Ballistic optimizing system for rifles

Abstract

A ballistic optimizing system for use on a preferably bedded rifle comprising a movable weight element secured to the end of a rifle barrel such that said weight element can be moved axially along said barrel to change the effective weight applied for .Iadd.vibration .Iaddend.dampening purposes and having an indicator for indicating the relative position of said weight element on said barrel and further including an additional weight releasably secured to said movable weight element and ports through said weight element to allow gas escape.

What is claimed is: .[.1. A ballistic optimizing system for a rifle comprising: 
     
        element..].12. A ballistic optimizing system .[.as in claim 11, wherein.]. .Iadd.comprising: a weight element of predetermined mass;   continuously infinitely adjustable means mounting said weight element on a barrel of a rifle to allow said weight to be positioned toward and away from a distal end of said barrel, the range of adjustability and mass of said weight being sufficient to compensate for inherent ballistic variances between at least two different brands of rifle ammunitions, whereby to effect minimum travel deviation for the projectiles of each of said ammunitions when fired through a barrel;   means releasably locking said weight element against further movement toward and away from said distal end of said barrel, at a selected position on said barrel;   indicator means to indicate the position of said weight element relative to said distal end when said weight element is locked against further movement toward and away from said distal end of said barrel;   wherein said weight element is tubular and said means mounting said weight element on said rifle barrel for movement toward and away from said distal end of said barrel comprises exterior threads on said barrel and cooperating interior threads formed in one end of said weight element;   wherein said means releasably locking said weight element against further movement toward and away from said distal end of said barrel at a selected position on said barrel comprises a lock nut threaded onto said barrel and engaged by said weight element; .Iaddend.   said indicator means to indicate said position of said weight element relative to said distal end when said weight element is locked against further movement toward and away from said distal end of said barrel includes a linear scale having equally spaced indices formed on said barrel and means carried by said lock nut and forming an indicator   
     
     
        cooperating with said indices. 13. A ballistic optimizing system as in claim 12, wherein said means carried by said lock nut and forming an indicator cooperating with said indices comprises a skirt projecting from said lock nut, said skirt telescoping over a portion of said barrel and 
     
     
        having an edge forming an indicator cooperating with said indices. 14. A ballistic optimizing system as in claim 13 wherein, said weight element includes a portion extending beyond said distal end of said barrel; and   spaced apart holes are provided through said wall of said tubular weight   
     
     
        element. 15. A ballistic optimizing system as in claim 13, further including: a plug/weight; and   means to removably secure said plug/weight to another end of said tubular   
     
     
        weight element. 16. A ballistic optimizing system as in claim 15, wherein, said other end of said tubular weight element is interiorly threaded;   said plug/weight has a bore therethrough; and   said means to removably secure said plug/weight to said other end of said tubular weight includes exterior threads on said plug/weight threaded into said interior threads at Bid other end of said tubular weight element.   
     
     
            A ballistic optimizing system as in claim 16, further including: a lock washer surrounding threads on said barrel and between said lock nut and said tubular weight element; and   a lock washer surrounding threads on said plug/weight and between said   
     
     
        plug/weight and said tubular weight element. 18. A ballistic optimizing system as in claim 17, wherein the relationship between said threads on said barrel and said threads in said lock nut is such that one full rotation of said lock nut relative to said barrel moves said lock nut axially along said barrel a distance equal to spacing between adjacent 
     
     
        indices on said barrel. 19. A ballistic optimizing system as in claim 18, further including another linear scale having equally spaced indices 
     
     
        spaced around said skirt of said lock nut, adjacent to said edge. 20. A ballistic optimizing system mounted on a rifle barrel with an exterior surface, a graduated line scale on said exterior surface and threads on said exterior surface at the muzzle end of said barrel, said ballistic optimizing system comprising: a lock nut adjustably threaded on said threads of said barrel:   means extending from said lock nut, including a portion cooperating with said linear scale as a position indicator; and   a tubular weight element of predetermined mass, adjustably threaded onto   
     
