Airgun Pellet Flight

Velocity - Accuracy Value. And the search for efficiency via good engineering. Note: The subject matter here concerns reality. Our intense commitment to marketing has distorted American law into politics that concentrates upon illusion, and momentary opinions instead. Basically, attempting to add whistles and bells in the hope of politicizing natural laws, is just another futile attempt to lure humans to act like lemmings i.e. leaping into the sea of BS. Again we have another attempt to point the finger at a democratic majority demanding the insanity of overruling engineers in order to make them build dangerous automobiles (for example), and then patch the danger with somewhat successful kludges to raise things to the next level of more engineered kludges; without ever really fixing the basic problem of a public; that lives for excessively brainwashed SPEED!

Velocity - Accuracy - Value Some things to look for in an airgun. By Tom Gaylord exclusively for PyramydAir.com. Copyright 2003 All Rights Reserved VELOCITY AND PELLETS It seems fantastic that an air rifle can launch a pellet faster than 1,200 feet per second (f.p.s.), but some powerful rifles can. However, just because it's possible to do it doesn't mean that it's also desirable. In fact, it isn't. To understand why, you must understand how a modern pellet works. Diabolos The classic diabolo pellet has a pinched waist and a hollow skirt. The shape of the nose can be round, pointed, flat or anything else. The skirt can be thick or thin - long or short. All these variables affect the flight of the pellet somewhat, but the basic diabolo shape is what affects it the most. These .22-caliber Benjamin-Sheridan pellets are very similar to Crosman's Premier design. Most top-quality pellets are made with a pinched waist - a socalled wasp waist. The correct term for this design is diabolo. A diabolo pellet is stabilized (prevented from tumbling) by the high air drag on its tail. A hollow skirt plus the pinched waist work together to produce this drag, plus a forward weight bias keeps the

nose pointed in the right direction. Where a conventional rifle stabilizes the bullet by spinning it rapidly, a diabolo pellet will even be reasonably accurate in a smoothbore gun. It works exactly like badminton "birdie" and for the same reason - a high-drag skirt. Most modern pellet rifles and pistols are rifled which does cause the pellet to spin on its axis in flight, but the rate of spin is too slow to stabilize the pellet by itself. When the pellet leaves the muzzle it starts slowing down very rapidly. It will lose more than half its muzzle velocity within the first 100 yards of flight. If the pellet was shot at a speed above the sound barrier, it will also be destabilized by passing through the sonic pressure wave it created. The sound barrier varies, but it usually remains near 1,100 f.p.s. at sea level on a normal day. When a pellet goes faster than the sound barrier it makes a sharp crack, which is the "breaking" of the barrier. It will be less accurate than if it were shot from the same gun at 900 f.p.s. or less, where the sound barrier is not a problem. While 900 f.p.s. is quite a bit below 1,100 f.p.s., there is great turbulence whenever the sonic barrier is approached. For this reason, knowledgeable shooters never allow their pellet rifles to shoot much faster than 900 f.p.s. If they buy one of the supermagnums that do shoot much faster, they use the heaviest pellets they can find to get the muzzle velocity back down. Match King Boat Tail Missiles that travel faster than the speed of sound slow down much faster than missiles going slower than the speed of sound. To retain their velocity, supersonic missiles must be very aerodynamic, while slower missiles are less aerodynamic. On the low end of the scale, Olympic target airguns seldom shoot pellets as fast as 600 f.p.s., yet they will outshoot almost any other pellet gun at short ranges. The target air pistols are nearly as fast as the target rifles - ranging from 450 f.p.s. to 580 f.p.s. Both target rifles and pistols shoot wadcutter pellets with flat noses that cut perfect holes in target paper. Wadcutters are the least aerodynamic pellets on the market, but since the target guns don't shoot very fast, it doesn't matter. Most hunters want a rifle that will shoot a large heavy pellet accurately at 750 to 900 f.p.s. Most general shooters - the so-called plinkers - want to shoot at 600 to 900 f.p.s. with a rifle and 350 to 550 f.p.s. with a pistol. High velocity does not mean high quality or accuracy. If fact, it might mean just the opposite. The diabolo pellet is designed to give the greatest accuracy at speeds well below the sound barrier, so select your airguns accordingly. The boattail pointed bullet is designed for supersonic flight at all times. This is a Sierra MatchKing, which is one of the top target bullets in the world. It is made of a copper jacket around a lead

