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Browning BOSS Does it work?
- Thread starter R&H
- Start date
R&H, I will try to help you out here even though I'm an Electrical Engineer. As the gun is fired and bullet and hot gas are moving down the barrel, there are vibrations or for the lack of a better word, a whipping action that takes place with the barrel. As the bullet leaves the muzzle the barrel will be barrel will be positioned at some point in the arc in which it vibrates. Everytime the gun is discharged, you ideally want the barrel vibration to be at the same point as the bullet leaves the muzzle. The boss system is supposed to tune the vibration of the barrel. The end effect is supposed to be the same as when we handloaders tune a load for a particular rifle.
I know my explanation is clear as mud, but I hope you helped you out here!
I know my explanation is clear as mud, but I hope you helped you out here!
A barrel is much like a tuning fork that musicians use. When struck, the fork vibrates at a specific requecy to create a precise note. When the rifle is fired, the barrel vibrates at a certain frequency. Each load causes a different frequency. The BOSS is a counterweight that coordinates the vibration for each load in order to ensure that the vibration is at dead-center when the bullet is leaving the crown. If you are going to get a BOSS, get the CR (conventional recoil). It does not have the abnoxious muzzle blast increase. The only difference between it and the "normal" muzzle breaked BOSS is that there are no "holes." TBS, that actually was a great explantion you posted!
Hueco
Hueco
R&H,
Let me add a little more.
If you're an ME you will follow this. There are two vibration modes in the barrel. The primary mode is the "whipping" motion that is barrel mass displacement about the bore line. It is usually assumed to be in the vertical plane, which is a faulty assumption. Most treatments to diminish the effects of this mode only discuss the vertical plane. The BOSS does not, can not, discriminate as to axis and so is a compromise, albeit a good one.
These primary vibrations are sine waves and the BOSS adjusts along the bore axis to provide a damping mass so that the bullet exits the muzzle at the peak of a node, when the velocity of the primary vibration is at minimum. It therefore is conceivable that the BOSS could yield a very tight group five feet to the left or high. I jest. It wouldn't be that far out. Of course it is up to you to find this point of damping rest mass.
You see the principle involved. The barrel length is effectively changed. An older method was to trim the barrel repeatedly, in small increments until shot group size was smallest. Of course, a little too much and ... how far back is the next node? This method required the same load throughout the process and when complete was only known to be good for that load. Most of us just fiddle with the bullet weight and powder charge until the effect is the best for a given barrel.
The second mode seems to be a random mode of vibration, not sine. It is present in pulse "packages" which actually travel all about the mass of the weapon and find resonance where it can. It is broadband in frequency and will cause loosely attached items to buzz and ring. It is due to molecular properties (material voids and density variations) of the materials in closest contact with the shock pulse of the ignition of the propellant and the initiation of the violent mass displacement of the bullet and its initial contact with the rifling. In the barrel, the secondary mode of vibrations can be seen traveling down the length of the barrel in "pulse trains". Earlier pulses are higher in amplitude and as the pressure/heat cycle passes (curve falls back toward ambient), the following pulse packages of random broadband vibrations diminish in amplitude quickly.
In fact it is possible that the secondary vibrations are not random at all, but are a multitude of harmonics which are characteristic for that weapons physical mass properties and that specific cartridge load. I suspect this mode of vibration is why you will never get a shot string in one hole.
Once the bullet mass has traversed the bore in its entirety, followed closely by the lesser mass of a hot gas pulse and propellant by-products, internal ballistics are complete and both modes expire for lack of energy.
I believe the BOSS does little for the secondary mode of vibration.
------------------
Sensop
"Get your mind right and the body will follow." - Shino Takazawa, sinsei, hachi dan, Keishinkan do.
Sensop's Corner
[This message has been edited by sensop (edited February 27, 2000).]
Let me add a little more.
If you're an ME you will follow this. There are two vibration modes in the barrel. The primary mode is the "whipping" motion that is barrel mass displacement about the bore line. It is usually assumed to be in the vertical plane, which is a faulty assumption. Most treatments to diminish the effects of this mode only discuss the vertical plane. The BOSS does not, can not, discriminate as to axis and so is a compromise, albeit a good one.
These primary vibrations are sine waves and the BOSS adjusts along the bore axis to provide a damping mass so that the bullet exits the muzzle at the peak of a node, when the velocity of the primary vibration is at minimum. It therefore is conceivable that the BOSS could yield a very tight group five feet to the left or high. I jest. It wouldn't be that far out. Of course it is up to you to find this point of damping rest mass.
You see the principle involved. The barrel length is effectively changed. An older method was to trim the barrel repeatedly, in small increments until shot group size was smallest. Of course, a little too much and ... how far back is the next node? This method required the same load throughout the process and when complete was only known to be good for that load. Most of us just fiddle with the bullet weight and powder charge until the effect is the best for a given barrel.
The second mode seems to be a random mode of vibration, not sine. It is present in pulse "packages" which actually travel all about the mass of the weapon and find resonance where it can. It is broadband in frequency and will cause loosely attached items to buzz and ring. It is due to molecular properties (material voids and density variations) of the materials in closest contact with the shock pulse of the ignition of the propellant and the initiation of the violent mass displacement of the bullet and its initial contact with the rifling. In the barrel, the secondary mode of vibrations can be seen traveling down the length of the barrel in "pulse trains". Earlier pulses are higher in amplitude and as the pressure/heat cycle passes (curve falls back toward ambient), the following pulse packages of random broadband vibrations diminish in amplitude quickly.