     
        said barrel in locking engagement with said locking nut. 21. A ballistic optimizing system as in claim 20, wherein said means extending from said locking nut comprises a skirt extending around said barrel and having an edge cooperating with said linear scale as a position indicator of said 
     
     
        weight element. 22. A ballistic optimizing system as in claim 21, wherein the relationship between said threads connecting said lock nut and said barrel and indices of said linear scale on said barrel provides for movement of said edge of said skirt axially along said barrel between adjacent indices upon one full rotation of said locking nut relative to 
     
     
        said barrel. 23. A ballistic optimizing system as in claim 22, further including equally spaced index marks forming a scale around said skirt 
     
     
        adjacent said edge. 24. A ballistic optimizing system as in claim 22, further including an additional weight removably secured to said tubular 
     
     
        weight element. 25. A ballistic optimizing system as in claim 22, further including threads in said tubular weight element; and a plug/weight having a bore therethrough and threaded into said threads in   
     
     
        said tubular weight element. 26. A ballistic optimizing system as in claim 25, further including spaced holes through a wall of said tubular weight 
     
     
        element, between said distal end of said barrel and said plug/weight. 27. A ballistic optimizing system as in claim 26, wherein, said holes through said wall of said tubular weight element include rows of holes each having.[.,.]. a central axis extending normal to a central axis of said barrel and encircling said wall of said tubular weight element and a row of holes each having a central axis extending at an angle of .[.thirty.]. .Iadd.sixty .Iaddend.degrees to said axis of said barrel and 
     
     
        encircling said wall of said tubular weight element. 28. A ballistic optimizing system for a bedded rifle barrel comprising: a weight element; and   means mounting said weight element of a bedded rifle barrel to be infinitely adjustably positioned toward and away from a distal end of said   
     
     
        barrel, between preset extreme limits. 29. A ballistic optimizing system mounted on a .[.bedded.]. rifle barrel with an exterior surface, a graduated line scale on said exterior surface and threads on said exterior surface at the muzzle end of said barrel, said barrel .[.being.]. .Iadd.extending from a receiver .Iaddend.mounted .[.in.]. .Iadd.to .Iaddend.a resilient bed carried by a stock, and said ballistic optimizing system comprising: a lock nut adjustably threaded on said threads of said barrel;   means extending from said lock nut including a portion cooperating with said linear scale as a position indicator; and   a tubular weight element of predetermined mass, adjustably threaded onto   
     
     
        said barrel and in locking engagement with said locking nut. 30. A ballistic optimizing system as in claim 29, wherein said means extending from said locking nut comprises a skirt extending around said barrel and having an edge cooperating with said linear scale as a position indicator 
     
     
        of said weight element. 31. A ballistic optimizing system as in claim 30, wherein the relationship between said threads connecting said lock nut and said barrel and indices of said linear scale on said barrel provides for movement of said edge of said skirt axially along said barrel between adjacent indices upon one full rotation of said locking nut relative to 
     
     
        said barrel. 32. A ballistic optimizing system as in claim 31, further including equally spaced index marks forming a scale around said skirt 
     
     
        adjacent said edge. 33. A ballistic optimizing system as in claim 31, further including an additional weight removably secured to said tubular 
     
     
        weight element. 34. A ballistic optimizing system as in claim 31, further including threads in said tubular weight element; and a plug/weight having a bore therethrough and threaded into said threads in   
     
     
        said tubular weight element. 35. A ballistic optimizing system as in claim 34, further including spaced holes through a wall of said tubular weight 
     
     
        element, between said distal end of said barrel and said plug/weight. 36. A ballistic optimizing system as in claim 35, wherein, said holes through said wall of said tubular weight element include rows of holes each having a central axis extending normal to central axis of said barrel and encircling said wall of said tubular weight element and a row of holes each having a central axis extending at an angle of .[.thirty.]. .Iadd.sixty .Iaddend.degrees to said axis of said barrel and encircling   
     
