Tuning impact barrel tuner on a mk2

so got mine installed and setup. here are groups I'm seeing at this point. mind you I am not shooting from a bench or rear supported. Not sure just yet on what to do to improve. maybe a bigger spacer between the shroud and receiver so it tightens up more. My tune aslo appears to be off. 888 average fps, which is way low from where i was. shooting 36.6 gr NOE rf hp slugs.

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To what extent are your groups being influenced by not shooting from a bench?

Bear in mind a barrel tuner is optimistically useful to shave a small amount of dispersion from your groups. Like getting a 3/4” average down to 1/2”. If your repeatability across groups is impaired by an inadequate support, or poor outdoor conditions (windy), or groups that are relatively large for whatever reason, it will be nigh on impossible to make any determinations about the efficacy of the barrel tuner.

I guess I’m struggling to find a nice way of saying I suspect your current approach will lead only to frustration. I think you should focus on eliminating every variable you can, and a supported rifle is probably both the easiest and single most significant thing you can do. 
 
i'm sure if it was bench shot things would be a lot more consistent. all groups seem to fairly consistent with a slight wind. But i also like to shoot based off what kind of hold i may find while out hunting. Not always gonna be able to hold the rear stable like you would on a bench. But if i'm dialed in like i would be on a bench, then while out hunting any missed shots would be shooter error if the gun has been dialed in already.
 
Okay that makes sense when it comes to hunting, and it may be true that the barrel harmonics are influenced to some degree by how you support the gun, but you first need a well controlled experiment to see what the barrel tuner is doing. Something that eliminates all other variables as much as you reasonably can. Then when you have some confidence that it helps (or not), somewhat understand how it behaves with small or large adjustments, etc. Then re-introduce your hunting hold.

At present, I suspect the page of groups tells you the same thing it tells me...which is nothing. Whatever differences may exist are buried in the noise. Some hints at vertical stringing here, horizontal stringing there, others somewhat round, all fairly large. I have no way of knowing how much is attributable to the hold, or the wind, or the basic accuracy of the rifle, or the extreme spread, and how much is random chance based on a sample size of one group for each setting.

Got to get those variables down and the sample size up. You’re right on about addressing the state of tune first.
 
yes. there are a lot of variables in place at the moment. previously with my old mold i could reach out to 208 yards consistently. the new mold is super close to the old one now. I can hit 208 yards but still not as consistently as i was. Now finding my tune was way off, may be the reason. the ammo is casting good and consistent. I seen about 5 fps variance over the chronograph with the slugs sized to .249" after casting. the new barrel tuner it also a few hairs shorter on the backend close to the receiver. I'm now in the process of getting a new spacer printed out to eliminate the gap and tighten things up. this had helped a lot with just the basic shroud.
 
I may be wrong, but my best understanding the mechanics is telling me that a system balance is more important then the individual measurements.

C1 this much, hammer spring that much, hammer weight, valve spring this much, orings BUNA 60 or 90 again that much, all irrelevant at the top assembly level where the entire system behaves. None of my springs are stock or OEM all mix and match from here and there, and to get to this my tuning level costed me a big cardboard box of parts to try.

You could be a way better shooter but I am the mechanic and I do a better homework...

And back to one of those questions "... I was told that indexing the barrel is not needed with the tuner ..." Please tell the guy whoever told you that...that has no F idea what he is talking about. No barrel/liner bore centerline are straight 100% physically not possible to make that happen, rolling it on a granite countertop and calling it straight OD? is not good enough for me, maybe good enough to you.

The tuners you talking about is another thing, comparing like apples and a watermelon. #1 The projectile contact with the surrounding material creates micro frequencies in a tube material leaving behind (imagine an earthquake) and adding a solid mass will dampen the amplitude (like siting on a top of a big rocky hill), plus the #2 with added engraved collar ring can repeatably add the same minute tension between the liner and barrel tube (in this our case with FX liner nut we could not figure the way to torque that nut same value every time). On bowderburners or any other full solid barrels no #2 but a longer sliding option to find a node point (you can be sitting on a big rocky hill but depend where - higher or lower or to East or West and in some places you can still measure the earthquake).




 
yes. there are a lot of variables in place at the moment. previously with my old mold i could reach out to 208 yards consistently. the new mold is super close to the old one now. I can hit 208 yards but still not as consistently as i was. Now finding my tune was way off, may be the reason. the ammo is casting good and consistent. I seen about 5 fps variance over the chronograph with the slugs sized to .249" after casting. the new barrel tuner it also a few hairs shorter on the backend close to the receiver. I'm now in the process of getting a new spacer printed out to eliminate the gap and tighten things up. this had helped a lot with just the basic shroud.

