THE DREADED TRANS-SONIC REGION UNMASKED

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joeb33050 posted this 28 January 2020

There is a popular notion that if the bullet passes through the TRANS-SONIC region; then accuracy suffers. This notion is accompanied by mention of scientific-sounding contentions, but little or no data. Fortunately, data can be rooted out and examined, if the rooter has any interest in fact over popular drivel.

We need enough data to convince, data that shows whether or not accuracy is diminished by bullets passing through TRANS-SONIC world.

We need data on accuracy of a lotta bullets going through TSR, and other bullets NOT going through TSR.

We got it. Rimfire Central, a forum with lotsa experimenters, has a lotta data about 50 shot groups, at 200 yards, with rimfire bullets.

https://www.rimfirecentral.coms/showthread.php?t=1129343

Some 22lr cartridges send the bullet of at speeds less than the speed of sound, about 1125 fps. Others send the bullet of at mv greater than 1125 fps, and, accuracy of these through-the-TSR must be affected-for any 22rf bullet starting above 1125 fps will be below 1125 fps at 200 yards. 

No such accuracy effect is seen.

Some examples:

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Ed Harris posted this 30 January 2020

Dr. Robert L. McCoy at the US Army Ballistic Research Laboratory at Aberdeen Proving Ground published a BRL Report summarizing Aerodynamic Stability Data for Small Arms Projectiles in the late 1970s or early 1980s.  Maj. Bruce M. Wincentsen and I assisted in real-range firing done at night shooting backwards, (aiming at a red lightbulb), into the transonic aerodynamic range (built in an old "blimp" hanger) at 500, 600, 700, 800, 900 and 1000 yards firing USMC M40A1 sniper rifles and a Hart 1A heavy benchrest switch-barrel gun which enabled replicating the tests using various twists of rifling. 

The M40A1 rifles were 1:10", 1:11" and 1:12"  twist.

The Hart bench gun was tested with 1:8, 1:10, 1:12 and 1:14 twist barrels.

Ammo included UK and Canadian 144-grain NATO ball, 146-grain German DAG, and US 168-grain M852, 175-grain M118 Match and handloaded Sierra 168, 180 and 190 MKs. The Sierra 175-grain MK now used in the M118 LR and the 155-grain Palma were developed after evaluating the results from this testing.

Bottom line, to shoot a 168 Sierra at 1000 yards and hit anything shoot it from a .300 Winchester Mag.

In the .308 Win. the current 175MK and 180MK worked well best from either a 1:11" or 1:12" twist, the 190 MK needs a 1:10"

The M118 Match FMJ and Sierra 175MK now used in the M118LR gave the best results out to 1000 yards in either 1:12", 1:11" or 1:10" twist barrels.  

Ordinary NATO light ball was most accurate in the tight-bore, Australian Omark-Sportco spec. 1:14" twist barrel on the Hart action.  

73 de KE4SKY In Home Mix We Trust From the Home of Ed's Red in "Almost Heaven" West Virginia

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Squid Boy posted this 29 January 2020

It is a very interesting thread on the rimfire site but everything is shot at 200 and outdoors. That's great for testing the relative accuracy between the various brands and types of ammo but does little to settle this particular argument I believe. No actual data points are established by shooting at intermediate ranges that would definitely show any change in the rate of dispersion. There are assumptions made for closer ranges but not targets. I think it needs more definitive study.

I am limited at my own range to 25, 50 and 100 yards and generally don't shoot at 25 because the little hole doesn't tell me anything. However, during my own 22 ammo testing the average group change was about 2.5 times between 50 and 100 yards. Some started sub-sonic and others dropped out of the sonic range at various distances to the target. 

If I recall correctly Dr. Mann tested bullets through paper set at very close regular intervals out to 100 yards but never commented on any suddenly going wide along the track. i believe the test was more to detect a tip more than anything. 

Just my own experience and thoughts on the matter. Squid Boy 

"Squid Pro Quo"

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Ed Harris posted this 29 January 2020

A clear demonstration is to stand in the pits and pull targets for someone shooting 168-grain M852 at the 800 yard stage of the Palma Trophy Course, to observe full-profile keyholes and 6 foot groups, then change to M118 and repeat the test and note the round holes and reasonable group size.