     
        said wall of said tubular weight element. 37. A ballistic optimizing system as in claim 35, wherein said holes through said wall of said tubular weight element include rows of holes each having a central axis extending normal to a central axis of said barrel and encircling said wall of said tubular weight element .Iadd.and .Iaddend.at least one row of holes each being positioned to have a central axis extending angularly with respect to said axis of said barrel and such that gases discharged therethrough from said barrel will engage gases discharged from said barrel through a said hole having an axis extending normal to said axis of 
     
     
        said barrel. 38. A ballistic optimizing system mounted on the muzzle end of a rifle barrel, said barrel having an exterior surface with a threaded distal portion and a graduated line scale adjacent said threaded distal portion, said ballistic optimizing system comprising: a lock nut threaded on said threaded distal portion of said barrel;   position indicator means extending from said lock nut comprising a skirt extending around said barrel and having an edge cooperating with said linear scale as a position indicator of said weight element, and further including index marks forming a scale around said skirt adjacent said edge; and   a tubular weight element threaded onto said barrel and in locking   
     
     
        engagement with said locking nut. 39. A ballistic optimizing system as in claim 38, wherein the relationship between the threads of said distal portion connecting said lock nut and said barrel and the indices of said linear scale on said barrel provides for movement of said edge of said skirt between adjacent indices along said barrel upon one full rotation of 
     
     
        said locking nut relative to said barrel. 40. A ballistic optimizing system as in claim 38, including spaced holes through the wall of said tubular weight element, further including means to removably secure an additional weight to said tubular weight element including: threads in said tubular weight element; and   a plug/weight having a bore therethrough and threaded into said threads in said tubular weight element:   wherein said holes through said wall of said tubular weight element between said distal end of said barrel and said plug/weight include at least one row of holes each having a central axis extending normal to a central axis of said barrel and said holes encircling said wall of said tubular weight element and at least one row of holes each being positioned to have a central axis extending angularly with respect to said axis of said barrel and such that gases discharged therethrough will engage gases discharged through a said hole having an axis extending normal to said axis of said   
     
     
        barrel. 41. A ballistic optimizing system mounted on the muzzle end of a rifle barrel .Iadd.extending from receiver .Iaddend.mounted to a resilient bed carried by a stock, said barrel having an exterior surface with a threaded distal portion and a graduated line scale adjacent said threaded distal portion, said ballistic optimizing system comprising: a lock nut threaded on said threaded distal end of said barrel;   position indicator means extending from said lock nut comprising a skirt extending, around said barrel and having an edge cooperating with said linear scale as a position indicator of said weight element, and further including index marks forming a scale around said skirt adjacent said edge; and   a tubular weight element threaded onto said distal end and in locking   
     
     
        engagement with said locking nut. 42. A ballistic optimizing system as in claim 41, wherein the relationship between the threads of said distal end connecting said lock nut and said barrel and the indices of said linear scale on said barrel provides for movement of said edge of said skirt between adjacent indices along said barrel upon one full rotation of said 
     
     
        locking nut relative to said barrel. 43. A ballistic optimizing system as in claim 41, including spaced holes through the wall of said tubular weight element further including means to removably secure an additional weight to said tubular weight element including: threads in said tubular weight element; and   a plug/weight having a bore therethrough and threaded into said threads in said tubular weight element;   wherein said holes through said wall of said tubular weight clement between said distal end of said barrel and said plug/weight include at least one row of holes each having a central axis extending normal to a central axis or said barrel and said holes encircling said wall of said tubular weight element and at least one row of holes each being positioned to have a central axis extending angularly with respect to said axis of said barrel and such that gases discharged therethrough will engage gases discharged through a said hole having an axis extending normal to said axis of said   
     
