Ever notice the fancy little gadgets hung on or under the barrel of the rifles of the leading competitors . . . some resemble the adjustment sleeve of a micrometer, but much larger . . . others are various shaped blocks or rods of metal hung under, or clamped around the barrels.    These accessories are known generically as Tuners or Vibration Controllers.    The primary purpose of most of these adjustable "weights" is to "tune" the vibration characteristics of the rifle barrel such that when a shot is fired, the muzzle opening is exactly at, or very close to a vibration node point.    A somewhat different style of device is also used which is less rigidly clamped to the barrel . . . it also consists of an adjustable weight, but is isolated from the barrel itself by an intervening layer of elastomeric material . . . think "Silly Putty" . . . that acts as a vibration damper.

The first type tunes the vibration characteristics of the barrel . . . different for every ammo brand or even manufactured batch.    In general, it requires much time and effort at the range, and expenditure of ammo to arrive at this optimum setting for that rifle, ammo and tuner.    The second type seeks to minimise or eliminate the barrel vibration by damping it out in as short a time as possible . . . preferably before the bullet exits the muzzle.    It tends to be a much simpler device to adjust, with far less expenditure of expensive competition ammo.

This second type, like the first, is available commercially.    The Henrich device, originally developed for the US Olympic Air Rifle team, and later modified for smallbore usage, is probably the best known pattern.    All these commercial devices are relatively expensive, and in some cases have to be pre-machined to fit exactly on your rifle barrel.    A fairly simple device of this type can be fabricated in a few minutes using parts taken either from your shooting junkbox, or readily available at your local sporting goods outfitter.

The above photos show the unit I put together for my Anschutz 1907.    This rifle is typical of many Anschutz models having a barrel of about 0.9 inches in diameter, with a bulbous muzzle ending of a little over 1 inch in diameter.    To make a tuning device of this type you will need a pair of good quality 1 inch Weaver scope rings, a fairly long and thick Weaver mounting rail, and a few inches of rubber splicing tape, (this is the mouldable thick kind that electricians use for wrapping splices in heavy cable).    In my case the rings and rail came from a set from BK that were originally intended for a WW1 Remington P.14 or P.17 rifle.

First step is to wrap two pieces of the tape around the barrel close to the muzzle bulb . . . the number of turns to be wrapped should be determined by trial fitting of the ring halves . . . they should fit snugly so as to lightly compress the rubber.    The ring and tape spacing is determined by the groove spacing on the Weaver mounting rail.    Mount the rings to the barrel using the rail to maintain correct alignment.    Go out and shoot !

Your barrel diameter is already 1 inch or more ?    Try 30mm rings instead !

Too simple, you say . . . well you may have to try differing positions, fore and aft, for locating the rail . . . the location that gives you the smallest group is the one you want !