In theory， the tuning characteristics including tunable range， spectrum， energy and pulse width were simulated under different pump power， volume Bragg grating central diffraction efficiencies and spectral widths by setting up a rating equation model including volume Bragg grating wavelength property. A laser diode pumped Nd：YAG/Cr⁴⁺：YAG laser with a volume Bragg grating as output coupler was set up. The laser wavelength， linewidth， energy and pulse width were measured at different volume Bragg grating temperatures and pump power. The experimental results and theoretical results are in agreement. At the repetition rate of 10 kHz， pump pulse width of 40 μs， pump peak power of 10.7 W， tunable range from 1 063.77 to 1 064.48 nm is obtained. When the volume Bragg grating temperature is 50 ℃， output energy of 109.5 μJ， pulse width of 1.71 ns， wavelength of 1 064.432 nm， linewidth of 38.3 pm， M² factor of less than 1.2 is achieved. The investigating results can be a reference of volume Bragg grating application， spectral analysis and design of laser.