Having the advantage of an underground tunnel to control the atmospherics, at Gunwerks we account for all variables in determining the load for a specific caliber, bullet style and weight, cartridge, barrel length, and contour. Measuring each bullet hole both Vertically and Horizontally will give the shooter a better understanding of what the load is actually doing, and for testing purposes it gives us better data. I am not sure we can prove that most of the motion is vertical because of other factors such as stress that could effect the direction of travel. I think the common ground is to try and develop a load that will exit the barrel at the point of barrel travel when it is about to make a change in direction. Although this time is very short, it is the place where barrel travel is minimum, and will give us the potential for more accuracy, as opposed to when the barrel is headed to the other side of the vibration. Even if the vibration is horizontal we would still work for developing a load at the two points where travel will be reversed.
This got me thinking about a few things: If we had a fixture that would hold the action and barrel in a clamping style as opposed to the screws and recoil lug at the bottom of the action, so we could eliminate the lever that is created by the difference between the center of the bore to the bottom of the lug/action, and eliminate the moment of upward movement of the barrel, would the vibration still have a more vertical effect?? Or would it vibrate in all directions? Making load development easier, but less accurate?
If the movement of the rifle in an upward direction dictates the harmonic of the barrel, does rifle cant effect the harmonic and accuracy??
Looks like it is time to do some testing!!!