     
        barrel. 44. In combination: a rifle with a barrel having a chamber end, a muzzle end and a longitudinal axis between said chamber and muzzle ends; and   a ballistic optimization device comprising: a weight element;   means mounting said weight element on said muzzle end, said means being structured and arranged for locating said weight .Iadd.element .Iaddend.along said axis at a position appropriate to .[.establish the center of gravity.]. .Iadd.modify vibrational characteristics .Iaddend.of said barrel to ensure minimum travel deflection for each of various rifle ammunitions; said mounting means comprising exterior threads on said barrel and cooperating interior threads formed in one end of said weight element.Iadd.;.Iaddend.   means releasably locking said weight element against further movement toward and away from said distal end of said barrel, at a selected position on said barrel; wherein said releasable locking means comprises a lock nut threaded onto said barrel and engaged by said weight element; .Iadd.and .Iaddend.   indicator means to indicate the position of said weight element relative to said distal end when said weight element is locked against further movement toward and away from said distal end of said barrel; wherein said indicator means includes a linear scale having equally spaced indices formed on said barrel and a second linear scale carried on a skirt projecting from said lock nut and telescoping over a portion of said     
     
     
        barrel, and forming an indicator cooperating with said indices. 45. A combination according to claim 44 wherein said chamber end of said barrel .[.is.]. .Iadd.extends from a receiver .Iaddend.mounted to a stock and said barrel .Iadd.receiver .Iaddend.is separated from said stock by a 
     
     
        resilient bedding member. 46. A combination as in claim 44, including spaced holes through the wall of said tubular weight element, further including means to removably secure an additional weight to said tubular weight element including: threads in said tubular weight element: and a plug/weight having a bore therethrough and threaded into said threads in said tubular weight element;   wherein said holes through said wall of said tubular weight element between said distal end of said barrel and said plug/weight include at least one row of holes each having a central axis extending normal to a central axis or said barrel and said holes encircling said wall of said tubular weight element and at least one row of holes each being positioned to have a central axis extending angularly with respect to said axis of said barrel and such that gases discharged therethrough will engage gases discharged through a said hole having an axis extending normal to said axis of said   
     
     
        barrel. 47. A combination according to claim 46 wherein said chamber end of said barrel .[.is.]. .Iadd.extends from a receiver .Iaddend.mounted to a stock and said .[.barrel.]. .Iadd.receiver .Iaddend.is separated from 
     
     
        said stock by a resilient bedding member. .Iadd.48.  A method of tuning vibrations of a rifle barrel to increase accuracy, comprising the steps of: positioning a weight at a first position on a rifle barrel;   providing an indicator to allow continuous, infinitely variable axial indications of positions of the weight on the rifle barrel;   using the indicator to indicate a first axial position of the weight on the rifle barrel;   shooting the rifle to determine accuracy of the rifle with the weight at the first axial position;   repositioning the weight on the rifle barrel at a second axial position;   using the indicator to indicate a second axial position of the weight on the rifle barrel;   shooting the rifle to determine accuracy of the rifle with the weight at the second axial position;   1ocking the weight on the rifle barrel at one of the first axial position or the second axial position to improve accuracy of the rifle. .Iaddend..Iadd.49. The method of claim 48 wherein the step of locking the weight on the rifle barrel comprises affixing the weight at an axial position so that a bullet discharged from the rifle exits the rifle barrel at an anti-node of extreme muzzle movement to increase accuracy of the   
     
     
        rifle. .Iaddend..Iadd.50.  The method of claim 48 further comprising the steps of: providing a lock nut;   attaching the lock nut to the rifle barrel adjacent the weight;   positioning the lock nut to engage and lock against the weight to secure the weight in an axial position along the rifle barrel. .Iaddend..Iadd.51. The method of claim 48 further comprising the steps of:   wherein the indicator comprises a first linear scale having a plurality of graduations disposed on the rifle barrel;   and wherein the steps of using the indicator to indicate a first axial position and a second axial position of the weight on the rifle barrel comprises observing the respective graduations upon shooting the rifle with the weight positioned at the respective axial positions.   
     
