Ballistic measurements!

[PreglerD]

Today Saturday 24th of march I will go to the range and make some muzzlevel. measurements with the following guns:

- GPR .45, cap, with PRB and Maxiball
- Investarm Hawken .54, cap, with PRB and Minie
- Tower pistol .45, cap, with PRB

When back I will give the complete data like Muzzlevel, muzzleenergy and 100m vel. and energy.

 

[jeepwj992002]

Sweet Kirrmeister. Will be interested in the results. Happy shooting!!

 

[WV_Hillbilly]

Herr Kirrmeister,

I would also be very interested in your results and data. I have been shooting a long time (almost 35 years), but only in the past couple of years have the ballistic measurements of muzzleloaders caught my attention.

Regards, and shoot safely,
WV_Hillbilly

 

[Dave Rosenthal]

We are all waiting with baited breath!

Just as a reminder to everyone on the Forum, power factor (a term we use here in Jersey)is:

velocity in feet per second X projectile weight divided by 1000. Example: .50 cal 370 gr. Maxi X 1349 fps = 499,130 which is a power factor of 499.13

So in effect my .50 cal. Trade Rifle does about the same as a 20 ga. modern rifled slug.

To the "OLd Hands", sorry for the :bull: , but I'd figured on giving some of the newbies some background...All the best to everyone on the Forum, Dave

 

[PreglerD]

Hello my interested forum members. Please stay patient. On Sat. the gunsmith's son who does the measurements was absent, so we do it on Tuesday.

Here are the loads I want to measure.

GPR, .45, cap:

1. powder: 90 grs WANO PP
bullet: .445 RB, selfcasted
patch: 0,12 mm (0,005'')
wad: .44, 8mm thick, lubed

2. all the same as above, but without a wad using a .450240 maxiball

Investarm/Lyman Hawken, cal.54, cap:

1. powder: 120 grs WANO PP
bullet: .531 RB, selfcasted
patch: 0,20 mm
wad: .54, 10 mm thick, lubed

2. powder: 100 grs WANO PP
bullet: .533410 Minie, selfcasted with LEE mold for improved Minie bullet

With charge 2. in the Hawken I hope to reach about 734 flps at 100 meters.

The loads above are the one with the best accuracy out of the rifles.

 

[Idaho Ron]

Why use power factor when you have FPE? Anyway I did my load for my .50, and it is 615. Ron

 

[paulvallandigham]

If you are looking for velocity, use a wad to seal the gases under those conicals. Too much of the gas simply blows by.

I suspect that is why you are using so much powder in those small caliber guns. a .45 should be flying in the Gee Willikers Range of velocity with only 65 grains of powder. Using 90 grains or more may just be burning powder in front of your muzzle. Great for a night time light show, but does notthing for giving you more velocity.

 

[Joel Boyles]

I think the use of power factor is just because it's easier to calculate than ft-lbs.

weight X velocity/1000 versus
weight X velocity squared/450640

Just a guess.

Joel

 

[Jac Spring]

I think the use of power factor is just because it's easier to calculate than ft-lbs.

weight X velocity/1000 versus
weight X velocity squared/450640

Just a guess.

Joel

Foot pounds is bullet weight grains X velocity fps X velocity fps / 450240

Another useful "formula" is the TKO, Taylor's Knock Out... bullet weight grains X bullet diameter in inches X velocity / 7000

Used to compare solid bullet loads for dangerous game.

 

[Joel Boyles]

You're right... it's grains per pound (7000) times acceleration (64.32) Sorry about that, it's what I get for typing before coffee!

Thanks.

Joel

 

[Idaho Ron]

O.S.O.K.
450240 is the number I used to use for arrows. I have seen a couple of different numbers to use for FPE. I was thinking there was more than one. Have you seen that? Speaking of numbers My rifle and load generates 46 fPE of recoil! No wonder my shoulder still hurts like it was dislocated. I shot it over 30 times the last time I was out. Ron

 

[Slamfire]

Power factor is a term used in the electric utility industry. It is the ratio of real to apparent power. Don't ask? The figure you Jerseyites are usin' is momentum. :winking:
As far as measurin' ballistics, I ain't never caught one, so how'd I measure it? :rotf:

 

[Jac Spring]

Power factor is a term used in the electric utility industry. It is the ratio of real to apparent power. Don't ask? The figure you Jerseyites are usin' is momentum. :winking:
As far as measurin' ballistics, I ain't never caught one, so how'd I measure it? :rotf:

You're talking about amperage vs voltage.

Yeah, makes a huge difference.

:surrender:

 

[paulvallandigham]

Why not simply use the formula for " KIlling Power", which is: Velocity x Bullet weight x caliber divided by 100 = KP.

It is an arbitrary scale, but it does a better job of allowing you to compare round ball KP to conical bullet KP, so that you understand why conicals penetrate well. It also does not have anything to do with what kind of powder you use to get the velocity, so you can use it with black powder, smokeless power, and the substitute powders. When you use the formula to calculate a number of different calibers you will see that it fairly represents the expected performance of a wide variety of calibers, bullets, and velocities.To do an accurate comparison of these KP numbers you have to use the velocity figure at the same distance from the muzzle. Use all muzzle velocities, or all 100 yd. velocities, etc. Down Range velocities give the best indication of performance.

 

[Slamfire]

Power factor is a term used in the electric utility industry. It is the ratio of real to apparent power. Don't ask? The figure you Jerseyites are usin' is momentum. :winking:
As far as measurin' ballistics, I ain't never caught one, so how'd I measure it? :rotf:

You're talking about amperage vs voltage.

Yeah, makes a huge difference.

:surrender:

No, no. Volts x Amps = Watts unless they are reactive, then they become wattless power. I told you not to ask. :blah: