Spearhead Barrel Tuner 22LR Results

[waynewjw]

Rifle is a CZ 457 Varmint Precision .22LR - 24" barrel with Bushnell Elite Tactical 3.5-21x50 DMR3 scope G4P Reticle. I shot SK Rifle Match 40 gr. ammo for both days tests although today I also tried SK Long Range Match and RWS Target Rifle at same setting. SKLRM placed third and RWS was 2nd behind the SK Rifle Match in this rifle. Distance both days was 48meters.

Tested the Spearhead tuner twice in the past 3 days. 1st day results as per picture below showing some definite improvements. However, after I finished I decided to tighten the set screws....Ops...not the thing to do and I realized it as soon as I did it. Not ideal test conditions, although weather was nice the wind was blowing 4-6 mph+ and 9C temp. so perhaps not the best conditions for test results, but I liked what I achieved 1st time out.



My initial thoughts on this tuner, with my limited experience using a tuner as this would be the 1st. Very well built, quality is superb and adjustments to tune are easy to setup. I started at 0 setting and then went up in 0.1 increments. I should probably have went up by 0.5 setting per each 3 shot group but 1st time out I wanted to ensure that I didn't miss the sweet spot. At 1.0 setting I achieved a 0.096" (less than 1/8") group...WOW. So for the 1st time out and first tests I am pretty pleased with this piece of gear. Would like to try one on my .243 precision in the future.







Prior to heading out to the range today I unscrewed the tuner screws to be flush with the outside of the tuner, then turned each one in the same amount and tight enough so that my results would be consistent and I wouldn't need to use the allen key to reset in the future.

Results are below with 2 different settings achieving great results but small sample size and even more windy conditions today. So 1st setting is close to 1st day results and then dialed up to 7.5 for another tight group in both cases 3/16" or less. So interesting results as 2 different settings gave me accurate readings....but more testing required and in no wind or less windy conditions. So will continue to test this tuner but I like what I'm achieving so far. I'd recommend the Spearhead tuner to anyone that wants tighter groups. And I'm hopeful to achieve so competitive results in PRS competition in May.



Same setting today and testing 3 different rimfire ammo's.



Kevin and Will make a great Canadian product. I'm also pretty happy with their brakes which are on a rimfire and centerfire rifle. Impressed!

[Big Sky]

Lots of interesting information. Thanks for putting this together.

[waynewjw]

Further testing is required. With great results at 2 different settings, I need to determine if I was a lucky shot on one of the groups or….? I need wind conditions to die down for several future tests to get some quantifiable data and tuner settings. Then need to move out to 100m although at our range the berm and target stop is setup at 90m.

Anyway it’s fun to do. We have a precision shoot at our range every Wednesday with our local group of rimfire precision shooters. Hope for no wind and the ability to post further results.

[Buckhead]

I'm not really seeing anything there except the ammo inconsistencies, particularly with the 3 shot groups.
The average of 5 - 5 shot groups or 3 - 10 shot groups is a far better indicator for tuner testing IMO. If the ammo shoots consistently well. Tuners can't make bad ammo shoot well, only good ammo shoot a little better.

[6.5 shooter]

My thought is that you need to stretch it out to 100yds. most .22LR ammo shoots well to 50 yards but after that the wheat soon separates from the chaff.
5 shot groups are OK but 10 shoots is even better.

Thing is you will probably end up saving ammo at 100 yards in your testing because the groups will soon tell you if you have a stud or a dud after only a few rounds.

[waynewjw]

I agree on 10 shot groups and at 100 yards. Most of the 3 shot groups would be acceptable at 50m but 100 yds will provide more accurate results. Just need to pick a day without wind. Stayed tuned!

[DLab]

I just started playing with a tuner also, center fire though, I think the basics should apply either way.
Did you shoot all your ammo with the tuner in a fixed position first to determine which was most accurate for a baseline to compare? If not, how do you know you're not just chasing your tail, so to speak? I just tested 4 brands/types of Match rimfire ammo, including 2 your using, this weekend in my Tikka with one brand clearly better.
Backing the tuner into the barrel tenon shoulder will give you a start point of reference to return to should you need to, mark your barrel with a reference point for a zero.

The most common mistake with first time users, from what I've read, is making too large of increment adjustments, missing nodes. My tuner has 7/8- 32 TPI for tiny adjustments, yours is 1/2-20 TPI ?
I noticed your first targets only showed whole number settings, then half numbers on the others.

