Range Day Report 2 (7-28-12)
Clear, 81 degrees w/02 mph wind, 96% Humidity @ 8am (beginning)
Clear, 101 degrees w/5 mph wind, 52% Humidy @ 6:15 pm (End)
My wife and I had a very interesting day to say the least. The gun , clip and Plumcrazy Lower functioned great.
We chronograph the ammo and tested the P-22 rapid elevation turrets rated for std velocities of 1200-1300 fps and the hyper velocities of 1400-1640 fps.
Using the original 50yd zero and fouled barrel, the 50yds groupings were pretty consistent with the last range day groupings.
However, when I moved out to the 75yd targets is when we noticed that the groupings (all) shifted up on average by 2-3”, 100yds average grouping shifted 9-10”….long story short the turrets are off as much as 63%.
Note: After shooting the Standard velocity ammo, we changed to the hyper velocity turret (matching to the turrets FPS ratings).
Down below is the ammo used, chronograph readings taken (stopped at 100yds because turrets are not calibrated properly), and grouping pictures:
Standard Velocity Ammo:
Target 1 - Federal, Value Pack, HP, 36 gr, 1260 fps
Chronograph Readings:
50yds-1216, 1217,1213, 1232 & 1233
75yds- 1235, 1282, 1198, 1263 & 1242
100yds- 1251, 1204, 1225,1231 & 1247
Target 2- Federal, Champion, Round Nose, 40 gr, 1240 fps
Chronograph Readings:
50yds- 1230, 1213, 1198, 1185 & 1218
75yds- 1208, 1227, 1182, 1228 & 1197
100yds- 1244, 1229, 1192, 1232 & 1243
Target 3 - CCI, Mini-Mag, Copper Plated Hollow Point, 36 gr, 1260 fps
50yds- 1289, 1233, 1252, 1243 & 1230
75yds- 1231, 1240, 1261, 1268 & 1246
100yds- 1240, 1228, 1263, 1224 & 1261
Target 4 - CCI, Mini-Mag, Round Nose, 40 gr, 1235 fps
50yds- 1243, 1227, 1241, 1174 & 1207
75yds- 1204, 1086, 1160, 1191 & 1245
100yds- 1180, 1182, 1173, 1195 &1163
Target 5- Winchester, WildCat, 40 gr, Round Nose, 1255 fps
50yds- 1206, 1200, 1187, 1173 & 1192
75yds- 1223, 1180, 1210, 1202 & 1226
100yds- 1232, 1230, 1221, 1223 & 1199
Target 6- Winchester, Super Speed, Round Nose, 40gr, 1300 fps
50yds- 1206, 1200, 1187, 1173 & 1192
75yds- 1223, 1180, 1210, 1202 & 1226
100yds- 1232, 1230, 1221, 1223 & 1199
Target 7- Remington, Golden Bullet, Round Nose, 40 gr, 1256 fps
50yds- 1227, 1204, 1226, 1215 & 1274
75yds- 1244, 1226, 1238, 1251 & 1264
100yds- 1234, 1257, 1221, 1201 &1249
Target 8- Remington, Viper, Truncated Cone, 36 gr, Hyper Velocity, 1410 fps
50yds- 1330, 1329, 1354, 1306 &1329
75yds- 1325, 1325, 1288, 1313 & 1338
100yds- 1319, 1335, 1358, 1349 & 1331
Note: Even though the Viper is rated as Hyper Velocity (Borderline FPS), as you can see from the chronograph readings that it fell more within the standard velocity out of this barrel mainly because of the 16” length. The research I have done claims that minimum velocity is lost in a 16 inch barrel because all the powder successfully burns in the barrel by 16“. However, I don’t know exactly what length barrel, etc was used to achieve the FPS for each ammo (the importance of using a chronograph).
Hyper Velocity Ammo:
Target 9 - Remington, Yellow Jacket HP, 33gr, Hyper velocity, 1500 fps
50yds- 1458, 1419, 1498, 1360 & 1448
75yds- 1509, 1440, 1343, 1391 & 1280
100yds- 1423, 1384, 1357, 1441 & 1428
Target 10 - CCI, Copper Plated Hollow Point, 32gr, Hyper velocity, 1640 fps
50yds- 1503, 1515, 1548, 1475 & 1533
75yds- 1525, 1502, 1499, 1517 & 1510
100yds- 1521, 1570, 1502, 1539 & 1528
50yd Targets
75yd Targets
100yd Targets
Suspicious that somehow the etched turrets might have been mis-marked and missed by Nikon QC. Went over to Nikon’s website and using “Spot On” ballistics calculator, CCI MINI-MAG 22LR CPHP 36 GR, 1260 FPS, 14’ above sea level, etc, No mistake the turrets markings matched the clicks that the program said they needed to be “Spot On” in inches.
After doing some basic calculations, decided to start at the 50yds zero and start dialing in the ranges myself.
Down below is the difference between the turret markings (clicks values) verses dialing:
As you can see the calibration of the turrets is not even close so I’m going to contact Nikon (send them a link to my review) to see what they have to say and will report back to everyone!