Pre-loaded at the Cactus

R

Richard

Member
Tuners and pre-loaded rounds really work well together. Had to tweak the tuner through the whole weekend, but it wasn't that hard to keep on top of the tune. Got bit on some conditions, but sure can't fault the rifle for that. I took all of my reloading stuff for backup but didn't need it at all.

On another note, I shot next to Mike Conry. He came to the line one time and the rifle would not work. He went back and grabbed another rifle. He sets down with 30 seconds left and fires a couple sighters and then proceeds to shoot a really nice group at 200 in some stuff I wouldn't even want to think about. Presence of mind under pressure I all I can say. That was impressive to say the least.

Richard Brensing
 
"Turning the tuner"

Richard said:
Tuners and pre-loaded rounds really work well together. Had to tweak the tuner through the whole weekend, but it wasn't that hard to keep on top of the tune. Got bit on some conditions, but sure can't fault the rifle for that. I took all of my reloading stuff for backup but didn't need it at all.

On another note, I shot next to Mike Conry. He came to the line one time and the rifle would not work. He went back and grabbed another rifle. He sets down with 30 seconds left and fires a couple sighters and then proceeds to shoot a really nice group at 200 in some stuff I wouldn't even want to think about. Presence of mind under pressure I all I can say. That was impressive to say the least.

Richard Brensing
Click to expand...

Richard:
I have heard it said many times by good shooters that you have the ability to look at a group and know which way and how much to turn your turner.
It would be a great learning experience for the rest of us to listen to you discuss this knowledge you possess!!!
Maybe you could write an article and publish on your "secrets".
Congrats on Phoenix--Lot of top competitors there.
A lot of us are envious of your ability!!!!
CLP
 
Tuner stuff

Thanks Doc.

I tried to explain what I was doing with a tuner and why on a previous post.
Didn't have much success and decided to bow out of that one. Come on down to KC and we can talk face to face.

Richard Brensing
 
Richard what does your tuner weigh? I have one of Darrell's tuners on an old barrel, but it's full size. Need to pull it off, cut it down and give it another go.
 
Tuner Weight

Mike,

6 oz with the tension nut included is what I have settled on. Lighter than that makes the tune window a little more difficult to keep on top of. It's doable, but not ideal.
Over 6 oz has not produced any appreciable gains in the tune window.

Richard Brensing
 
Richard said:
Mike,

6 oz with the tension nut included is what I have settled on. Lighter than that makes the tune window a little more difficult to keep on top of. It's doable, but not ideal.
Over 6 oz has not produced any appreciable gains in the tune window.

Richard Brensing
Click to expand...

I pretty much agree, except the barrel stiffness seems to dictate where the extra weight in the tuner has less or no benefit, and can be detrimental. IOW, a typical LV barrel at 21 or 22 inches may well not benefit from more than 6 ounces while a typical HV does. IME, about 10 ounces seems to be near max beneficial weight on a 23-24" HV. Anywhere in the range of 4-12 ounces seems to be a good window on barrel contours typically seen in BR, before the tuner becomes either too light or too heavy. I agree that lighter tuners don't offer full benefit in terms of width of tune window. I can live with that more so than a tuner that is too heavy. One that is significantly too heavy can drive you nuts with fliers. I can't explain it, but there's something to this. Thankfully, the range of tuner weights that do work well with typical br contours is wide and forgiving.
Weight classes and gun handling limitations weed out the really heavy tuners, mostly. On the other end of the spectrum, tuners that are very light still offer the benefit of adjustability, they just need it more often than a tuner in the 6-8 ounce range, IME. Of course, one can still tune by traditional powder charge methods with any tuner, I just fail to see this as fully realizing what tuners can do. Obviously, it works well for some. If this is someone's preference vs moving the tuner, I firmly believe that a heavier tuner is much better. Those pesky rules make heavier tuners impractical sometimes, though..as does gun handling.

One can have a tuner that adds no weight to a gun. In my testing, this does work, but IMHO is only good if you just can't stand any added weight and stay within class limitations. More weight lowers the frequency and increases the amplitude of vibration. Both are good things.
 
Richard said:
Tuners and pre-loaded rounds really work well together. Had to tweak the tuner through the whole weekend, but it wasn't that hard to keep on top of the tune. Got bit on some conditions, but sure can't fault the rifle for that. I took all of my reloading stuff for backup but didn't need it at all.

On another note, I shot next to Mike Conry. He came to the line one time and the rifle would not work. He went back and grabbed another rifle. He sets down with 30 seconds left and fires a couple sighters and then proceeds to shoot a really nice group at 200 in some stuff I wouldn't even want to think about. Presence of mind under pressure I all I can say. That was impressive to say the least.

Richard Brensing
Click to expand...

Mike, I pre-loaded for the crawfish, and took a chance that the humidity would remain low and the temperature below 75 degrees. The load I chose shot phenomenal for several matches, but proved to be a tad hot in the early afternoon. I tweaked the tuner a couple of times and kept the rifle competitive, but the really nasty conditions proved my doom.

Preloading doesn't cure dumb:D


Sunday afternoon at 200 I was in 3d after match 3. I went brain dead in 4 and got caught in 3 lines of reversal with 15 seconds left. I held 2 lines, and turned a sweet four into a inch one. Went to 9th with one shot.

I doubt I will pre-load again for a group Two Gun. The only reason I did it was to weigh each charge in a controlled environment.

From my practice in the following weeks, (and from my past experiences over 15+ years), I think my thrown charges at the match shoot just as well as the weighed charges.
 
Last edited:
jackie schmidt said:
Mike, I pre-loaded for the crawfish, and took a chance that the humidity would remain low and the temperature below 75 degrees. The load I chose shot phenomenal for several matches, but proved to be a tad hot in the early afternoon. I tweaked the tuner a couple of times and kept the rifle competitive, but the really nasty conditions proved my doom.

Preloading doesn't cure dumb:D


Sunday afternoon at 200 I was in 3d after match 3. I went brain dead in 4 and got caught in 3 lines of reversal with 15 seconds left. I held 2 lines, and turned a sweet four into a inch one. Went to 9th with one shot.

I doubt I will pre-load again for a group Two Gun. The only reason I did it was to weigh each charge in a controlled environment.

From my practice in the following weeks, (and from my past experiences over 15+ years), I think my thrown charges at the match shoot just as well as the weighed charges.
Click to expand...

This is why I don't load "full tilt" with a tuner. IME, a tuner will bring out the best the gun has to offer if you stay within tuning nodes that you would if tuning by powder charge without a tuner...but stay in tune longer and without the abrupt fall off that can happen...especially with n133
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top