Anybody Else Seen This Yet?

[guns-o-fun]

I just got a new book from Amazon (about $36) called Rifle Accuracy Facts by Harold Vaughn.  This guy is a serious ballistics engineer.  There is no conventional wisdom here - just conclusions drawn from actual modern experimentation.  I am absolutely blown away by all the possible variables involved in accuracy - everything from various parts of guns themselves to the bullets we handload.  One major source of inaccuracy is the uneven distribution of strain in the forward receiver ring where the barrel screws into the action.  This can contribute greatly to barrel oscillations (vibrations) that can throw the muzzle out of alignment if they happen at the wrong time.  The nice thing - Handis obviously don't have this problem !  This is an awesome read - I am only about a 1/3rd of the way through and I am very impressed.  If you get a chance, you may want to check it out.

[gcrank1]

Ah.......another tome by a high priest on the dark art.....
I think trying to verify his conclusions by any reasonable method would probably make me give up.

[guns-o-fun]

All of the experimental methods are illustrated (photos and diagrams), explained and discussed.  The book is not brand new, BTW - it was published in 2009. I too have problems with the pundits who have very little basis for their assertions, but this seems to be completely legit.  He even suggests some fixes.  Some, like the "O'Connor Bedding Method" may actually be useful for some of my Handi forends.

[trotterlg]

I would say the forward receiver ring would relate to the Handi underlug.  If that is the case, I would say the stress distribution would be extremely unenven as the underlug is only on one side of the barrel!  He probably has some good observations, but it could also be a case of someone analizing stress while smoking pot.  Try some of his fixes and let us know if they work.  Larry

[guns-o-fun]

Yes - of course, the underlug is a problem as is forend pressure.  As far as the pot-smoking part, the guy has an MS in aerodynamics from the University of CO, and was director of the aerodynamics department at Sandia National Laboratories.  His interest in rifle ballistics grew out of a hobby that he has pursued over 45 years, big game hunting.  Check out the book if you ever get a chance.  If you are more technically inclined, he includes all of the equations and schematics for the equipment he set up including wiring diagrams.  Hope to try some of his suggestions.  He was experimenting primarily with bolt guns - but some info should also apply to Handi Rifles.

[BIGDAVE54]

I think this is the guy that worked for the US Air Force designing missle components as a ballistician. He helped land the mushroom bomb in the ball park on the center of the pitchers mound. He's one of the fellas that worked with Varmint Al during the Cold War. I worked on a rocket sled track in New Mexico where we shot their math formulas down range to see if they would fly.( If you have never heard of Al check out minilathe.com. He does links there where he checks out the stresses in brass when the bullets are fired)

[PowPow]

...As far as the pot-smoking part, the guy has an MS in aerodynamics from the University of CO...

What was John Denver singing about? Rocky Mountain high in Colorado...

Seriously, it sounds interesting and has probably had some kind of peer review, unlike something entitled "Posted by: PowPow".