effendude
Gold $$ Contributor
I have read with great interest all of the discussions regarding the new Magneto magnetic chronograph. Here is my question: When does a bullet stop it's acceleration down the barrel? I hear all the time from the tacticool crowd that 16" is all a bullet needs to burn all the powder, but their cartridges are more limited.
I know that powders and cartridges make a difference. Most F-class and LR shooters use as long a barrel as possible within weight and balance limits of their discipline. 34" barrels are becoming more and more popular. Does measuring the speed of the bullet before it leaves the muzzle leave some possible inaccuracies? As an engineering school drop out, I am theorizing at generally what point the bullets starts decelerating. It may continue to accelerate for a very short period after leaving the muzzle. No more friction of the barrel but it suddenly dies meet some air resistance. If that is the case, measuring the bullet velocity before it is done accelerating might not be the most accurate method of measuring the velocity.
I recall an ad for Marlin Goose Guns where Jim Carmichael of Outdoor Life cut off the 32" shotgun's barrel an inch at a time. The velocity dropped a measurable amount with each cut of the barrel.
Makes a guy like me wonder. Better than watching AGT with the wife....
Scott
I know that powders and cartridges make a difference. Most F-class and LR shooters use as long a barrel as possible within weight and balance limits of their discipline. 34" barrels are becoming more and more popular. Does measuring the speed of the bullet before it leaves the muzzle leave some possible inaccuracies? As an engineering school drop out, I am theorizing at generally what point the bullets starts decelerating. It may continue to accelerate for a very short period after leaving the muzzle. No more friction of the barrel but it suddenly dies meet some air resistance. If that is the case, measuring the bullet velocity before it is done accelerating might not be the most accurate method of measuring the velocity.
I recall an ad for Marlin Goose Guns where Jim Carmichael of Outdoor Life cut off the 32" shotgun's barrel an inch at a time. The velocity dropped a measurable amount with each cut of the barrel.
Makes a guy like me wonder. Better than watching AGT with the wife....
Scott