Jj
I believe the statements you are referring to are being made by some shooters who do not compete in 100-200 yard Competition.
Any shooter who has has success with tuners in Competition, (I suppose I am one), will tell you that it is simply another way to tune the Rifle. In my opinion, you cannot make a barrel shoot any better with a tuner than it would with the more conventional methods.
I still have to arrive at a load that is pretty close to what the Rifle likes. Being able to stick 29.0 grns of powder in, seat a bullet, and tune strictly with the tuner is wishful thinking. You might be able to get it to shoot pretty good, but in todays game, just "pretty good" usually isn't good enough.
But, once I have that load pretty close, I can do all of the fine tuning with the tuner, never touching anything else.
So, what is the advantage of using a tuner?? One. That being, you can change the tune at the line, emmediately, when the need arises.
There are drawbacks. One, in the 10.5 pound classes, you have to get the weight, (usually 5-6 ounces) off some where else. Second, the cost of the tuner, plus the added work in machining the barrel to accept it.
Tuners are simply another way to arrive at a common end, that keeping the Rifle in a competitive tune. Learning how to use one, and knowing what to do, can be just as difficult as using the more conventional methods.......jackie