In fact it is possible that the secondary vibrations are not random at all, but are a multitude of harmonics which are characteristic for that weapons physical mass properties and that specific cartridge load. I suspect this mode of vibration is why you will never get a shot string in one hole.
Once the bullet mass has traversed the bore in its entirety, followed closely by the lesser mass of a hot gas pulse and propellant by-products, internal ballistics are complete and both modes expire for lack of energy.
I believe the BOSS does little for the secondary mode of vibration.
------------------
Sensop
"Get your mind right and the body will follow." - Shino Takazawa, sinsei, hachi dan, Keishinkan do.
Sensop's Corner
[This message has been edited by sensop (edited February 27, 2000).]
kidcoltoutlaw
New member
i have a winchester 338 mag with a boss and it will shoot under 3 inches at 500 yards with the serria accuracy load for the 250 sbt so i say yes it works and then some.
I have a Browning A-Bolt 2 and a 700 PSS and I prefer the Browning more so than the Remington. I shoot Gold Match 168gr Boat Tail Hallow Points and Sierra Match King. I have never shot for groups but I do shoot at a 2x2 piece of steel at 300 yds and can hit it 20 out of 20ith a 4-12x20 Bushnell scope. I have never had a problem with the BOSS I dialed it in once to the rounds and use and have had great success with it since.
Badger Arms
New member
YES, YES, YES!
You can get the same level of accuracy in a single load by varrying the powder charge to 'tune' the barrel. There are three advantages to the BOSS in my opinion:
1) You can tune the rifle to optimal harmonics for a particular load without needing to reload. This way, you can use pressure signs to develop a maximum safe load for the rifle and then tune the rifle so that's also the maximum accurate load. The old way of doing this is to load down 10% from published maximum loads and work up in small powder incerments to find the most accurate load. I'd rather have the Max Load the most accurate.
2) Multiple loads can be used with the same or different bullet weights. You can, for instance, load a 300 WM down to 30-30 velocities (been there, done that) for a light-recoiling practice and smaller game. This saves you from having to have two or three rifles for the different purposes.
3) You can shoot heavier loads with less recoil due to the built-in muzzle brake. I'm frankly not too concerned about the two or three shots a hunt you are likely to fire damaging my ears too much. Most of my shooting is done on the bench where I wear double ear protection. For those worried about muzzle blast, a "Conventonal Recoil" attachment is available.
For those who want a classic look, harmonics tuners are available that install hiddin in the stock.
You can get the same level of accuracy in a single load by varrying the powder charge to 'tune' the barrel. There are three advantages to the BOSS in my opinion:
1) You can tune the rifle to optimal harmonics for a particular load without needing to reload. This way, you can use pressure signs to develop a maximum safe load for the rifle and then tune the rifle so that's also the maximum accurate load. The old way of doing this is to load down 10% from published maximum loads and work up in small powder incerments to find the most accurate load. I'd rather have the Max Load the most accurate.
2) Multiple loads can be used with the same or different bullet weights. You can, for instance, load a 300 WM down to 30-30 velocities (been there, done that) for a light-recoiling practice and smaller game. This saves you from having to have two or three rifles for the different purposes.
3) You can shoot heavier loads with less recoil due to the built-in muzzle brake. I'm frankly not too concerned about the two or three shots a hunt you are likely to fire damaging my ears too much. Most of my shooting is done on the bench where I wear double ear protection. For those worried about muzzle blast, a "Conventonal Recoil" attachment is available.
For those who want a classic look, harmonics tuners are available that install hiddin in the stock.
I think I know what happened:
1. Barrel weight as a means of getting better accuracy
(see posts above for explanation of the theory) are known for at least 100 years.
2. Somebody at Browning got an idea of using muzzle brake
as a barrel weight, by providing means of moving MB along
the axis of the bore. This was an original and probably, not a bad idea at all...
3. So BOSS was born - MB, also used as a barrel weight.
4. Market was not terribly fond of it - MB can be real
noisy, flash and stuff, so Browning ommited MB function of
MB housing at the end of the barrel and ended up with just
a well known barrel weight which is manufactured in the shape of MB and installed as a MB. Normally, barrel weights
are not installed at the muzzle end of the barrel, although
pretty close to it...
5. At the end of the day, Browning got just a barrel weight
with a very limited adjustment, which looks may be just a bit cosmetically better than conventional "target rifle"
type barrel weight.
1. Barrel weight as a means of getting better accuracy
(see posts above for explanation of the theory) are known for at least 100 years.
2. Somebody at Browning got an idea of using muzzle brake
as a barrel weight, by providing means of moving MB along
the axis of the bore. This was an original and probably, not a bad idea at all...
3. So BOSS was born - MB, also used as a barrel weight.
4. Market was not terribly fond of it - MB can be real
noisy, flash and stuff, so Browning ommited MB function of
MB housing at the end of the barrel and ended up with just
a well known barrel weight which is manufactured in the shape of MB and installed as a MB. Normally, barrel weights
are not installed at the muzzle end of the barrel, although
pretty close to it...
5. At the end of the day, Browning got just a barrel weight
with a very limited adjustment, which looks may be just a bit cosmetically better than conventional "target rifle"
type barrel weight.
Yep! It works. Just ask all the `pasture poodles' I've shot with my .223 and .308 A-bolt `Varminters' w/BOSS. (Oops! Can't ask them as they're all dead w/reversible fur coats. {CHORTLE!}) Ok... Then ask all the golf balls I've shot at 200 and 300 yards... (Oops! Can't ask them either as they've all `come unwound' into `itty-bitty pieces'. {CHORTLE!}) Oh, well... {WAN GRIN!}