Well, the rain finally left around lunchtime, so I put down the chainsaw and picked up the Wildcat again. This time the chronograph remembered to come along for the ride! Shot count looks to be around 37 or so before it falls off the regulator, which I'm guessing to be set around 135 to 140 Bar, as that is what the cylinder pressure gage was showing when the velocities started dropping. So, I am using the numbers for five full seven-shot magazines totalling 35 shots. First string is: 738,761,766,759,776,799,809,824,823,831,826,808,833, 833,827,829,798,821,837,837,838,829,830,836,809,835,836,833,827,828,829,831,839,841,845. This gives an average of 818 FPS, Standard Deviation of 26.7, Extreme Spread of 107. Second shot string is: 823,833,833,821,831,817,815,831,834,832,833,828,830,829,826,827,833,833,831,830,830, 830,831,770,833,834,829,833,823,828,829,827, 830,838,826. Average of 827 FPS, Standard Deviation is 11.1, Extreme Spread is 68.
You may have noticed the slow buildup during that first string. I didn't "warm up" before starting. I don't think that should make a difference. Maybe it's the regulator getting settled in. The rifle only had about 100 rounds through it when I started today, so there's that possibility. Second string was much better, except for that one crazy shot at 770 FPS. Take it out, and the numbers look much better: Average 829 FPS, SD of 4.9, and Extreme Spread of 23. So, maybe it is just an issue of putting some rounds downrange.
I put the chrony away and started working on figuring out click adjustments for different ranges, from 30 yards out to 100. Worked hard on grouping at 60 and 70 yards. Here are my 60 yard groups. Top left and the one below it were getting the elevation clicks set. Top middle has a "flier" that was actually the result of making a windage adjustment in the wrong direction. Turned it back the other way and finished the group:
Here is one of the two groups I shot at 70 yards. The other was a series of elevation adjustments.
I ran out of daylight, so I still haven't tried it without the stackable moderator. I know this was a long post, but there are some out there who are interested in the numbers. As much as I have learned from all of you the last year or so, the least I could do is put in some grunt work for ya'll. So far, I am really happy. Well, except that indexing issue. Determined today that it happens about once every two magazines of shooting. Time was limited, so I still haven't looked closely at it. I wish you all a Happy New Years! Be safe and shoot straight!
You may have noticed the slow buildup during that first string. I didn't "warm up" before starting. I don't think that should make a difference. Maybe it's the regulator getting settled in. The rifle only had about 100 rounds through it when I started today, so there's that possibility. Second string was much better, except for that one crazy shot at 770 FPS. Take it out, and the numbers look much better: Average 829 FPS, SD of 4.9, and Extreme Spread of 23. So, maybe it is just an issue of putting some rounds downrange.
I put the chrony away and started working on figuring out click adjustments for different ranges, from 30 yards out to 100. Worked hard on grouping at 60 and 70 yards. Here are my 60 yard groups. Top left and the one below it were getting the elevation clicks set. Top middle has a "flier" that was actually the result of making a windage adjustment in the wrong direction. Turned it back the other way and finished the group:
Here is one of the two groups I shot at 70 yards. The other was a series of elevation adjustments.
I ran out of daylight, so I still haven't tried it without the stackable moderator. I know this was a long post, but there are some out there who are interested in the numbers. As much as I have learned from all of you the last year or so, the least I could do is put in some grunt work for ya'll. So far, I am really happy. Well, except that indexing issue. Determined today that it happens about once every two magazines of shooting. Time was limited, so I still haven't looked closely at it. I wish you all a Happy New Years! Be safe and shoot straight!