73 de KE4SKY In Home Mix We Trust From the Home of Ed's Red in "Almost Heaven" West Virginia

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joeb33050 posted this 29 January 2020

Is this more clear?

 

Do groups enlarge after bullets go through the trans-sonic region?

 

The speed of sound ~1125 fps.

 

See page 536 of the 2020 Gun Digest, (or the back of ~any gun digest). 22lr hv bullets, mv = 1255 fps, 100 yd v = 1016 fps. 22lr hv hp bullets, mv = 1280 fps, 100 yd v = 1001.

 

Looking at this page, see that all 22lr hv bullets go through the trans-sonic region between the muzzle and 200 yards.

 

If groups enlarge after bullets go through the trans-sonic region; then we would expect 22lr hv 200 yard groups to be larger than 22lr standard velocity, <1235 fps, groups.

 

We have much data about 22rf 200 yard 50 shot groups, here: https://www.rimfirecentral.coms/showthread.php?t=1129343

 

Examples:

 

Armscor Precision 36 grain CPHP 22lr, mv = 1201, group size ~8.3”

 

Armscor Precision 40 grain SV 22lr, mv = 1060, group size ~13.8”

 

 

 

CCI AR Tactical 40 grain CP 22lr, mv = 1219 fps, group size ~10.2”

 

CCI Clean Polymer Coated 40 grain SV 22lr, mv = 1050 fps, group size ~9.1”

 

 

 

Review of the 50/200 data shows that there is NO large increase in group size with hv bullets over sv bullets, suggesting strongly that there is NO large increase in group size when bullets go through the trans-sonic region over those that do not.

 

-------------------------

 

There are two competing theories about the trans-sonic bullet story.

 

Some bullets at some velocities at some ranges become less accurate over a short change in range.

 

 

 

Ex:  over a 10% increase in range, group size increases 20%. Over this 10% increase in range the bullets may or may not drop below the speed of sound.

 

 

 

There is general agreement that this occurs.

 

 

 

One theory contends that the bullet velocity dropping below the speed of sound causes the bullet to vary from their course and make big groups.

 

 

 

The other theory says that as the bullet RPM drops, the bullets becomes unstable and less accurate; and if it happens around the speed of sound-that is coincidence. (I have proven that slow twist barrels make ever larger groups as velocity falls, and can make it happen on demand.)

 

 

 

Exponents of both theories have no supporting data that I’ve been able to find.

 

 

 

 Measurement of the 50/200 groups: measure group size with a plastic ruler with 1/10” graduations, measure 6” of the picture ruler with the plastic ruler. Group size ~ plastic ruler group size X (6/plastic ruler 6&rdquo.

 

If the picture group measures 4”, and 6” of the picture ruler = 3”, then the true group size ~ 4” X (6/3) = 8”.

 

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If group size varies as the cube root of the number of shots / group, and it ~ does from n = 2-10; then 50 shot groups are 2.15 times the size of 5 shot groups.   

 

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If 100 yard group size is 2.4 times 50 yard group size, and if good 50    yard 5 shot group size = .5”; then 200 yard group size ~ 2.4^3 X .5 = 6”; the kind of numbers we see in the 50/200 data. Reality check.

 

 

 

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joeb33050 posted this 31 January 2020

The Winchester 69A has a 10-32 threaded hole about 1" forward. Various valves and screws allow varying mv from ~1204 hole closed to ~ 935 fps, hole wide open, with Fed HV Match 719.

 Shot 1/31/20

 

Left 1203 fps, 100 yards, 18 in 4.5", 17 in 3.1"

Right 1094 fps mv, 100 yards, 21 in 3.05".

Chronographed while shooting.

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RicinYakima posted this 29 January 2020

JoeB,

I can't figure out the chart, sorry. What was the group size shot while the bullet was still supersonic, what was the group size when it was falling into the transonic zone, and what was the group size subsonic? The same shot fire through three different targets each at different range.

Website only shows groups at 200 yards. We don't know what is happening to the bullet prior to hitting the one target.

Ric

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Larry Gibson posted this 02 February 2020

'It appears, Larry, that all bullets follow your theoretical explanation, except for those that are tested."

