Barrel Extension

[GunOwner]

I keep reading that muzzle brakes improve accuracy due to the weight stabilizing the barrel but having used a brake on other guns I know they make them a LOT louder especially for people to the left and right on the firing line. Has anyone tried adding a barrel extention - a simple lump of metal like a brake but with no holes in it so it is not a brake (or in CA not a flash hider) to see if this would give the same accuracy benefit without the increase in noise?

[kwg020]

I have an Yugo model 56 SKS with the grenade launcher that is about 3 inches long and no holes in the side. It does a good job of channeling the noise out in front of you and seems much quieter than rifles with typical flash suppressors. kwg

[tri70]

I've seen some mini's in the gallery that have a break on them that the holes are drilled on the end and direct blast forward. I think ASI offers them, may have to get one of them.

[lobo creek]

The barrel extension doesn't have to have any holes in it to improve accuracy. Read the article in the post titled " Great article on how a barrel tuner works". The trick is to find an extension with the right weight and length to move the node (a point on the barrel that doesn't vibrate) to the end of the muzzle. The end of the extension acts like the end of the barrel and will vibrate, but the barrel"s muzzle stays put. Experimenting with tube lengths and weights will get you the right combination for your rifle.

[GunOwner]

That is good to hear - unfortunately I am not a machinist so I need to find something that is already made or otherwise easily attached to the Mini-14. Any idea where I can find some things to try?

[tri70]

I have a strut with 2 clamps, they are made from aluminum, a nice guy on this board had sent them to me. I was at the range the other day and noticed that if I loosened the clamp closest to the gas block and kept the one toward the muzzle tight, it shot good groups with all the ammo I fed it from my handload stash. I have a carbon steel rod 1/2 diameter and about 3'' long to give weight, plus I have a muzzle break. I have to try and get out this weekend and see if I'm still getting good groups or just a lucky day at the range. I should be getting my biathlon stabilizer any day now, can't wait to try it also. I wonder if 1 clamp with a steel rod or weight attached would work as well, I will need to try it. The only bad thing it is going to be icy/rainy all weekend!:blink: I may just have to sit and do more reloading.;) I did get out today and bought more reloading supplies just in case.:D

[lobo creek]

I found a tube that as it turns out was a couple of thousands of an inch too small to slip onto the barrel of my mini. Using a 1/2" wood dowel about 7" long and equal lengths of one inch wide sanding belt material (60 and 80 grit) I've managed to get the tube to slip on a distance of 3 1/2". I've been working the dowel and abrasive strip in a back and forth motion. The tube's internal dimension is supposed to measure .563" but using telescoping tube gages (chinese made) and a dial caliper the measurement comes out a bit shy at .560". My minis barrel measures .562". I only need 3/4" more for the tube to reach the mini's barrel hump. The tube I used has an O.D. of .875" and a wall thickness of .156" and is rather heavy at about 1.595 oz. per inch. http://www.onlinemetals.com/merchant.cfm?pid=10617&step=4&showunits=inches The sanding belts I used are from 1" x 42" belts from my belt/disc sander.

[countrysmith]

does anybody know where this thread is?? " Great article on how a barrel tuner works".

[lobo creek]

Here's the article. http://www.precisionshooting.com/psm_2005_03_issue.html

[countrysmith]

thanks alot it looks like a good article