Tuner system and method for rifles

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a tuner system for use with a threaded muzzle end portion of a rifle barrel. The system has a tuning ring having a first threaded wall portion. A muzzle component is included which has a second threaded wall portion for engaging with the first threaded wall portion and enabling adjustable axial positioning of the tuning ring relative to a muzzle end of the barrel. The muzzle component also has a third threaded portion for threadably engaging the threaded muzzle end portion of the rifle. A damping component is included which is interposed between the tuning ring and the muzzle component, and at least partially circumscribes the muzzle end of the barrel.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A tuner system for use with a threaded muzzle end portion of a rifle barrel, the system comprising:
 a tuning ring having a first threaded wall portion;   a muzzle component having a second threaded wall portion for engaging with the first threaded wall portion and enabling adjustable axial positioning of the tuning ring relative to a muzzle end of the barrel;   the muzzle component having a third threaded portion for threadably engaging the threaded muzzle end portion of the rifle; and   a damping component interposed between the tuning ring and the muzzle component, and at least partially circumscribing the muzzle end of the barrel.   
     
     
         2 . The tuner system of  claim 1 , wherein the muzzle component comprises a muzzle brake. 
     
     
         3 . The tuner system of  claim 1 , wherein the damping component comprises an elastomeric ring and assists in damping vibration of the barrel during firing of the rifle. 
     
     
         4 . The tuner system of  claim 1 , wherein the elastomeric ring is captured between portions of the tuning ring and the muzzle component to help hold the tuner ring at a set axial position relative to the muzzle component. 
     
     
         5 . The tuner system of  claim 4 , wherein the tuning ring includes a first shoulder and the muzzle component includes a second shoulder, and wherein the elastomeric ring is compressed between the first and second shoulders to provide friction to help prevent rotational movement of the tuning ring during use of the tuner system on the rifle. 
     
     
         6 . The tuner system of  claim 5 , wherein the first shoulder is formed on an inside wall surface of the tuning ring. 
     
     
         7 . The tuner system of  claim 6 , wherein the second shoulder is formed on an exterior wall surface of the muzzle component. 
     
     
         8 . The tuner system of  claim 5 , wherein the elastomeric ring comprises an elastomeric  0 -ring. 
     
     
         9 . The tuner system of  claim 1 , further comprising a label having markings thereon representative of incremental axial position changes, and adapted to be secured to the barrel adjacent the tuning ring for assisting a user in tuning the tuning system to optimize shot groupings from the rifle. 
     
     
         10 . The tuner system of  claim 9 , further comprising at least one of following:
 the tuning ring includes a marking thereon for denoting a rotational position of the tuning ring relative to the label; or   both the tuning ring and the muzzle component include etching marks to provide reference marks for tuning.   
     
     
         11 . The tuner system of  claim 1 , wherein the muzzle component comprises a flash suppressor. 
     
     
         12 . The tuner system of  claim 1 , wherein the muzzle component includes a portion for enabling a threaded coupling to an external component. 
     
     
         13 . The tuner system of  claim 12 , wherein the portion is formed by a fourth threaded portion, and wherein the fourth threaded portion is configured to engage with a threaded section of at least one of a sound suppressor or a flash suppressor. 
     
     
         14 . A tuner system for use with a threaded muzzle end portion of a rifle barrel, the system comprising:
 a tuning ring having a first threaded wall portion and a first shoulder portion;   a muzzle component having a second threaded wall portion for engaging with the first threaded wall portion and enabling adjustable axial positioning of the tuning ring relative to a muzzle end of the barrel;   the muzzle component having a third threaded portion for threadably engaging the threaded muzzle end portion of the rifle;   the muzzle component having a second shoulder portion; and   an elastomeric ring damping component interposed between the first and second shoulder portions and fully circumscribing the muzzle end of the barrel, for assisting in holding the tuning ring stationary during use of the rifle and damping barrel vibration during firing of the rifle.   
     
     
         15 . The tuner system of  claim 14 , wherein the muzzle component includes a groove adjacent the second shoulder portion for receiving a portion of the elastomeric ring. 
     
     
         16 . The tuner system of  claim 14 , further comprising a label configured to be adhesively secured to an outer surface of the barrel adjacent to the tuning ring, the label including markings thereon indicating incremental rotational positions of the tuning ring that correspond to incremental axial distance movements of the tuning ring, to aid a user in tuning the tuner system; and
 wherein the tuning ring includes a marking thereon for indicating a rotational position of the tuning ring relative to a zero line marking on the label.   
     
     
         17 . The tuner system of  claim 14 , wherein the muzzle component forms a muzzle brake. 
     
     
         18 . The tuner system of  claim 14 , wherein the muzzle component forms a flash suppressor. 
     
     
         19 . The tuner system of  claim 14 , wherein the muzzle component includes a fourth threaded portion for threadably receiving at least one of a sound suppressor or a flash suppressor. 
     
     
         20 . A method for tuning a rifle to enhance accuracy of shot groups fired from the rifle, the rifle having a barrel with a threaded muzzle end, the method comprising:
 providing a tuning ring having a first threaded wall portion;   threadably securing a second threaded wall portion of a muzzle component to the first threaded wall portion to enable adjustable axial positioning of the tuning ring relative to a muzzle end of the barrel;   using a third threaded portion of the muzzle component to threadably engage the threaded muzzle end of the barrel of the rifle; and   using a damping component disposed between the tuning ring and the muzzle component, and at least partially circumscribing the muzzle end of the barrel, to assist in holding the tuning ring stationary during operation of the rifle and damping vibration of the barrel during firing of the rifle.