bloop tubes/MEC ?

[guidolastra]

Hi,
I am looking for a bloop tube, and I was wondering if you have some input about what the best option could be. I have been curious about the MEC extension tubes (berta and strike). I do not know if anyone out there has any experience...

[Jason]

There have been many threads about bloop tubes on the forum -- do a search for "bloop tube" and voila.

But I just installed a 10" tube from Champion's Choice on my 1913 and it's made a huge improvement in just a few sessions.



If you're having trouble focusing on the front sight then you owe it to yourself to experiment with different tube lengths.

Jason

[Denton]

Hi Jason,

How do you find that paticular MEC handstop? What kind of lateral adjustment has it got?

Denton.

[Jason]

How do you find that paticular MEC handstop? What kind of lateral adjustment has it got?

It works fine, but I don't know that it's any better than any other handstop -- it really boils down to personal taste. I like it because it's small and fits into my hand nicely, but sometimes I think it's too small because my hand is screaming after 40 or so shots.

It does have lots of lateral adjustability, but I've left mine dead center. I might experiment with different settings in the fall, but for now I'm leaving well enough alone until after the Canadian nationals next week.

JJ

[Denton]

How do you find that paticular MEC handstop? What kind of lateral adjustment has it got?

It works fine, but I don't know that it's any better than any other handstop -- it really boils down to personal taste. I like it because it's small and fits into my hand nicely, but sometimes I think it's too small because my hand is screaming after 40 or so shots.

It does have lots of lateral adjustability, but I've left mine dead center. I might experiment with different settings in the fall, but for now I'm leaving well enough alone until after the Canadian nationals next week.

JJ

Thanks for the input Jason and best of luck in the nationals!
Denton.

[guidolastra]

There is a huge price difference between MEC tubes (either one) and the Champion Choice one. How easy it is for you, Jason, to take it out for cleaning and then re-fit it? Do you have to do a lot of sight adjustments? Finally, what device do you use to fit it to the barrel, I saw different measurements in the CC website.

[Jason]

There is a huge price difference between MEC tubes (either one) and the Champion Choice one. How easy it is for you, Jason, to take it out for cleaning and then re-fit it? Do you have to do a lot of sight adjustments? Finally, what device do you use to fit it to the barrel, I saw different measurements in the CC website.

I just measured the outside diameter of my muzzle and ordered the corresponding clamp (it was the biggest one). When it arrived I applied a thin coat of oil to the barrel and gently tapped the clamp on until it stopped. The inside diameter of the clamp is different for the barrel and the tube, so if it doesn't go on the first try turn it around and try again.

The tricky bit about the Champion's Choice tubes is that the clamp doesn't use a pin to center it on the barrel -- the pin is on the tube itself. So I attached my front tunnel with the bubble level to the tube and used it to center the whole assembly. With my rifle propped up on the bipod, I made sure the bubble was in the same spot on the tube as on the barrel itself.



Once everything was in place I tightened everything up and headed out to the range. I was worried about sighting in, but my first two shots at 50 metres made a keyhole in the seven ring at 4 o'clock, so I just clicked over and kept going -- I think it took me seven shots in total to sight in.

I don't use a torque wrench on the tube clamp because it's Imperial and my hex bits for the torque wrench are metric, but I tighten them the same way every time and it only takes a click or two to sight in after installing the tube.

At the end of each session I take the tube off, coat a brush with solvent and apply it to the muzzle to clean off the powder while I push through a couple of VFG felts. Once I'm done I just wipe it clean. I do need to get a 12 gauge bore brush for the tube, though, as it gets dirty fast.

I've only had this tube for a week but the difference has been amazing. My sight picture is more clear and consistent and I feel more confident in my shot release -- I even fired a 199/200 in a session last weekend, something I've never done before.

Jason

[lastraguido]

that is an amazing description! thanks a lot, I do appreciate your input and the pictures. Finally, how much did you pay in total?

[Jason]

Finally, how much did you pay in total?

I think it was $70 USD. I had a local gunshop order it for me so I didn't pay shipping.

The only downside is that they don't offer a 12" tube, which I was thinking of trying in the fall just to compare.

Jason