I never did swap back over to the .25 liner. I am just keeping mine setup in .30 caliber. The problem with the .30 cal is the cone shaped shroud end and finding a consistent repeatable spacer for it. I am using a modified HD battery cap at the moment that works well if left alone. The .25 is flush on the end, so not a big deal. I just use a painted plumbing fitting. Still difficult to repeat once removed. Not sure what is available in the aftermarket, when I searched i didn't find anything available.
 
I just got my barrel tuner as well. It’s installed and set to TDC. It will stay that way until I get a windy day. I have to make sure my projectile is stable in the wind now that the tuner is installed (at top dead center) before messing with the tuner adjustments. Then on a calm day make adjustments to the tuner. It’s a process, but done correctly the first time I won’t be chasing my tail every time conditions vary. +-10-15fps on a calm day group size May change very little, same thing in the wind is significantly different in my experience. I’m not talking between shots, I’m talking 10-15fps adjustment between groups.

You have to tune while on a bench even if all you’ll use this for is hunting. Slight variation in hold or small mistake judging the wind will make a much bigger difference down range than the harmonics would holding the rifle vs resting on a bag. 

If your ammo was already stable and the groups got worse with the tuner at TDC, that’s a different problem. Get your groups back to where they were with it off then adjust.

I wish FX would have numbered it or made the hash marks meaningful at the 12, 3, 6, and 9 o’clock positions. Regardless, TDC is wherever you say it is. Everyone will be different, but it would have helped
 
Take the liner tension nut out of the equation by installing a cf tube which it would bottom out on if the tube is cut to the right length it should keep the liner more straight otherwise the torque on that nut is going to change ever thing because it will bow the liner I would start out by torquing to like 60 inlbs and go from there once you find a good number by testing stick to it 
 
yes. there are a lot of variables in place at the moment. previously with my old mold i could reach out to 208 yards consistently. the new mold is super close to the old one now. I can hit 208 yards but still not as consistently as i was. Now finding my tune was way off, may be the reason. the ammo is casting good and consistent. I seen about 5 fps variance over the chronograph with the slugs sized to .249" after casting. the new barrel tuner it also a few hairs shorter on the backend close to the receiver. I'm now in the process of getting a new spacer printed out to eliminate the gap and tighten things up. this had helped a lot with just the basic shroud.

I never did swap back over to the .25 liner. I am just keeping mine setup in .30 caliber. The problem with the .30 cal is the cone shaped shroud end and finding a consistent repeatable spacer for it. I am using a modified HD battery cap at the moment that works well if left alone. The .25 is flush on the end, so not a big deal. I just use a painted plumbing fitting. Still difficult to repeat once removed. Not sure what is available in the aftermarket, when I searched i didn't find anything available.

i got the same coned end on my .25 cal shroud and the .22 cal barrel setup as well. no flat ends like the original barrels had. I know have a spacer that prints and fits well. it is just a slight bit too long, but it works to eliminate e the gap and snug things up nicely.
 
I think I have the issue sorted. apparently we cant treat the barrel tuner shroud system like the original shrouds by having a spacer to tighten up to the receiver to make things more rigid. it doesn't help. I removed my spacer and now things are looking better. I have been able to finally get sighted in and can hit what I aim for. Now time to dial the barrel tuner and see what I end up with.
 
shot chart without spacer in place to tighten up to receiver. groups have shrunk with number 7 showing the best spot. more testing needed yet. not happy with speed loss. 840 average. that 40 or so less than first chart. so obviously gun is not dialed in yet. reset second reg to 125 bar. might need a bit more hammer hit. this has slug kit installed but using factory probe. may put the pin probe back in to see if things get better or worse.

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