I cut my bull test targets into one row horizontal strips to cover one full revolution, making it easier to read the sinul wave pattern which should show.
From what I understand you should be able to find a node within one full turn, then it should repeat the pattern.
Also, I think it's likely key that you use the same tension on your set screws, I opted for the single screw clamp type tuner.

I think 5 shot groups for initial testing should suffice, with SK priced at $12-$13.00/ box 10 shots strings at each setting, 20 settings, can add up fast. Do a little reading on the recommended distance for rimfire tuning, you may end up needing one setting for 50yds. another for 100, just a guess. Rimfire Central Forum for all things Rimfire would be my suggestion.
Good luck.

[waynewjw]

So the tuner is new, the rifle and ammo preference not so much as I've been shooting with this combo since last summer. My 457 is definitely more accurate with the SK Rifle Match and less so with SK Long Range, 3rd most accurate is RWS Target Rifle. I need to shoot larger groups of 5 or 10 round per at 50 and 100 to confirm the sweet spots on the tuner.

I started at 0.0 setting in 0.1 increments, but once I went thru to 1.0 I realized I was burning through a lot of ammo to find the best setting so I then dialed up at 1/2 revolution (0.5 turns) per each 3-shot group.

Next time out at 5/10 shots per I will use the settings as above and then go one increment above and one below to see if groups tighten or widen. If inconsistent then back to the starting point.

[waynewjw]

So I'm now testing the Spearhead Brake/Tuner combo. Test rifle is a Savage Axis II Precision in .243, pretty much an entry level rifle for competition. To date, I've had no issues with how accurate this rifle has been. I've initially been shooting with a Spearhead 4 port self timing brake on this rifle and can't say enough about the great quality products that Kevin and Will produce. So when the brake/tuner combo arrived, I decided I'd undertake some initial testing on my .243. I'm shooting hand loads using Hornady 105 gr A-Max bullets set into Federal cases. Our 100 yard range berm with meter target is 96m so that is the distance all of my rounds have been fired at.



July 23 was initial testing, a few shots to sight in as I had cleaned the barrel a few days earlier. As you can see the 1st two targets were 3-shot with brake only (and I know that many profess that a true test is a minimum of 5 rounds, which I may get to as the tuning process continues) unless otherwise noted on the targets. So once I removed the brake and tuner out of the box, I again must comment on the great quality, fit and finish of the Spearhead products, they are excellent. Once fitted I set out to test and tune. The July 23 targets showed the best accuracy at 5.2 Node setting which was 5 compete rotations and then starting to fine tune. At this point I was out of ammo, so it was back to the reloading room.




So I've now got some new reloads built and it's back to the range on Aug. 13. Temperature was considerably warmer but no wind so I felt it was ideal weather to test the next round of tuning. After the decent groups at the 5.2 node setting in July I decided to continue starting at 5.2 and then moving up 0.1 setting per 3-shot group. Initial 5.4 node setting showed promise but the last 5-shot groups at the 5.4 node setting didn't produce the consistency I was hoping for, in part it may be responsible for the person pulling the trigger, not mentioning any names LOL. I also had adjusted the OAL for 10 bullets when reloading to see if I could obtain more accuracy but as you can see the last 2 targets with 5 shots each didn't improve on the previous results. Time to call it a day as the temperature was getting somewhat too hot in the low 30's.



So I took the remaining bullets at longer OAL and reset them to 2.786" length. Aug. 15 weather was going to definitely be hot with forecasting into the high 30's and maybe even low 40's so I hit the range pretty early. Sunny day and wind was 2kph so not an issue at 96m. I started where I left off at the 5.4 node setting which showed promise. And this time I shot 2 targets of 3-shots each to obtain a better reading on the results. As you can see the 5.8 node setting has shown real promise but now I'm out of bullets. So back to the reloading room, tumble 100 cases and anneal for next round of reloads. I will be back once this weather cools off somewhat hopefully back down to low 30's as daytime temps. Anyway, I am enjoying playing with the brake/tuner combo and look forward to obtaining even better results.



Anyone thinking about how well this combo will work can see the initial results I've obtained and I'm a rookie to the precision game but it sure the heck is a lot of fun. Stay tuned, no pun intended as I will be posting more results. And a Canadian made product for a few bucks, what not to like!