice verser.
In theory if this point is at the crown a small change in velocity will be less dispersion at the target.
Now my target barrels, 24 to 25 inch long 0.9" dia the node is about 2" back from the crown.
I use Harrel tunners out of the USA, which are an adjustable weight foward of the crown.
Adjusted to move the "Node" to the crown you have a barrel "in tune"
Having said all that most likly not going to help your short barrel CZ and power points, maybe a little.
I love tunners But I do not use them on my bush guns.
I am also starting to use a Pappas Noodle to control gasses as well, whish I was allowed to strip the gasses but the law calls that a Silencer.
Brett

[Camel]

Hi Camel,

There are plenty of people who believe tunners work, amoung them there are just as many thoughts about how a tunners work.
I think they work, and I subscribe to the "Node" theory. In short
Rifle goes bang.
The explosion makes a vibration in the barrel.
This vibration looks like waves running down the barrel.
So the crown is moving up, reaches the top of the wave, then goes down till the bottom of the wave and starts again.
Small changes in velocity mean the bullet leaves the barrel at differnt points in the wave = dispersion at the target.
Now the "Node" is the point where the wave stops going up and starts go down or vice verser.
In theory if this point is at the crown a small change in velocity will be less dispersion at the target.
Now my target barrels, 24 to 25 inch long 0.9" dia the node is about 2" back from the crown.
I use Harrel tunners out of the USA, which are an adjustable weight foward of the crown.
Adjusted to move the "Node" to the crown you have a barrel "in tune"
Having said all that most likly not going to help your short barrel CZ and power points, maybe a little.
I love tunners But I do not use them on my bush guns.
I am also starting to use a Pappas Noodle to control gasses as well, whish I was allowed to strip the gasses but the law calls that a Silencer.
Brett

OK thanks mate, always wondered at what the theory was with them, have heard of them but never seen one. I dont get to any ranges out here, theres one in griffith but never got around to going, I spose thats where most people would use them. Thanks again.

[native hunter]

Camel,
Theres a mile of info on the net if you do a search.
As Brett stated a tuner would do very little for a bush gun as the precision in handling is not there to see the results and the ammo used has way to many variables.
All the same have a look on the net, it will give you countless hours of reading.
Regards
native

[Camel]

Thanks native, I had about an hour reading on them last night. Pretty interresting stuff, and will go along with you in that it would pretty much be a waste of my time trying anything out, unless I got into some serious target shooting, thanks again.

[SnipeWench]

Camel,

Have a look at this video I created, showing some of the process I use to tune my bench rifle with a tuner:

7s-vevk1rpc

- bec

[Dr G]

Thanks Bec

That is one of the most informative and educational youtube vids i have seen, bloody excellent. I particualrly appreciate the bech set up tips. F#@ken awesome

thanks

Dr G

[Camel]

Thanks bec, looks like a nice bit of gear you got. I notice you dont need much movement to adjust your settings. On another thought I had this morning wrt tuners, does any one know if a squeeze type tuner has been tried? Most of the ones I have heard about work by moving weight back and forth. Would it be feasable to have some setup that squished the barrel in a little tighter at the muzzle, I imagine that the barrel steel would have enough flex to constrict in a couple of thou and then when the tension is let off, would go back to original. Might be a dumb ask, but you never know if you dont ask.

[Brad Y]

Thats the first time ive ever seen a gun move so little in the bags. Normally it recoils right back. Mind you theres a bit of difference between a 308 and a 22lr

Great set up.

[Brett33]

Wow Bec, that is great and thanks for the mention.

I wish I had the time and effort to dedicate to that sort of production.

I have spent 2 sessions on the new Falcon, the first day I shot 5 shot groups 1 shot every 5 clicks so 1 group = 1 full turn of the tunner. Went through the whole range. Found 2 points that the tunner worked well in.
Second session I worked with 3 shot groups 5 click adjustments around my 2 tunner points. First node around 125 clicks out is the best. Shows very little vertical for 1 whole revolution of the tunner, at 2 points the 3 shot groups were tiny 22cal holes.
For those interested I will take some photos to illistrate what a tunner can do over the weekend.
Brett