core with a tiny opening in the point. They come in all popular calibers, but this .30 caliber 168-grain bullet is what made the line famous. It's used for long-range target shooting, primarily. WHAT ABOUT SOLID PELLETS? Okay - if hollow-tail wasp-waisted pellets aren't accurate above the sound barrier, what about solid lead "pellets?" Several brands of these interesting "pellets" are now available, but do they give the accuracy you require? Another name for these solid pellets is bullets, because that's exactly what they are. So what works for bullets also works for solid pellets. These are both .22-caliber pellets. The 30-grain pellet on the left is a solid lead pellet from PelletMan. The lack of a hollow skirt and a wasp waist means this pellet has to spin faster to stabilize in flight. Than means it must be shot faster than a normal pellet. It has a cupped base, plus there is a larger-diameter driving band around the base to take the rifling and seal the bore. The Crosman Premier diabolo on the right weighs 14.3 grains. As it turns out, .22 long rifle ammunition, which fires a 40grain lead bullet, is ALSO less accurate if the bullet goes supersonic. Why? Because when it is just barely supersonic, as most . 22 LR high-speed ammo is, the bullet gets tossed around by its own sonic wave. To get around this, a bullet has to be extremely streamlined and it needs to be shot at several times the speed of sound. So, if you can get your solid pellets out the muzzle at 1,400 f.p.s. and faster, there may be an advantage. Less than that and you are tossing away accuracy. That's why all .22 rimfire target ammo is subsonic. Learn from the target shooters and stay well under the sound barrier. If you do shoot solid pellets, remember that they must go faster to stabilize because they don't have the high drag of the hollow tail. The spin imparted by the rifling must stabilize them. BUT DOESN'T A FASTER PELLET DROP LESS ON ITS WAY TO THE TARGET? Yes, it does. It also wanders all over the place instead of tracking along an accurate path. So you can either hit your target with the slower pellet or you can miss it with a faster pellet that doesn't drop as much - it's your choice. Back in the late 1800s, men shot at 1,000 yards and even out to one mile with bullets that barely went supersonic, if at all. They had to judge the range more than shooters do today, but their rifles were very accurate. The bullet that hits the target does more damage than the one that misses at high velocity.

SO, ARE THE SUPERFAST AIR RIFLES BAD? Not at all! They're great - especially if you need extra power for hunting and long-range shooting. But use them correctly. Match their high power with heavy pellets so you get all the accuracy they have to offer. For example, a Gamo 1250 will shoot over 1,200 f.p.s. in . 177 caliber with the lightest pellets. RWS Hobbys weigh about 6.9 grains and Skenco lead-free pellets are more than a full grain lighter. You would not use them in a 1250 because they are too light. Instead, use a Beeman Kodiak/H&N Barracuda (same pellet) that weighs 10.6 grains or a Crosman Premier 10.5-grain pellet. These will both slow the velocity down to somewhere in the 1,000 f.p.s. region where the rifle can do its best. If you have a choice of calibers, such as with the RWS 350 Magnum, which comes in both .177 and .22, get the . 22 and use the heavier pellets. You will get all the smashing power the powerplant has to offer. If you absolutely must have a .177 in one of the super-powerful rifles, always match it with the heaviest pellets for the caliber. CONCLUSIONS: Airgun quality does not come from velocity. It comes from accuracy, smooth operation, good design and quality control and other factors. Don't allow velocity alone to rule your airgun choices because if you do, you will miss most of what is good about this hobby. .177 is generally used for target shooting although it is suitable for small birds etc. The problem with .177 is this and I'm making assumptions that a) you live in the UK or Canada, and b) you don't have a firearms certificate. If I'm wrong about either feel free to correct me. .177 is a tiny pellet with very good penetrating qualities. However they tend to pass all the way through many targets including rabbits pigeons etc. Whilst that may sound good it actually means your wasting energy that needs to be transferred to the target in order to achieve a clean quick kill. As a limit you only have 12ft/lbs of muzzle energy to play with unless you posses a firearms certificate (and even less by the time the pellet strikes its target) so its important that all its energy is expended on the target not just some as it keeps on traveling out the other side. .177 is excellent for target shooting because of the higher velocities achieved (approx 800 feet per second at 12ft/lbs) giving a flatter trajectory over a given distance. ********************* Al's Note: A consistent demonstration of judgment here is for a velocity range of 600 to 800 fps muzzle velocity - to maintain

