Why I Stopped Using Tuners

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[emmettdibble]

In a former life I built, tuned and raced motorcycles… KISS is a universal approach to complex problems and “most” successful people employ it. Lower YOUR workload so you can perform better. Good video.

[matthasaname]

Love the logic here. I've always said that shooters are a lot like golfers. When their game isn't up to standard, a lot of times they just throw money at the problem rather than focus self improvement. I'm at the extreme early stages of long range shooting and don't know what I don't know yet, but I can appreciate the mentality of just focusing on my skills rather than buying another tool to lug around. Saw a dude at the range with a full blown weather station and a laptop the other day. Come on man, really?
Great content. Thanks!

[MrMillez]

Great info. I really appreciate you sharing this clear info. There is so much information on reloading on the internet it’s overwhelming. You videos try to cut to the chase and it’s great.

[douglasbattjes]

ABSOULTY, feel the same, so much effort to do all you development and testing, then over with a tuner, I did put one on a 6.5 C, set on zero, it shot .20 groups, but did that before. Thanks for the update.

[toddb]

Thank you for your thoughts on tuners, Keith. I'm just getting started in the short range benchrest game. A couple friends of mine who have been doing benchrest for a long while have tried tuners and no longer use them. I haven't gotten to the point where I pick their brains for the reason why. For now I'm not going to use a tuner but rather develop a load using Tony Boyer's approach to arrive at a powder charge weight and bullet seating depth.

[toddfez]

Lots of trips to the range and lots of rounds for load development. EC-TUNER saved me lots of time and money.

[patrickrichard]

Very interesting presentation delivered, as always, dispassionately while presenting well thought of arguments. Personally, point #3 applies more than the other two due to lack of experience but my take, when it comes to technological matters, is that parsimony is desirable and something to strive for. The fewer things can go wrong, the fewer things to worry about.

I think this was more a lab coat than a sports jacket video... 🙂

[longship]

Thanks Keith, that was very informative. I was considering a tuner but on the basis of your video I won't. Also, Bryan Litz did extensive testing of tuners with several calibres and after approx 800 rounds per barrel he concluded that a tuner will not come up with a REPEATABLE best load.

[rayzar]

Very valid in your 3 points. I've got a tuner for my 22LR which has helped shrink the groups very tight. As for my centre fire rifles you are dead on the money with good loads and seating depth tests. Thankyou for doing this and now get that suit and your wife out for a nice meal 👍

[mickroberts]

It is great to hear pure logic. This is exactly why I don't use tuners neither (FTR). There is enough variables at play, the last thing I need is another one, especially since its benefits are so easily outweighed by risk.

[ronsmith]

I use 3 tuner/brakes on 3 rifles same reamer cut chambers same twist barrels. Various round count barrels as well. All compete 1k VBR, load is the same across the board annealed, turned necks, trimmed, primer pockets uniformed, neck bushing fls, mandrel uniform, etc each firing less the neck trim of course. Custom bullets cnc turned and HBN coated. The load is the same and the tuner dials it in individually for each rifle. 6bra chambered, kreiger and brux barrels. Tuner/brake also kept my wife shooting with me, she had 3 shoulder surgeries and trying to keep her company at matches. So Keith I enjoy your podcasts and have applied to my own loading and shooting, keep up the good work.
Thank you
Ron Smith

[JamesMcClure-lv]

Well said, they are all valid points that you mentioned.
I’ve found constant loading and shooting form has given me the results I’m after, rather then adding a tuner or muzzle brake and adding another variable.

[daviddale]

Sincerely, thank you. I have shot exactly seven 600 yard F-Class events. The first five with a .308 whose receiver dates to the early 1940s (an Italian heritage Mauser) average was 357.8, woo hoo. The next two events I was allowed to shoot my .260 Remington with EC Muzzle Brake/Tuner in the open class. Average score there 376.5. My immediate goal was to average 360 (or to keep everything in the nine ring at 600 yards). These are my hunting guns and the objective was to improve my shooting. I have shot a variety of projectiles to arrive at a suitable "target" load. I know that physics dictates that the greater the density, overall mass, and barrel length the higher the frequency and the less the amplitude. The tuner has made it possible to shoot a variety of different weight projectiles to achieve my less than one MOA goal. Just saying.

[DLN-ixvf]

I believe tuners really shine with factory barrels & recreational shooters.
As far as costs go my factory barrel was threaded and I purchased a Harrells tuner/brake for approx. $100.00 which is not very much. It would cost me well over $1k to buy a precision barrel and have the action machined so costs truly is not a factor.
My groups for my 223 have been reduced from 5/8" to 3/8" @ 100 yds. plus I reload the same all the time so no variance there. 😀

[snowman]

For those of us that can’t afford full custom rifles and spending endless hours at the loading bench & range, tuners are a god send and have saved me time & $$.

[MH-ycwm]

I don’t have $$$ to buy $5k rifle, so I setup my tuner to the best I know and forget it after that. It improved ~$1k rifle from sub MOA to sub 0.5 MOA. I don’t keep changing the tuner settings

[asullivani]

Im not a competitive shooter, so the keep it simple approach is something I can relate to. Thanks for the information and honesty in your experience with these tuners.

[randylong]

Words of wisdom! All the guys trying to sell stuff are not going to like this!!

[marknyp]

I'm glad a shooter of note, has finally shared this insight. Many thanks Keith.

[TunerPlinker]

Depends on what you are shooting. For 22LR, definitely need a tuner. Barrel profile is also important. Carbon fiber barrel are fantastic with tuners. In addition to tuners, I've added collars to my CF barrel and it practically shoot tight groups no matter what ammo I put in it. Adding collars changed the harmonics and POI, etc. The math is there to prove it out.