Batch Testing

[Brian_K]

Hi Guys,

I’m looking for some advice on the best way to select ammunition. I’m going to the RWS test facility in Germany next month.

Here’s my plan:

I’m going to take the tuner off the rifle and shoot a 25 target card using the On Target software I have. That should give me a 25 shot group from which I will be able to see the centre to centre average.

Take the target to Germany and try to find some ammo that will either match (it’s a pretty good batch), or preferably beat it.

Get the rifle and ammo home, fit the tuner and see if I can’t produce a better group (after a little tuning)

How’s that sound?

Brian

 

[Bill B]

I've never tested ammo with the tuner off. I tune a rifle with known good ammo, after that, I test ammo with the rifle in tune. You compete with a rifle with a tuner on it, why would you test with a bare barrel and then hope that you can to re-tune it to that ammo? I've never had trouble finding good lots of ammo testing with the tuner on and set to the sweet spot. The only reason I can think of doing it your way is if you are not confident that you have your rifle in good tune.

 

[Brian_K]

I've never tested ammo with the tuner off. I tune a rifle with known good ammo, after that, I test ammo with the rifle in tune. You compete with a rifle with a tuner on it, why would you test with a bare barrel and then hope that you can to re-tune it to that ammo? I've never had trouble finding good lots of ammo testing with the tuner on and set to the sweet spot. The only reason I can't think of doing it your way is if you are not confident that you have your rifle in good tune.

It was a good few years ago now that the then range officer at Eley recommended testing with a naked barrel. His comment at the time was “you are here to test the ammunition, not anything that’s bolted to the barrel” (or words to that effect).

I’m not committed either way and just wondered how you guys went about it. I’m taking a one piece rest over to Germany rather than barrel clamping it, so that should be of some assistance.

Brian

 

[tim]

You test ammo the exact way you plan on shooting it in a match, why would you consider doing it any other way?

 

[Bill B]

It was a good few years ago now that the then range officer at Eley recommended testing with a naked barrel. His comment at the time was “you are here to test the ammunition, not anything that’s bolted to the barrel” (or words to that effect).

I’m not committed either way and just wondered how you guys went about it. I’m taking a one piece rest over to Germany rather than barrel clamping it, so that should be of some assistance.

Brian

Ask the Eley Range officer how many rimfire BR matches he's won or what his experience is with those things that are bolted to the rifle. I've never witnessed anyone removing the tuner prior to testing ammo.

 

[Brian_K]

Bill/Tim, unfortunately the range office is no longer with us, it was a few years ago he made that statement and there would be no doubt his experience of benchrest rifles would have been limited at that time.

I’m just trying to cover all the bases. I have a new (to me) rifle and little time to set it up before heading off to Germany on the 10th February to test the ammo. Bill probably hit the nail on the head when he said “if you are not confident that you have your rifle in good tune.”

To give you the full details I set the tune using the Purdy system and ended up at this setting:

Then shot the following target:

Target 13, 5 shots with a pretty cold barrel, target 12 5 shots, then the top four targets, then the bottom four. All targets shot holding dead centre at 25yds indoors.

I guess the question is, would you consider that rifle in tune, or would you be looking for something better? Once I’m convinced the rifle is in tune then I’m happy to go looking for good ammo.

Brian

 

[Wilbur]

I'd say it's in tune.....never did any tuning at 25yds indoors but it looks good to me. Try it outdoors at 50 yards to be certain it's relatively the same.

 

[Brian_K]

I'd say it's in tune.....never did any tuning at 25yds indoors but it looks good to me. Try it outdoors at 50 yards to be certain it's relatively the same.

Circumstances I’m afraid Wilbur, I hope to be able to get out and test at 50m a week Wednesday. Freezing cold, rain and high winds aren't helping at the moment.

Brian

 

[Bill B]

That looks pretty good to me. Those are pretty tight groups. When you remove your tuner it will be out of tune, how is that different than testing with a tuner that looks to be either in tune or pretty damn close? I'd still test with the tuner on.

 

[Brian_K]

That looks pretty good to me. Those are pretty tight groups. When you remove your tuner it will be out of tune, how is that different than testing with a tuner that looks to be either in tune or pretty damn close? I'd still test with the tuner on.

Good enough for me Bill (Tim & Wilbur). I guess I was just concerned if the rifle wasn't in tune then it may be detrimental to any ammo selection and perhaps removing the tuner altogether would give the ammo a level playing field.

Probably just paranoia, but I’m feeling a lot happier now, thanks.

I’ll take some picture of the testing and put them up when I get back, I think it’s a little different from the way Eley do it.

Brian

 

[Brian_K]

RWS Test Facility

OK, got back from Germany late last night and thought I’d put a few pictures up.

We had around 18 batches of R50 to test and one batch of R50SC (short chamber). After several hours of testing I settled on a particular batch (668) which was rated at 334m/s. This had shot consistently well with ten shot groups ranging from 11.08mm to 12.35mm (at 50 meters). It did produce one bad group of 14.56mm but I put this down to the fact I had probably shot around 50 to 60 rounds without putting a patch through.

After testing I shot a couple of paper targets, not ideal as it was not easy to see the crosshairs on the black background and also shooting from a standing position, never the less not bad (10 shots which I measured at 12.57mm), a little more tuning needed and I think we should be somewhere near.

Out of interest, we ran the 334m/s ammunition over a PVM chronograph, first round with a totally cleaned barrel was 337.05m/s, 2nd round 335.40m/s, the next three rounds ranged between 333.92 and 334.02m/s………very impressive.

Christian Thomas - Range Officer

Brian

 

[steve br]

WoW that looks like a ton of fun!
Keep the tuner on by all means.