Lock time.

[Raygun]

I see that from time to time, posts mention "Lock time".

If for arguments sake "Lock time" is from the trigger releasing the sear to the pellet leaving the barrel there will be a few variables.

The length of the barrel being one. How do posters measure this "lock time", or is it just a guess, "bloody hell, that was quick".

I know it can be measured, if you have the equipment, but I've never seen any "lock times" quoted for any gun.

Daystates are often referred to as having a very quick "lock time" but how quick is it and how does it compare to other guns ?

I'm guessing the "lock time" would be measured in milliseconds so how can you compare without measurement.

Finally, does it matter as long as it's pretty quick.

ATB
Ray.

[mallyally]

i can only tell when i shoot a rifle with a slow lock time and they are usually springers. never noticed any difference on a pcp but some people might ,haviing said that my steyr does seem pretty quick

[RobF]

considering the human reaction time, and the single figure ms time it takes for german pcp's lock time, i think a lot of it is in peoples' heads and marketing/sales depts.

There was a webpage that compared 4 FT guns, of german/austrian ilk. The song and dance was about a 1ms reduction...and how the harmonics of the barrel meant the pellet left the barrel when then barrel was mid wobble, hence more accurate. I call is BS, because if you use a different weight pellet which goes down the barrel faster or slower, or you change the power then the pellet wont leave at that point.

[hareng]

The term 'Lock Time' was from centuries ago in measured in seconds with flintlocks. Hence not inclusive of time to travel up barrel.
Also the lock is the firing mechanism of a gun. Lock, stock and barrel.