accuracy, and overall stability of a shooting program/system within an airgun's true limitations. I believe the expertise will agree that this is a true statement for the entire scope of pellet guns regardless of caliber; due to rifling and lead usage, and diabolo air flow technology. This is truly an area best left in the hands of engineers, rather then the responding to the whims of the general public. ************************ The .22, on the other hand, is a bigger pellet with a slower velocity (600fps ish at 12ft/lbs) it has less penetrating capability but as mentioned this is a good thing when hunting live quarry as the pellet is less likely to pass through the target and therefore delivers all its energy to the target making a clean quick efficient kill more likely. On the downside as pellet velocities in .22 are lower the pellet presents a more curved trajectory making accurate shooting more difficult as greater compensations for elevation have to be made when shooting above or below the range for which the rifle is zeroed. There are pros and cons to either caliber but as a generalization I would say if you intend shooting Pepsi cans and chalk targets buy a . 177. If you enjoy flattening rabbits and crows etc buy a .22. I tend to use a Daisy (easy pumper), or old Marksman break-barrel for tin can plinking, and a Sheridan 177 or a cheap (beater) Chinese 22 under lever service training rifle for hunting (via NRA position shooting with open sights (in spite of aperture preference) i.e. big aperture). I do enjoy a Benjamin CO2 22 pistol (with shoulder stock) that requires more shooting skill for the 600 FPS muzzle velocity; for a noisy 6 inch barrel. Then again, I am a NRA CPI, and retired engineer - making me a bit of a curmudgeon by todays standards. In external ballistics, point-blank range is the distance between a firearm and a target of a given size such that the bullet in flight is expected to strike the target without adjusting the elevation of the firearm. The point-blank range will vary with the firearm and its particular ballistic characteristics, as well as the dimension of target chosen. A firearm with a flatter trajectory will permit a farther maximum point-blank range for a given target size, while a larger target will allow for a longer point-blank range for a given set of ballistics. Modern delusional concepts masks the limitations for application on hunted targets - with low velocity weapons (under 900 FPS). In forensics, and now popular usage, point-blank range has come to mean extremely close range (i.e., target within about a meter (3 ft) of the muzzle at moment of discharge, but not close enough to be an actual contact shot). My evaluation of "point blank" with 300 FPS weapons(archery and Daisy BB guns) and tin can size targets, is that 10 meters is a realistic limit for point blank shooting that is

