'Bloop' Tubes. Are they worth it?

[RobinC]

Did you notice any difference to your results pre to post?
Robin

[Bing!]

You certainley know when you get it wrong! Any inner position problems will be magnified, so it did help in that sense. Get your inner position right is shooting 101 but if you get lazy it will let you know. Any pulse will give you a fright and stand you back up to start again...
Groups on a whole did become slightly tighter but I'm not going to say it was 100% because of the tube, I think it helped. I had a very good season that year and it may well have been my shooting coming into a period of ascendancy, coinciding with the tube trial (or because of the tube??). I still shoot with it and doubt I will go back to non tubed barrel for the foreseable future. I had a wee stubby tube made for standing but kept the full 12" tube for kneeling, you have to get your position spot on when kneeling with a tube, so again it helped with positioning which helped get better groups which gave me better scores.

I'm waffling.
Did the sight radius gained from the tube help? Yes.
Was that because of the sight radius or because of the magnified error effect making me "GET IT RIGHT"? Hmmmm.

It worked for me.

Bing!

PS. Let me know if that rambling response was of any help at all.

[T.Fielder]

There a very personal thing, but if your shooting well now then don't change, and if your not shooting well then ask a coach to watch you shooting for a bit, if your still not satisfied then maybe it is time to look at the equipment, but you should always rule everything else out first before you even start to blame the kit. Another thing with adding things like bloop tubes are there physocological implications on the shooter, I once informed one of my shooters that the reason for them not shooting well is that there mat wasn't right, I then told him to stand up and I put a single piece of newspaper under the mat and told him that would be better, and then put every shot through the bull! He just needed that mental boost! It's up to you, but rule everything else out first.

[Vic Thompson]

Just my opinion : I agree with the previous poster, there isn't a "Magic Wand" out there that will improve your shooting. Technique and consistency is all important, get the basics sorted out by someone who knows what they are talking about, and give any recommendation that they suggest a good try out over a period of weeks. If you've still got problems speak to them and go through the same process again. Don't ask someone else, until you've given the first advisor a good try out as otherwise you'll be chasing your own tail. Regarding Bloop Tubes in particular, try one (preferably by borrowing it so that the exercise is zero cost) and be prepared to spend some time getting the set up optimised. Then make you own mind up. I've done this and had good scores both ways. In my opinion, if you're as good as you're going to get anyway, they'll take something away from your scores, if you're at a point where that particular aspect of the mechanics of your shooting could be improved, they'll add something to your scores, it's a very personal equation.

HTH, Vic Thompson.

[tim s]

Personally I like bloop tubes. I've had one of Barry Nesom's since 2005. I agree that a tube will magnify errors in your hold, but if your hold is good a tube can reduce aiming errors. Tubes can affect the balance of the rifle. I have both 6in and 12in tubes. The 6in tube balances beautifully, the 12in did not. Even after being cut down to 8in it doesn't balance well.

A word of caution about borrowing a friend's tube, not all 1813 barrels are exactly the same diameter. Other tubes may vary more, but Barry bores the collar to be a very tight fit to the measurements given. If you buy a tube I'd recommend taking measurements in several different places.

Also make sure that you have a big enough foresight element. A rough rule of thumb is to increase the aprture by .1mm per inch of tube.

[Centre 10]

Thanks for all the help/assistance/opinions. It's exactly what I was after, it's great to hear peoples thoughts on these.

As for trying one from someone in my club, no one in my club has a tube so that would be quite hard unfortunately.

@Bing! A picture of the setup you have would be brilliant. How would I speak to Barry Neesom about the tubes he produces?

Thanks.

Centre 10

[tim s]

C10,

Barry's number is 01751 473124.

He makes two part tubes. There is a split collar that clamps onto the muzzle; the front half overhangs the muzzle to hold the tube. For an 1813 Barry supplies a brass pin that screws into the foresight block holes. Ahis engages in a slot in the collar to ensure the tube is vertical (or at least the same angle as the factory foresight). The tube itself has a small locator pin that engages with the front of the clamp. Barry will cut what ever dovetail you like on the clamp.

The tube can be removed for cleaning and replaced with no loss of zero. I use a strip of j-cloth on a 12 bore brush to clean mine, very quick and easy.