developing a handload with or without a resonator

bungiex88 · May 21, 2015, 10:59 AM

My question is should you develop a load with or without a resonator on. Should a develop a load get it as tight as possible then apply the resonator and mess with it. I know the resonator works on my rifle depending on where I put it would increase and decrease my groups.

jwrowland77 · May 21, 2015, 11:04 AM

If the load is worked up correctly and you take your time, shouldn't need the resonator anymore.

Match or hunting depends on how much time I spend tweaking a load.

But if you're set on using it, I would put it in after. Like if you were using factory ammo.

**Unclenick** · May 21, 2015, 11:44 AM

While you can tune a load to the rifle without the barrel tuner (is this a Browning BOSS or similar device?), it will cause you to be limited to certain velocities that result from the bullet and powder charge combinations that work without the tuner. The whole point of the tuner is to let you tune in whatever load you choose to shoot and not be married to those particular combinations. So my approach would be to set the tuner on its mid-range adjustment point or, in the case of the BOSS, the middle of the range they recommend for my bullet weight, then work up the load to the pressure and velocity range I was comfortable with for whatever shooting purpose I had in mind. Then I would finally adjust the tuner to further minimize group size.

If you want to try tuning a load first, then bringing the tuner into play to see if it can improve the result further, that's a perfectly good experiment, but in theory, it shouldn't be necessary. I'm inclined to think the tuner changes the dynamics enough that there may be an advantage in having it there during the initial workup. Once you have the loads tuned as best you can, then try messing with other precision loading techniques to eliminate bullet runout, case runout, more careful primer seating, case preparation steps and such to see if groups get still tighter.

May 21, 2015, 10:59 AM	#1
bungiex88 Senior Member Join Date: May 14, 2015 Location: central pa Posts: 264	developing a handload with or without a resonator My question is should you develop a load with or without a resonator on. Should a develop a load get it as tight as possible then apply the resonator and mess with it. I know the resonator works on my rifle depending on where I put it would increase and decrease my groups.

May 21, 2015, 11:04 AM	#2
jwrowland77 Senior Member Join Date: March 23, 2012 Location: Conway, Arkansas Posts: 1,398	developing a handload with or without a resonator If the load is worked up correctly and you take your time, shouldn't need the resonator anymore. Match or hunting depends on how much time I spend tweaking a load. But if you're set on using it, I would put it in after. Like if you were using factory ammo.

May 21, 2015, 11:44 AM	#3
Unclenick Staff Join Date: March 4, 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 21,061	While you can tune a load to the rifle without the barrel tuner (is this a Browning BOSS or similar device?), it will cause you to be limited to certain velocities that result from the bullet and powder charge combinations that work without the tuner. The whole point of the tuner is to let you tune in whatever load you choose to shoot and not be married to those particular combinations. So my approach would be to set the tuner on its mid-range adjustment point or, in the case of the BOSS, the middle of the range they recommend for my bullet weight, then work up the load to the pressure and velocity range I was comfortable with for whatever shooting purpose I had in mind. Then I would finally adjust the tuner to further minimize group size. If you want to try tuning a load first, then bringing the tuner into play to see if it can improve the result further, that's a perfectly good experiment, but in theory, it shouldn't be necessary. I'm inclined to think the tuner changes the dynamics enough that there may be an advantage in having it there during the initial workup. Once you have the loads tuned as best you can, then try messing with other precision loading techniques to eliminate bullet runout, case runout, more careful primer seating, case preparation steps and such to see if groups get still tighter. __________________ Gunsite Orange Hat Family Member CMP Certified GSM Master Instructor NRA Certified Rifle Instructor NRA Benefactor Member and Golden Eagle Last edited by Unclenick; May 21, 2015 at 11:50 AM.