     
        .Iaddend..Iadd.52.  The method of claim 48 further comprising the steps of: providing a lock nut;   attaching the lock nut to the rifle barrel adjacent the weight;   positioning the lock nut to engage and lock against the weight to secure the weight in an axial location along the rifle barrel;   wherein the indicator comprises a first linear scale having a plurality of graduations on the rifle barrel, and a second linear scale having a plurality of graduations on the lock nut;   wherein the steps of using the indicator to indicate a first axial position and a second axial position of the weight on the rifle barrel comprises observing the respective graduations on the first and second linear scales upon shooting the rifle with the weight positioned at the respective axial positions. .Iaddend..Iadd.53. The method of claim 48 further comprising the steps of:   providing a plurality of ports in the weight;   diverting propulsion gases generated from discharging the rifle through the ports. .Iaddend..Iadd.54. The method of claim 48 wherein the step of repositioning the weight on the rifle barrel comprises repositioning the weight on the rifle barrel at two axial positions, and further comprising the steps of using the indicator to indicate the two axial positions of   
     
     
        the weight to the rifle barrel. .Iaddend..Iadd.55.  A method of tuning vibrations of a rifle barrel to increase accuracy, comprising the steps of: providing a rifle including a rifle barrel having a distal end;   positioning a weight on the rifle barrel so that at least a portion of the weight extends beyond the distal end;   moving the weight axially along the rifle barrel to a plurality of axial locations;   shooting the rifle barrel at each of the axial locations to determine accuracy of the rifle with the weight at the respective axial locations;   1ocking the weight on the rifle barrel at one of the plurality of axial locations corresponding to improved accuracy. .Iaddend..Iadd.56. The method of claim 55 wherein the step of locking the weight on the rifle barrel comprises affixing the weight at an axial location so that a bullet discharged from the rifle exits the rifle barrel at an anti-node of extreme muzzle movement to increase accuracy of the rifle. .Iaddend..Iadd.57. The method of claim 55 further comprising the steps of:   providing a lock nut;   positioning the lock nut on the rifle barrel adjacent the weight to engage and lock against the weight to secure the weight at one of the plurality of axial locations on the rifle barrel corresponding to improved accuracy.   
     
     
        .Iaddend..Iadd.58.  The method of claim 55 further comprising the steps of: providing a first linear scale having a plurality of graduations on the rifle barrel;   observing the respective graduations upon shooting the rifle with the weight positioned at each of the respective axial locations. .Iaddend..Iadd.59. The method of claim 55 further comprising the steps of:   providing a lock nut;   attaching the lock nut to the rifle barrel adjacent the weight to engage and lock against the weight to secure the weight at one of the plurality of axial locations on the rifle barrel;   providing a first linear scale having a plurality of graduations on the rifle barrel;   providing a second linear scale having a plurality of graduations on the lock nut;   observing the respective graduations on the first and second linear scales upon shooting the rifle with the weight positioned at each of the respective axial locations. .Iaddend..Iadd.60. The method of claim 55 wherein the step of positioning a weight on the rifle barrel comprises threading the weight onto the distal end of the rifle barrel. .Iaddend..Iadd.61. The method of claim 55 further comprising the steps of:   providing a plurality of ports in the weight;   diverting propulsion gases generated from discharging the rifle through the   
     
     
        ports. .Iaddend..Iadd.62.  The method of claim 55 wherein the step of positioning the weight on the rifle barrel comprises positioning the weight on the rifle barrel at more than two axial locations, and further comprising the steps of using an indicator to indicate the more than two axial locations relative to the rifle barrel. .Iaddend..Iadd.63. A method of tuning vibrations of a rifle barrel to increase accuracy, comprising the steps of: providing a rifle barrel;   providing a weight securable to the rifle barrel and movable axially relative to the rifle barrel;   positioning the weight on the rifle barrel at a position corresponding to improved accuracy;   providing an indicator to allow continuous, infinitely variable axial indications of positions of the weight on the rifle barrel;   using the indicator to indicate the position of the weight on the rifle barrel corresponding to improved accuracy. .Iaddend..Iadd.64. The method of claim 63, further comprising the steps of:   providing a plurality of ports in the weight;   allowing propulsion gases to be discharged through the ports as a bullet is propelled through the rifle barrel. .Iaddend..Iadd.65. The method of claim 63, further comprising the step of rotating the weight relative to the rifle barrel to move the weight axially relative to the rifle barrel.   
     
