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Thread: Could FPS of a pellet be actually measured in 1920?

  1. #1
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    Could FPS of a pellet be actually measured in 1920?

    I just bought a BSA brochure and correspondence from the BSA dealer in the US that is dated 1920. They say in the correspondence that the BSA #1 in .177 had power of 800 FPS? Maybe a bit of marketing but not sure I have seen FPS quoted in print that was dated that early?
    Last edited by 45flint; 30-11-2020 at 02:26 AM.

  2. #2
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    They could determine approximately velocity (as far as I am aware) by use of ballistic sledges or ballistic pendulums. As to whether or not electronic means of determining velocity were available, I don't know. I'd guess that work was going on in that direction at least, but as to whether or no any viable system that gave fairly accurate results was available then remains a guess to me without a bit of research via "Google" and its friends.
    Also, as regards non electronic means, I'm led to believe that some systems used a series of spaced paper cards on a carefully set up range and measured drop between the cards and worked out velocity using Newtons Laws.

    Vic Thompson.

  3. #3
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    not electronically, but the spinning paper disc device mentioned here would do the job, or the broken thread screen version.. so yes, I think 40 years later they definitely could.

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gun_chronograph

    also here:

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aberdeen_chronograph
    Always looking for any cheap, interesting, knackered "project" guns. Thanks, JB.

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    Even in the 1970's BSA were using 'pine boards of a controlled thickness' to test power - Mercury and Scorpion pistols pictured in AG Digest

  5. #5
    edbear2 Guest
    Book for sale in USA item number 292909017990 about the 1872 Le Boulenge device, claimed accuracy over shot distance was 1/40,000 of a second ....


    ATB, Ed

  6. #6
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    early chrono'

    Hi, I remember about 50 odd years ago!] my uncle Stan built a machine, it was a rotating electric motor driven shaft which he attached 2 cardboard discs at one foot apart. He had worked out the RPM some how? & by some mathamaticle equation ? he could work out the FPS when a pellet was shot through the 2 rotating discs. I have never seen one since, regards Al.

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    Read somewhere about microphones next to paper targets recording the hits. That would do it in 1920's

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  9. #9
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    Quote Originally Posted by Geezer View Post
    As is reading my post #3 mate
    Always looking for any cheap, interesting, knackered "project" guns. Thanks, JB.

  10. #10
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    Well I felt sure that the answer would be "certainly" but could only think of the ballistic pendulum. It turned out to be a more interesting question than I had thought. Ingenious solutions in a pre-electronics age.
    True freedom includes the freedom to make mistakes or do foolish things and bear the consequences.
    TANSTAAFL

  11. #11
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    Quote Originally Posted by cringe View Post
    Hi, I remember about 50 odd years ago!] my uncle Stan built a machine, it was a rotating electric motor driven shaft which he attached 2 cardboard discs at one foot apart. He had worked out the RPM some how? & by some mathamaticle equation ? he could work out the FPS when a pellet was shot through the 2 rotating discs. I have never seen one since, regards Al.
    I dream of building something like that, its simplicity is just very appealing.
    But there are too many other projects on the list...

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