This is Bullberrys 204 Ruger Velocity Tests
Thanks for your patience waiting on the results of this test. We have been promising to get this job done for several months and finally have the time to post the results.
I chose a T/C Contender in 24" length as a starting point. Like our previous data on the 17 HMR, I shot 5 rounds thru our Oehler Skyscreen II Chronograph, recorded the results, then cut 1 inch from the barrel and recrowned to repeat the velocity test.
It was my intention to go all the way to a 10" barrel. But . . . at about 18" length I started getting frequent "error" readings – from muzzle blast. I firmed up my Sky Screens to prevent movement and got good results until about 16" length. At this point I had to move back about 20 feet from my screens and tie down everything in the immediate area of my shop. I was pulling objects off shelves 30 feet away. At 14" it was impossible to get five dependable readings – because of this extreme blast – so my test was terminated at this length.
For my test I'd be forced to say that 23" is the optimum length. Those of you who know me, realize that I was hoping to find highest velocity at 20". But my chronograph won't lie just because I'm a fan of shorter barrels.
I have no answer for the fact that my test showed a high velocity of 200 fps slower than advertised – probably just a difference in testing procedure. Here's hoping this data is of interest and may help our shooters in making ideal decisions in length for their needs.
Good shooting!
-Fred Smith
Bullberry/Woodsmith
So on to the test velocities:
24 inch barrel
Shot 1 4042 fps
Shot 2 4078 fps
Shot 3 4058 fps
Shot 4 4037 fps
Shot 5 4032 fps
Average 4049 fps
Spread 46 fps
23 inch barrel
Shot 1 4034 fps
Shot 2 4049 fps
Shot 3 4063 fps
Shot 4 4056 fps
Shot 5 4071 fps
Average 4055 fps
Spread 37 fps
22 inch barrel
Shot 1 4029 fps
Shot 2 4016 fps
Shot 3 4043 fps
Shot 4 4029 fps
Shot 5 4051 fps
Average 4034 fps
Spread 35 fps
21 inch barrel
Shot 1 3995 fps
Shot 2 3977 fps
Shot 3 3999 fps
Shot 4 3985 fps
Shot 5 4001 fps
Average 3991 fps
Spread 24 fps
20 inch barrel
Shot 1 3966 fps
Shot 2 3994 fps
Shot 3 3976 fps
Shot 4 3971 fps
Shot 5 3962 fps
Average 3974 fps
Spread 32 fps
19 inch barrel
Shot 1 3837 fps
Shot 2 3863 fps
Shot 3 3849 fps
Shot 4 3877 fps
Shot 5 3871 fps
Average 3859 fps
Spread 40 fps
18 inch barrel
Shot 1 3782 fps
Shot 2 3821 fps
Shot 3 3849 fps
Shot 4 3779 fps
Shot 5 3811 fps
Average 3808 fps
Spread 70 fps
17 inch barrel
Shot 1 3799 fps
Shot 2 3776 fps
Shot 3 3760 fps
Shot 4 3801 fps
Shot 5 3784 fps
Average 3784 fps
Spread 41 fps
16 inch barrel
Shot 1 3728 fps
Shot 2 3668 fps
Shot 3 3654 fps
Shot 4 3694 fps
Shot 5 3705 fps
Average 3690 fps
Spread 74 fps
15 inch barrel
Shot 1 3615 fps
Shot 2 3551 fps
Shot 3 3516 fps
Shot 4 3540 fps
Shot 5 3519 fps
Average 3548 fps
Spread 100 fps
14 inch barrel
No dependable data
