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Range Testing
Woodsman 62
with 32 Insert
5-7-07
Woodsman 62 with 32 Caliber
Rifled Insert installed.
At 3,000 psi, it shot the Hornet
slug @ 1060 fps. This slug is also sometimes called my "Stinger"
slug.
The light 53.3 grain cast slug did
well @ 30 yards. It's designed for just such.
The "Rook" Slugs flew
approx. 913 fps
You always toss in a disclaimer
ya know ;?)
For this trip - here's mine. I've
sent out the decent slugs I had - and the new mold too. So I gathered
some "picked thru" test slugs (from the trial casting
session) to go shooting today.
As you see - I either got three
good slugs there - or made three good shots. Anyway - you don't
shoot a trophy group every time. Especially with leftovers for
slugs. (Right ... I know; something else I should do - stock a
few hundred pounds of perfect slugs).
The Bishop slugs flew about 933
fps.
I remembered these incorrectly at
the range. This version weighs 91.7 grains.
Bishops have always been a very
good Barnes design.
I was overdriving my Spitzer designs
today for this barrel set-up. I know, I know - they are supposed
to go fast. What we have here is a situation where I've had amazingly
accurate slug designs for many years. BUT ... folks think Spitzers
are cool and want them. Ballistic co-eff., fast twist, zoom-zoom
... ;?) But - we're not shooting firearms, and ... if I gave you
a dedicated Spitzer barrel, you still would not be happy ... because
it would not shoot the other 90% of Barnes designs which are dead
on accurate. So ... the Spitzer testing goes on.
Running at about 3,200 psi, the
Hornet (sometimes called Stingers) ... were moving right along
@ 1109 fps.
Made me improvise a interesting
experiment just for fun.
You know how there's always that
old argument about velocity vs. mass. Which one is more effective?
Well, I set out one of my steel
ground hogs at about 40 yards.
I plastered it three times offhand,
with the Stingers @ about 1109 fps. Made a fine slap when they
hit! That's 145.6 foot pounds by the numbers.
And this little center flake is
all that I found from the rebound. They just burst on the steel.
But .... the steel hog stayed upright. As you can see - I hit
it high on the hog too. ;?)
So; next I fired a Rook - same 40
yards. That 103.3 grain slug flew about 913 for 191.2 fpe. Now
- I see that we have 46.2 fpe more. No doubt. It was a quick and
dirty test. I should have shot it slower for exactly the same
energy. However;
Don't let this happen to you! haha.
That Rook slug slapped down the
steel hog with authority! Even with a lower body shot. The Stingers
didn't even make the thing quiver with a head shot. I personally
think mass rules.
Just a pc. of lead flake center
left again. Most of the lead just exploded off the steel. But
- it transferred alot more energy while it's mass was collapsing
on the target.
Perfect test would need exact energy
comparisons, I know. But I didn't want to steal the fun of you
trying it for yourself... I have to get back to work. You let
me know what you find.
;?)
Previous Range Testing: 3-25pm-07
Different Woodsman 62 with
32 Insert
Had a fine day. Really enjoyed it.
Sun was out - it was warm. Very nice.
Got to go to the range. Even took the
chronograph. I have some numbers and pics for you. Hope you enjoy
them.
I took six different slug designs today.
That takes alot of time to sort out. Didn't have time to take
more than one rifle. So, I took the Woodsman with it's 32 insert,
because it's the more powerful of the 32 models I need to test.
This will ship this week. I'll get to others shortly.
Alright .. where do you want to start?
"Wide Open?" ... haha. ;?)
OK ...
The fastest was the new 53.3 grain "Stinger" @ 1101 feet per second
- making 143.5 fpe.
The most
power was achieved with the 154.2 grain
boat tail spitzer @ 782 fps for 209.4
fpe.
The most
accurate was still the 91.72 grain Barnes Bishop
@ 933 fps for 177.3 fpe.
The 103.3 grain Barnes Rook continues
to be a strong and reliable slug @ 904 fps for 187.5 fpe.
The new 104.6 grain Spitzer, which
showed so much promise in the shop, isn't quite dialed in. Accuracy
is not correct yet - but it goes 917 fps for 192.9 fpe. Perfect
round hole - but drifts. I'll work on it.
The longest new boat tail spitzer is
too long for this insert's loading port. That slug is 169 grains
and I'll test it in the Nautilus. How about that ... an 18th century
looking butt flask PCP shooting boat tail spitzers! ;?)
OK ...
OH ... keep forgetting to tell you
... ALL OF THESE SLUGS
are Barnes "Cast and Shoot" slugs
which do not require sizing. A development program that's been
working behind the scenes the past couple of years. Many of you
have gotten copies of them to try - when your guns were shipped.
Also - I shot all of these with a simple 4X scope. I have to get a couple of new scopes. I've sold a
few, gotten tired of mounting the big side wheels, and keep grabbing
these for testing. I just shot off a bag, cause I'd prepared for
using a bi-pod ... and then could not find any but my extra long
bi-pod. I've, once again, either sold them or hidden them from
myself. The tall bi-pod was all wrong for bench shooting. Bags
worked well.
Notes of the stats printed on the target.
Nice accurate gun and slug combination for 52 yards and only 4X
optics.
Tossed a fourth one in the group, then
concentration lapse made me pull the fifth one (edge).
The new Boat Tail Spitzer has good
promise. Good power too. I have to tune it - I'm thinking about
it.
A fine slug. The rook is a very logical
slug. Note the numbers. One two three (the gun is using a pretty
good amount of air to do this ya know) ... so 1-3 do just about
what you'd think. I haven't had the gun in the field before ...
so I don't have the pressure curve plotted perfectly. However;
I filled to 3,400 psi. Shot 1-3. Topped off to about 3,200 and
shot 4-5. Slugs did exactly as I'd expect.
The Stinger is going to be very "quality
control grading" oriented. It's screaming fast and light.
If the slugs are perfect - they'll fly. If there's any tiny variable
... you see the results.
This was a preliminary field test for
the slugs. And a confirmation
test of the Woodsman/Insert package. It's ready to ship now.