Is it possible to optimize a rifle for a specific ammo?

[BigFatGuy]

we hear all the time that "x ammo works great with my rifle, but Y ammo shoots like crap"... "my rifle loves the 20gn ammo, but hates the 17gn ammo", etc.

This seems a particular issue with rimfire rifles, especially since we really like making tiny holes at long distances.

If I brought a gunsmith a rifle, and a box of ammo, would it be possible to tune a rifle to "prefer" an ammo that it currently "doesn't like"?

[theLBC]

if you change the barrel, maybe.

[71MUSTY]

Sure just bring him a wheelbase of cash and plenty of time. Might take him 4 to 30 barrels and lots of patients.

Probably need to bring him about 10K of the ammo too since he will have to test each build until he finds which one works best.


Not trying to be sarcastic but what you are asking is likely almost but not quite impossible.

Unfortunately it could take him a lifetime and lots of $$$$$

[sofbak]

This is about your only realistic option:

https://limbsaver.com/products/sharpshooter-x-ring-barrel-dampener

You can tune a piano, but you can't tune a rifle, and you can't tuna fish=.

1 down, 21 to go.

[870classic]

Sounds like a forced marriage. (Making a specific rifle shoot well with only one specific ammo.)

Just find the right ammo for the rifle.

[BigFatGuy]

In some cases (lead free hunting?) The ammo selection is the limiting factor.

[BigFatGuy]

https://limbsaver.com/products/sharpshooter-x-ring-barrel-dampener

.

That's fascinating... I assume you have to do some "tuning" to find the highest-amplitude part of the wave in the barrel... does it work?

Is "barrel whip" really the primary driver of ammo/rifle incompatibility?

This is the first I've heard of such a thing, but this has the potential to be the exact answer to my question. :-)

[Thefeeder]

><

es, a smith can, if the chamber is smaller then what you want....very unlikely. And not a cheep job, wait a year or two if you even find a snith to do it

Yes, high end rifles can be ordered with a chamber cut to a specific ammo....I believe Vorquatsen did it at one time. Then maybe throw in a twist rate to better suit the light non-tox bullets. Whats your credit card limit?


Down side....... ammo, if the ammo is not top quality, it will be inconsistent and inherently inaccurate. Nothing you can do to a rifle to make bulk ammo shoot with match results

IMO its a waste of a good chunk of money.

There are some barrel harmonic tuners for 22's ....may help. Again how consistent is the ammo your using?

[BigFatGuy]

Again how consistent is the ammo your using?

This is the issue...

I actually don't know if I have a problem yet, this is just a question that came to me and I figured would be interesting, but the primary use of my new .17HMR rifles is small game hunting, and if one of the two brands of lead-free .17HMR ammo doesn't work well it will limit my hunting range... which I've already been through with lead-free .22LR.

[Pardini]

That's fascinating... I assume you have to do some "tuning" to find the highest-amplitude part of the wave in the barrel... does it work?

Is "barrel whip" really the primary driver of ammo/rifle incompatibility?

This is the first I've heard of such a thing, but this has the potential to be the exact answer to my question. :-)

It's a poormans tuner. The upside is it fits most any barrel OD. The downside is there isn't any way to make precise repeatable adjustments to it.

[BigFatGuy]

It's a poormans tuner. .

What would a rich man use?

(just for reference. I ain't rich...)

[sofbak]

snip.... The downside is there isn't any way to make precise repeatable adjustments to it.

What prevents "precise repeatable adjustments" with it?


4 down, 18 to go.

[smoothy8500]

What would a rich man use?

(just for reference. I ain't rich...)

More common in benchrest competition, either centerfire or rimfire.

http://bulletin.accurateshooter.com/tag/barrel-tuner/

http://harrellsprec.com/index.php/products/harrell-rimfire-tuners-403

[LynnJr]

The world's most accurate 22 Rimfires ALL use tuners.

The smallest group ever fired with a centerfire rifle was done with a tuner.

Tuners work and they work very well.

On your original question most accuracy gunsmiths build rifles to shoot specific ammunition.
In Rimfire Benchrest 99% of all the top dogs use Eley.
Lapua and RWS are used they just don't dominate the sport.
If your shooting 17 and 20 grain bullets your most likely not shooting a 22 Rimfire.
On a 22 Rimfire where a tuner is not allowed like in sporter class the barrel has a bulbous muzzle on it. The gunsmith will measure the barrel then shoot the gun and measure the groups. The gunsmith will then cut the muzzle shorter XXX distance and shoot the gun again. The gunsmith will continue the shortening process until the gun shoots to the limit of the ammunition.
In a 17 HMR or similar type rifle the gunsmith would chamber the barrel with a zero freebore reamer and then throat the chamber to fit the ammunition of your choice.

This is all very common in competitive shooting.

The bottom picture is of a black Harrell's/Hoehn tuner on my 52 D next to a silver Harrell's/Hoehn on a 6 Dasher but I have used Roger Von Aherns Stiller and Fudd tuners as well.

[covingtonhouse]

Also realize thst rimfire ammo varies by lot. Even the Eley, Lapua/SK and RWS. What shoots lights out now, may not when you go to buy again. Weighing ammo and sorting it by weight is another accuracy tool. Most premier ammo is very consistent though. A tenth of a grain in powder charge could be a difference maker at the elite level.