Mitigating Barrel Whip and Harmonics

[Shadowwalker]

Heavier barrels are not more accurate. They simply absorb more heat from repeated firing without heating up as much as a light barrel would.

There are 2 schools of thought on the harmonics thing... either dampen them to death or support and accentuate them. My match rifles sit in aluminum chassis and get the actions epoxy bedded, the recoil lugs epoxy bedded, the scope rail epoxy bedded and many other little things get done which in the end net me a rifle that positively rings like a bell when you cycle the bolt. There are no voids for vibrations to have trouble crossing.

I know quite a number of people that have dampeners on their barrels. I can't say it has definitely helped anyone with anything. To me it looks like a way to take 10 bucks from people that are desperate.

 

[Shadowwalker]

There is more to BOSS than a muzzle device. Look at the patent & a BOSS gun & you'll see there is a certain barrel taper and a special hard rubber bedding with it.
It's a comprehensive system, well beyond aftermarket add-ons.

Must be why those benchrest guys use skinny barrels. You know not of what you speak.

 

[JAYgs8163]

My understanding of fluting is to add surface area to allow the barrel to cool faster. I don't think has any influence on dampening for harmonics.

100% correct!

 

[Shadowwalker]

My understanding of fluting is to add surface area to allow the barrel to cool faster. I don't think has any influence on dampening for harmonics.

Fluting if you know anything about barrel making was an education for us BR guys. Fluting was developed to get guns from the LV to Sporter class in Benchrest, to lighten bbls only and cosmetics. You know chrome makes it go faster. However if you get inside with a air gauge you are about to get an education. That's why you do not see BR barrels fluted any more, you may but not by the enlightened.

 

[richhymas]

I am a "young" guy who shoots PRS casually and hunts. I recently started shooting benchrest at 600 yards with a bunch of old timers. I witnessed last week a guy who couldn't get his gun to shoot or tune, so he took a cereal box and wedges it into the front of the stock so there is excessive pressure between the front of the stock and the barrel and he immediately began shooting sub 2" groups at 600 yards. He happened to win that match with both the best score and the tightest composite group. This was with a benchrest gun, but proves the fact mentioned earlier that there are 2 schools of thought and both work. The key is consistency. Either totally dampen the harmonics or let the barrel "ring" consistently. Both work as long as it does the same thing every shot. The question for a hunting rifle is which one will be most consistent across variable conditions from a cold barrel.

 

[emp1953]

Two things to consider in a magnum cartridge whether you have a heavy barrel or not. The barrel will heat up after multiple shots. Expansion of the barrel will cause your POI to change. The second thing is something I hadn't considered until I heard John Krieger (of Krieger barrels) talk about it. Depending on the air temperature a heat mirage will be created right down your sight path as the barrel heats up. In some rifles this can happen in 3 shots. Put a scope in the mix and it magnifies the mirage, like trying to hit a moving target at 500 yds. Krieger knows something about barrels.

 

[Backcountry sports]

In theory, the dampener doesn't cause any problems because it doesn't hit something solid like the stock. The barrel can still vibrate as its going to, just not as much. When it hits a stock, it's vibration is interrupted on only one side (this is my non-engineering, simple minded explanation, of course) which can throw it off. I'm not convinced the dampeners do much of anything compared to sum of the other factors (quality of barrel, bedding, type of bullet, muzzle velocity, shooter ability, etc). I agree with others, the BOSS did allow you to tune your rifle to your cartridge and so it did help at least a little.

Finding the right velocity and getting your bullets to shoot as close to that velocity time after time will give you more accuracy than adding a dampener.

 

[Backcountry sports]

Limbsaver barrel damper works been using them on hunting rifles they decreased the groups about a .5 of a inch they have them for bull barrels also

 

[PApa Black]

I'm deciding on a barrel contour for a hunting rifle build (300 PRC) and my research on barrels has brought to light the question of barrel whip.

We know that heavier barrels are supposed to be more accurate, but I wonder what can be done to mitigate the loss of accuracy as one goes with a lighter barrel.

I have a theory that fluting a barrel helps mitigate barrel whip. Any thoughts on this?

I also came across a strange contraption on Amazon: "LimbSaver Sharpshooter X-Ring Barrel Dampener." For $9.99, people are swearing that this thing is helping their groups considerably. Is this for real? Is it only helpful to light-weight barrels? Why would this be okay but having a floating barrel be so important?

I have 3 barrels with LimbSaver dampeners. All 3 are sporter counter ( pencil barrels) . The dampener reduced the 100 yard group from 3MOA to sub MOA. They are tricky to find the right location on the barrel. In my case they work!

 

[rustyshackleford]

If you have two barrels of the same mass, one being fluted and one is not, the fluted barrel will be stiffer due to a higher moment of inertia. However, if the fluted barrel hadn't been fluted, it would be more more stiff. Fluting obviously removes mass and in the process part of your barrel that could absorb heat. I believe it also can impart stresses into the barrel. Personally, I'd just get a contour that met my objectives without the need for fluting.

 

[Ranger Rick]

I have used the de resonator rings, they work, and they work very well, move the ring 1/2" at a time. I start with the ring just off the forearm tip and move toward the muzzle.

https://www.bing.com/videos/search?...FD7CCDEB706DBA87697BFD7CCDEB706D&&FORM=VDRVRV

A friend invented the Browning Boss system, and they work in spades. Accuracy ends up being a single ragged bullet hole, even with BAR's in 7 Mag, 30/06, and 270 that I have had them on.

Don't over look standard tuners, and they are easy to use, just different...

Harrells precision makes a dandy for $95

http://harrellsprec.com/index.php/products/tuner-brakes

RAS tuner brake

https://www.bing.com/videos/search?...01D3AF49C8E07A5A773301D3AF49C8E07A5&FORM=VIRE

Mike Ezel tuner

http://www.ezellcustomrifles.com/home-3/pdt-tuners/

First time you put a tuner ring on your barrel, you will be impressed. Focus the groups shooting two shot groups...hard to believe just how simple this works.

Thank you Keith for another information packed helpful post!

 

[Toolhand]

From what I have seen smaller/longer barrel contours can be very accurate but they are more finicky. The accuracy nodes don't seem to be as wide as with bigger profile/shorter barrels. Everything equal The harmonics are gonna be greater on the smaller profile longer barrels due to simple physics. This means ur reloading practices are gonna have to be very consistent leaving less room for error in neck tension/ powder charges/ temp stability etc. just my .02 for what it's worth.

 

[Hatrick]

Does it matter what way the donut faces?

 

[tomsd]

I have used the de resonator rings, they work, and they work very well, move the ring 1/2" at a time. I start with the ring just off the forearm tip and move toward the muzzle.

https://www.bing.com/videos/search?...FD7CCDEB706DBA87697BFD7CCDEB706D&&FORM=VDRVRV

A friend invented the Browning Boss system, and they work in spades. Accuracy ends up being a single ragged bullet hole, even with BAR's in 7 Mag, 30/06, and 270 that I have had them on.

Don't over look standard tuners, and they are easy to use, just different...

Harrells precision makes a dandy for $95

http://harrellsprec.com/index.php/products/tuner-brakes

RAS tuner brake

https://www.bing.com/videos/search?...01D3AF49C8E07A5A773301D3AF49C8E07A5&FORM=VIRE

Mike Ezel tuner

http://www.ezellcustomrifles.com/home-3/pdt-tuners/

First time you put a tuner ring on your barrel, you will be impressed. Focus the groups shooting two shot groups...hard to believe just how simple this works.

Thanks - will check this out. Almost bought a rifle with the BOSS system. Should have in hindsight.