Patch/Ball Separation

[Larry Pletcher]

This is my first try at attaching a photo. I spent a couple of months off and on trying to get a high speed photo of a patch separating from a fired round ball. I tried one as a avatar but it turned out too small. The attached pic was taken with the ball 24" from the muzzle. The .395 ball is traveling app 500 fps.

Regards,
Pletch

 

[MSW]

wow- cool photo... how did you made the picture? open shutter fires a flashgun? sound trigger? 'fess up... us photogeeks wanna know!

really nice work, however you did it!

 

[wtilenw]

That is REALLY COOL!! Good job on the photography.
I would like a copy of that photo, if possible.
Idaho PRB

 

[Larry Pletcher]

Thanks. The photo setup used an infrared beam that was attached to the flash. Break the beam and the flash goes off. The beam was set up across the path of the ball. I put a ramrod in the muzzle and extended it until the beam was broken. I focused the digital cam on the end of the ramrod. That's where the ball will be when the beam breaks.

To actually take the photo a friend fired the rifle. We got everything ready, and he aimed the gun. Then the lights go off, the camera lens opens, rifle is fired, and the lens closed. The lights are turned back on and we examine the pic, make adjustments and try again.

We had numerous failures, changed guns, powder, etc until we had a combination that worked. The final set (with the .40) began at 30 inches. The patch had already separated. We kept moving the muzzle closer to the beam until the patch and ball were against each other. The best pics were at 20" and 24"

I posted the whole mess on a blog:[url] www.larrypletcher.com[/url]
Click on the "photography" button. Recent stuff at the top;older stuff farther down.

Regards,
Pletch

 

[Dave K]

That is really an education. Also the differences in powders!

 

[Pork Chop]

Fantastic photo!

 

[roundball]

Excellent work!!
:thumbsup:

 

[Forster]

Exelent picture!!! Might be worth it to send it off to one of the gun mags, looks like front cover material to me....Jim

 

[crgabel]

WAY TOO COOL :thumbsup:

 

[bob1961]

that is really cool :hatsoff: ....nuttin to do huh.........bob

 

[Russianblood]

Now could you do that with a shot load out of a smoothbore so we can really see what is causing the holes in patterns, the cushion wad or the overshot card? :grin:

 

[Larry Pletcher]

Now could you do that with a shot load out of a smoothbore so we can really see what is causing the holes in patterns, the cushion wad or the overshot card? :grin:

I probably could. At least we could tell at what distance the cushion wad is no longer attached to the shot. I tried a 20 ga cushion wad behind a patched ball when I was trying to keep smoke out of the photo. The wad slowed down much more quickly than the ball. I would speculate that the same would happen if shot were used instead.

From what I have seen in pics, I would suspect the overshot card. The shot will hold velocity longer than the card and at some point push it out of the way - unless the card had already dropped away.

Regards,
Pletch

 

[hawkeye1755]

Great Pics :bow: :bow:
And what a question:' When did a patch separating from a fired round ball'? Great. :grin:
:thumbsup:

 

[jderrick]

Y'know, I spend a couple years shooting cameras for papers, but I think that's darned impressive! :bow:

 

[Lone Carabiner]

:bull: Interesting to note the apparent 'downward' path of the accompanying glowing particles, the 'trajectory' of the ball in a more gradual manner.