Can some one make a BLOOP tube..

[2many7s]

Hello all,

I have bought a 64MS from Nick in Bilouxi and I was wanting to try a bloop tube and some small barrel weights. I have not received the rifle yet but as I understand it the barrel is straight (I will measure the OD this weekend) with no bulge on the end. I think it would be a lot of trouble to try to have it threaded but I was thinking that if I had an aluminum bloop tube slightly larger than the barrel with a pair of slits in the barrel end and some small weights that were half circles with two allen head screws to secure the halves together I could slip it over the barrel, use a weight or two to secure the tube and place additional small weights as needed. What do you think. Can anyone make these?

Mark

[Bob259]

Medesha Firearms will get you what you need.
http://www.medeshafirearms.com/Splash_Screen.html

Tubes direct link
http://www.medeshafirearms.com/ExtensionTubes.0.html

[Jerry G]

I have seen home made tubes that were taped on, glued on, and screwed on.

In my opinion, the only reason for a tube is to get the weight farther away from you so putting the weights at the end of your bbl to hold the tube in place would do nothing for you except change the sound.

If you find a tube the right diameter you can use locktite the thing in place and when you want to remove it, just apply a little heat and the bond will break.

[Tlee]

I can see the benefits of using one to adjust weight/balance, however I thought the original purpose of a bloop tube was to increase the sight radius (for open sights) without increasing the length of the rifled portion of the barrel. Am I wrong/right?

-Tim

[2many7s]

I got the rifle in yesterday and I am very pleased. It looks great and with the Leupold 24x Matthew won at Winnsboro it weighs in at 9lb 6 oz so I have right at a pound to play with. I looked at the above website and their tubes look good but all of their stuff seems geared for ar15s. I will be talking to them soon.

Anyway I was thinking I could get a tube (maybe use a small weight to hold it on, maybe not) then put the remainder of the free weight on the end. The sound change is also a benefit to me.

I could not find my caliper yesterday so I have not measured the barrel yet but it is close to .900. it will turn up when I quit looking

If anyone is able to make the custom stuff or has any other websites to recommend I would appreciate it. I will be really busy at work for the next two weeks or so but after I free I will get some measurements and make a few calls.

Thanks for the rifle Nick.

[Bob259]

..........I looked at the above website and their tubes look good but all of their stuff seems geared for ar15s. I will be talking to them soon. Thanks for the rifle Nick.

Nick,
I had one on my Anschutz 54.18 from them. He will mill the collar to the size of your barrel and they will work for anything you want to put one on.

He's great to work with.

[dave imas]

the bloop tube certainly allows for the extended sight radius, weight distribution, and shorter barrel time which most everyone is taking advantage of today but, from my very faulty memory, i want to give the nod to the silhouette gang for driving that improvement to the forefront.

When the bloop tube started appearing in silhouette the target shooters were still using 27" barrels for sight radius purposes.... and still did for some time to come. I was using an 1807 with a 27" barrel back in 1987. I believe all the Anschutz target rifles had barrels at least that long at the time. Bloop tubes were just being introduced in silhouette game in the late 80's. My target air rifles had long barrels in those days as well. I was shooting an RWS m75 and a FWB 700.

[shakes]

Dave did you see an improvement in your scores with the shorter barrel or was it pretty close to the same? If you did see an improvement do you think it was due to less time in a shorter barrel? I've got that old model 54 with a 27 inch barrel on it and it just doesnt seem to be able to get a inch group even with lapua midas m at a 100 meters, so was thinking of having Marv put a shorter barrel with a tube on it. thanks, Matt.

[steve b.]

I would check out a MEC tube system. They are nice. I have one from scott, and it's garbage. The chatter marks on the weights are terrible, the fit and finish is 6th grade shop class quality.
s.

[dave imas]

Hey Matt,

I saw improvement but it was incremental. Going from 27" to 16" was significant but it really only helped when I was taking edge shots. didn't really help center breaks. I don't think it would help you as much today as it might have back when you were just starting. That said, you are beginning to knock on the door where every shot counts so, from a functional accuracy perspective, i would absolutely do it. The bloop tube also allows far more flexibility with the balance of your rifle as you can move the weights up and down the tube or add weight as you deem fit. This can, however, act as a tuner... changing the harmonics of your barrel and your accuracy along with it. for better or worse.

Keep in mind, of course, that cutting your barrel off doesn't guarantee it will be more accurate. Also remember that if you ever want to shoot in Canada you will want to keep your barrel at least 18" long. We are okay with 16" but not so our neighbors to the north.

Nice shooting in Pe ell last weekend!

dave

[jhmartin]

An opinion here .... before I whacked a barrel down in the extreme, I'd first check the crown. If it's dinged, even a little bit, you could get fairly large groups.

If you have a blued barrel, I like to take a piece of white electical tape with a 22 hole in it and place it over the crown. Fire enough to see that the gas pattern is coming out, if it's not symmetrical, then I'd think about having it recrowned ... if you do have it done with a target style crown to protect it in the future.

[shakes]

Thanks for the advice and input Dave.