Target Strengths

[kenbo0422]

JSR: Yeah, thats the ticket! Chron. the ball at the muzzle and the target is only like a foot or so away to allow that velocity to be used. We're in the same boat.... I don't have the targets to use right now. We shot them all up this last summer. The boys had some friends over and we had about 12 rifles firing off the back deck. Anything from a .22, 9mm, 7.62, .223, 45-70, 12ga and 10ga shotguns (the latter I found a new respect for...).

Anyway, the Box of Truth, would be a good way to go, except that with the measurements we could possibly provide a materials strength list, especially if different shaped rounds were used.

Even paintballs would be interesting to measure through light materials at different velocities and 'hop up' (it may cause more/less damage??). Would be a good safety factor to present to the hard core paintballers if we found out anything significant.

[jeepkahn]

I can't believe I beat JSR to it...

Had you bothered to check JSR's profile

uhm, yes, That and your propensity to linking to BOT, is why I can't believe I beat you to it in THIS thread... I guess I should'veclarified that...

[jackssmirkingrevenge]

Anyway, the Box of Truth, would be a good way to go, except that with the measurements we could possibly provide a materials strength list, especially if different shaped rounds were used.

It can be done, someone with the right resources needs to put some time into it.

Even paintballs would be interesting to measure through light materials at different velocities and 'hop up' (it may cause more/less damage??). Would be a good safety factor to present to the hard core paintballers if we found out anything significant.

Hopup imparts rotation on the projectile through friction, and therefore this would suggest lower velocity and therefore less power. If you're gaining lift, you're doing so at the expense of forward momentum which is what causes damage. This is why most tank barrels these days are smoothbores, without the friction of rifling significantly higher projectile velocities can be achieved and therefore greater penetration.

The hopup might however give the valve greater time to open fully before the projectile starts moving down the barrel, so it's not necessarily the case that velocity is lower. In this case, measuring velocity accurately is a much better indication of differences in power than any penetrative medium.

uhm, yes, That and your propensity to linking to BOT, is why I can't believe I beat you to it in THIS thread... Wink I guess I should've clarified that...

ah ok

[kenbo0422]

I was thinking that maybe the hop up, providing a spin like a golf ball gets with an angled club face, would possibly be detrimental to the paintball's ability to penetrate. Since it is made to destruct on impact, I wonder if the spin does anything to strengthen the ball or weaken it upon impact. This is taking into consideration that the muzzle velocity is the same with or without a hop up.

A cardboard or paperboard target and/or plastic or paper sheets would be interesting to explore. Even ballistic gel comes to mind for high velocities.

[jackssmirkingrevenge]

I don't see how the fact that it's rotating will affect projectile integrity or penetrative performance in a measurable manner.

Even ballistic gel comes to mind for high velocities.

Good on paper, but a bit of a stretch for the extent of testing that would need to be done. I would love to be in a position to test different projectiles and target media, BOT style, but it would be a laborious task.