mechanically efficient as my 6mm is out to 300 meters on deer size targets [relativity]. Now using 800 FPS weapons point blank range is increased to 16 meters. One has to bare in mind that the reasonable distance of 54 feet maintains the ballistic efficiency of the projectile for proper performance i.e. without stretching limit beyond +30%. [Experimenting was done with a Sheridan pump using pump strokes for velocity control; and blank paper targets for center of mass holding, for group size recordings. Winds calm, and time base for "gathering data" approximately one year. The Dallas Pistol Club gave me the opportunity to shoot my 1100 FPS Diana 37 at 25 and 50 yards, to verify my weaker unpropitious concept of range. [I currently am weakening my mainspring to tone down the poor showing of 50 yard groups, and applying the theology of the Hawkin rifle; at a max range of 20 meters - to gain a more controlled humane extermination.] Pellet Deceleration: Here is a point that is not discussed by those deluded with mo-power. Now that I am more civilized, I find that a lot of areas that I shoot over have a grass base, leading into tufts of woodland, so I have checked out grass surface ricochets, to find out that the typical earth drag, plus foliage, kills velocity rapidly enough for a safety band of 100yds to exist - as a typical invisible backstop concern. So to finalize: I hope this message opens the door to redeveloping the art of shooting sports, and regain the concept of position shooting instead of setting up tripods and rifle scopes of more than 2.5 power (my favorite Leopold that is still mounted upon my Ruger 22 bolt rifle) and other paraphernalia. Totally destroying mobility, My Cherokee background wants to travel in the woods carrying my light rifle, spot game, solidify position for a humane accurate shot. If more than 20 meters, stalk it. When realistically limited to 600 fps with a Diabolo pellet, all the current high tech philosophy is BS. Rifling just assists a 'slug gun' by finessement; however, arrow dynamics is the prime control, and sufficient for a maximum working range of 75 feet with less than (an adequate) 3 minute dispersion grouping (i.e. without an interfering breeze). [A taste of honesty?] The sound barrier is breached! Until the 1980s, peak pellet velocities remained below about 870 f.p.s. In the early 80s, several rifles finally achieved 1,000 f.p.s. Soon after that, British airgun designer Ivan Hancock broke the sound barrier with his Mach I breakbarrel springer that got over 1,150 f.p.s. in .177 caliber. After that, things changed very fast. Suddenly, accuracy was out the window, as shooters discovered that the diabolo shape is not well-suited to flight in the transonic or supersonic region. The fact that the pellet remains at this high

velocity for only a few yards makes no difference. The damage was done. The extreme buffeting caused when the pellet reaches and passes transonic speed, then slows back down and goes through it again is more than enough to destabilize it and cause groups to open. Sales go crazy! However, the other side of the coin is that high velocity sells guns. A company that advertises their gun shoots 1,000fps and higher attracts lots of attention and, yes, sales. In fact, so much attention has been given to 1,000fps that it is now seen as the marketing kiss of death to advertise anything less. Some companies have gone to great lengths to tout ever-higher velocities without a thought being given to accuracy. Special lightweight, lead-free pellets are now selling well partly because of the velocity boost they give to the guns that shoot them. Again purchasing a quality airgun that is light for hunting, and quick position shooting, without a lot of paraphernalia, or concern for objects that are 200 yards away. One that cocks easily so that teaching younger siblings the true adventure of shooting sports, instead of ego blossoming. This Diana 25 smoothbore was made in World War II. Todays blog falls under the heading, Its not always a good idea to try everything. Back when we were exploring the Diana 25 smoothbore airgun, we saw how incredibly accurate it was with certain pellets at 10 meters.

This 10-shot group of JSB Exact RS pellets was shot at 10 meters. The extreme spread measures just 0.337 inches between centers! It made us all wonder just how accurate a smoothbore pellet gun can be. When I backed up to 25 yards, however, the groups opened up to between 2.5 and 3+ inches for the same pellet. Obviously, the pellet needs to be stabilized by both the high drag of its diabolo shape and by the spin introduced by rifling. Drag, alone, is not enough to stabilize the pellet at ranges beyond 20 yards. [My mechanical limit for humane kills, and was true in archery distances over 25 yards needing helical pitch for vanes. Apparently flight is affected by aerodynamic bubble theory that is broken up by changing surfaces.]