We modders like to know whether our changes are better or not. Efficiency mods on the 22xx family let us count shots per CO2 cartridge. Easy. Accuracy mods let us compare target groupings. But power mods need something to tell us whether our guns are more powerful (or not) than before or after a modification. That something could be a chronometer (chrony for short). I have one... a really good with with a printer! But it is a PITA to set up and worst of all takes TIME (not usually our friend).
For some time now, my quick down and dirty (but relatively accurate) gauge of power results from my modifications has been the use of a stack of cardboard boxes bundled and turned up facing me. These boxes are folded and take up little room, are portable, and are 15 boxes deep... times two layers per folded box equals 30 layers. This is more than adequate to stop any of the 13xx and 22xx family of guns.
All I do is make certain the before and after shots are from the same distance (usually 5 meters in my main shop room). I use the stick on dots to give me a bunch of bulls to shoot at. If in a hurry, a Sharpie marker will give me something to shoot at in a hurry. Because the cardboard is so uniform, repetitive shots from a gun rarely varies more than one or two layers. For example: somebody sends me a 2240 to install a hot valve and port. I take the gun before and shoot five times into the boxes. I get 10 to 13 layers. OK. Then I install the valve and the port and make certain everything is buttoned up tight, then shoot five shots into a different spot of the cardbard boxes. I count layers and find 17 to 19 layers have been penetrated. Sweet. Mission accomplished. Now it is true I do not know the exact fps nor can I calculate the fpe, but I do know what I wanted to know: This man is paying for increased performance and he is fixing to get it.
You might say that this is the same as shooting a phone book. No, it's not. I can do a dozen or more sessions with one stack of boxes. I can keep the groupings separate. I can count the depth of penetration much faster (in seconds) and I can get boxes easily for free all year long,,, whereas I only have a few phone books and they read easier without holes blasted all into them.
Targets
I have a range set up in my back yard that lets me shoot 5, 10 and 20 meters. I have a box filled with Duct Seal that holds two pages of targets at a time. I like that. Above that is a shelf where I can set things to shoot... cans, ice figures, spent CO2 cartridges, mild carton full of water, whatever. i like that, too. Above that I have one of the re-settable spinner contraptions that lets me shoot six times, then shoot the 7th that releases the six so can go again. Hey, what's not to like about that?
But my favorite target setup is this: I have taken six metal coffee cans, screwed them into a treated 2x10 in a line horizontally with their tops facing me. I pack tightly full each one of these six cans with the plastic bags that we get everywhere (grocery store, Wally World, Target, convenience store, wherever). Then I put the plastic lid on the front of each one... and finally peel off six of the Birchwood Casey orange adhesive targets and put one on each of the can lids.
Let me tell you... the stopping power of this is tremendous. i shoot these with the Disco, the Marauder, and the PCP Hatsans. It only goes about 1/2 way in. Our 13xx and 22xx much less. The cans only get hit on the edge if you are really a bad shot or have a flier, but that edge even takes abuse pretty well. I am using the same six cans I started with three years ago. I drink coffee year around so my supply of lids is ridiculous. The lids do not crack or shatter, so they also take a surprising amount of shots before they get replaced (for free).
Thanks for stopping in. Remember to have fun shooting!
For some time now, my quick down and dirty (but relatively accurate) gauge of power results from my modifications has been the use of a stack of cardboard boxes bundled and turned up facing me. These boxes are folded and take up little room, are portable, and are 15 boxes deep... times two layers per folded box equals 30 layers. This is more than adequate to stop any of the 13xx and 22xx family of guns.
All I do is make certain the before and after shots are from the same distance (usually 5 meters in my main shop room). I use the stick on dots to give me a bunch of bulls to shoot at. If in a hurry, a Sharpie marker will give me something to shoot at in a hurry. Because the cardboard is so uniform, repetitive shots from a gun rarely varies more than one or two layers. For example: somebody sends me a 2240 to install a hot valve and port. I take the gun before and shoot five times into the boxes. I get 10 to 13 layers. OK. Then I install the valve and the port and make certain everything is buttoned up tight, then shoot five shots into a different spot of the cardbard boxes. I count layers and find 17 to 19 layers have been penetrated. Sweet. Mission accomplished. Now it is true I do not know the exact fps nor can I calculate the fpe, but I do know what I wanted to know: This man is paying for increased performance and he is fixing to get it.
You might say that this is the same as shooting a phone book. No, it's not. I can do a dozen or more sessions with one stack of boxes. I can keep the groupings separate. I can count the depth of penetration much faster (in seconds) and I can get boxes easily for free all year long,,, whereas I only have a few phone books and they read easier without holes blasted all into them.
Targets
I have a range set up in my back yard that lets me shoot 5, 10 and 20 meters. I have a box filled with Duct Seal that holds two pages of targets at a time. I like that. Above that is a shelf where I can set things to shoot... cans, ice figures, spent CO2 cartridges, mild carton full of water, whatever. i like that, too. Above that I have one of the re-settable spinner contraptions that lets me shoot six times, then shoot the 7th that releases the six so can go again. Hey, what's not to like about that?
But my favorite target setup is this: I have taken six metal coffee cans, screwed them into a treated 2x10 in a line horizontally with their tops facing me. I pack tightly full each one of these six cans with the plastic bags that we get everywhere (grocery store, Wally World, Target, convenience store, wherever). Then I put the plastic lid on the front of each one... and finally peel off six of the Birchwood Casey orange adhesive targets and put one on each of the can lids.
Let me tell you... the stopping power of this is tremendous. i shoot these with the Disco, the Marauder, and the PCP Hatsans. It only goes about 1/2 way in. Our 13xx and 22xx much less. The cans only get hit on the edge if you are really a bad shot or have a flier, but that edge even takes abuse pretty well. I am using the same six cans I started with three years ago. I drink coffee year around so my supply of lids is ridiculous. The lids do not crack or shatter, so they also take a surprising amount of shots before they get replaced (for free).
Thanks for stopping in. Remember to have fun shooting!
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