     
        .Iaddend..Iadd.66.  A barrel vibration damping system for rifles, comprising: a rifle barrel having a distal end;   a weight securable to and movable relative to the distal end of the rifle barrel, the weight dampening barrel vibrations to achieve improved accuracy;   a relationship between the weight and the rifle barrel to allow continuous, infinitely variable axial movement of the weight relative to the rifle barrel to position the weight at a selected damping location on the rifle barrel corresponding to increased accuracy;   a retaining mechanism to retain the weight at the selected damping location on the rifle barrel corresponding to increased accuracy;   an indicator on the rifle barrel to indicate the selected damping location of the weight on the rifle barrel corresponding to increased accuracy. .Iaddend..Iadd.67. The barrel vibration damping system of claim 66 wherein the indicator comprises a first linear scale disposed on the rifle barrel and a second linear scale disposed on the retaining mechanism, the first linear scale and the second linear scale cooperating with each other to indicate the position of the weight on the rifle barrel. .Iaddend..Iadd.68. The barrel vibration damping system of claim 93, further comprising a nylon strip disposed between the weight and the rifle barrel to ensure locking engagement between weight and the rifle barrel. .Iaddend..Iadd.69. The barrel vibration damping system of claim 66 wherein   
     
     
        the retaining mechanism comprises a lock nut. .Iaddend..Iadd.70.  A barrel vibration damping system for rifles, comprising: a rifle barrel having a distal end;   a radially symmetrical weight securable to and movable relative to the distal end of the rifle barrel, the radial symmetry of the weight allowing the weight to rotate and move axially along the rifle barrel in an incremental, continuously variable manner to continuously change dampening of the rifle barrel vibrations for achieving improved accuracy;   a retaining mechanism to retain the weight at the selected damping position on the rifle barrel corresponding to increased accuracy;   an indicator on the rifle barrel to indicate the selected damping position of the weight on the rifle barrel corresponding to increased accuracy. .Iaddend..Iadd.71. The barrel vibration damping system of claim 70 wherein the indicator comprises a first linear scale disposed on the rifle barrel and a second linear scale disposed on the retaining mechanism, the first linear scale and the second linear scale cooperating with each other to indicate the position of the weight on the rifle barrel. .Iaddend..Iadd.72. The barrel vibration damping system of claim 70, further comprising a nylon strip disposed between the weight and the rifle barrel to ensure locking engagement between weight and the rifle barrel. .Iaddend..Iadd.73. The barrel vibration damping system of claim 70 wherein   
     
     
        the retaining mechanism comprises a lock nut. .Iaddend..Iadd.74.  A barrel vibration damping system for rifles, comprising: a rifle barrel having a distal end;   a weight securable to the distal end of the rifle barrel to dampen barrel vibrations for achieving improved accuracy, a portion of the weight extending beyond the distal end of the rifle barrel, the weight being axially movable relative to the distal end of the rifle barrel;   a retaining mechanism to retain the weight at the selected damping position on the rifle barrel corresponding to increased accuracy;   an indicator on the rifle barrel to indicate the selected damping position of the weight on the rifle barrel corresponding to increased accuracy. .Iaddend..Iadd.75. The barrel vibration damping system of claim 74 wherein the indicator comprises a first linear scale disposed on the rifle barrel and a second linear scale disposed on the retaining mechanism, the first linear scale and the second linear scale cooperating with each other to indicate the position of the weight on the rifle barrel. .Iaddend..Iadd.76. The barrel vibration damping system of claim 74, further comprising a nylon strip disposed between the weight and the rifle barrel to ensure locking engagement between weight and the rifle barrel. .Iaddend..Iadd.77. The barrel vibration damping system of claim 74 wherein the retaining mechanism comprises a lock nut. .Iaddend.