No Joe, it is not my theoretical explanation. What i said was; "Bullet shape, sectional density, BC, the angle of the bullet in relation to direction of flight (some bullets don't nose over at long range), where the transition takes place in the trajectory, etc. are just a few of the variables."  You will find those basic facts in every treatise on the subject. I was just pointing out that based on one example [in this case your use of the 22LR] a conclusion based on that one example may not be correct because of the variables involved.  

As to "except those that are tested" I did not say anything about your test(s).  I pointed out some facts that may be influencing the results is all.  Actually, I thought the results of your last test ere interesting and, perhaps, did demonstrate the HV 22LRs were less accurate than the subsonic......a fact that has been known for many, many years by small bore shooters.  Could be you've hit upon the reason why? 

In your 1st post you referred to the transition from sonic to sub-sonic buffeting and loss of accuracy as a "notion" stating there was "little data" on it.  The fact that some bullets, and what their shape generally is, sustain much less buffeting when transitioning from sonic to sub-sonic has been tested extensively by many. It has been studied and discussed and much well tested data has confirmed the problem.  A study of ballistics will provide that information. Again, not my thoery but fact.

BTW; I am looking forward to your continued experiments along this line as i do find then interesting.

LMG

Concealment is not cover.........

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joeb33050 posted this 11 February 2020

Today I shot 20 5-shot 50 yard groups with the Winchester 69A and Federal HV Match ammunition. 10 groups with the barrel hole blocked with a cap screw, 10 shots with the valve body and bolt-3/32" hole.

Blocked, mv = 1200 fps, group size = 1.493"

Valve Body, mv = 1069 fps, group size = 1.345"

The blocked bullets managed to slip through the trans-sonic region without becoming wildly inaccurate.

A Student's t test accepted the null hypothesis: Accuracy under the two conditions is equal. 

We have a substantial amount of data showing that for 22 rimfire bullets, the DREADED TRANS-SONIC REGION does NOT reduce accuracy/increase group size.

Absent data to support the DREADED TRANS-SONIC REGION diminished accuracy theory, for jacketed bullets,the test data strongly suggests that ALL  bullets are unaffected.

Since the myth exists, rimfire ammunition manufacturers do not make match-grade high velocity ammunition; hence there is no hv match ammunition to test. Note that the Federal HV Match ammunition becomes MATCH ammunition through box-labeling.

(Ed's "clear demonstration" is not clear about what it is a demonstration of.)

 

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Ken Campbell Iowa posted this 11 February 2020

...looks like ..... short blunt bullet are not affected measurably by those mysterious forces of the transition danger zone.  

is there a simple test that we old shooters who wear out walking more than a hunnert yards to the target and back can try ? 

 ? need ? to test with sharp bullet reasonably long ...  right away it would seem if we slow down a long pointy bullet to 1350... so it would go crazy at 100 yards ... it would be too long for the spin rate anyway... joeb has some interesting data on exactly this ... 

so would short pointy bullets show this disastrous symptom ? ... how about 35 gr. 224 hornet bullets ... or 110 gr 30 cal ? ...  should be able to shoot at 1350 and go bananas at 100 -200m ? 

if that works, then we will still wonder if the spin itself just slows down, and the tip starts walking around in an arc ...

*********

i try to visualize what could happen, and my best delusion is that the shock wave at high speeds moves on the bullet as the bullet slows down ... apparently in an a random manner.

i had thought that johna with his long pointy cast bullets in 22 cal could test for this .. but it would take about a 4 twist to stabilize those pencil bullets at 1350 fps muzzle ... so those would have to be tested at 600 yards or so ... not the simple easy test we need.

comeon, guys .... simple but effective test for sound-barrier effects on pointy bullets.

ken

oh, how about 224107 pointy bullets reloaded into joeb's variable 22RF gas gun ? ...

ken

 

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RicinYakima posted this 29 January 2020

"Review of the 50/200 data shows that there is NO large increase in group size with hv bullets over sv bullets, suggesting strongly that there is NO large increase in group size when bullets go through the trans-sonic region over those that do not.

 There are two competing theories about the trans-sonic bullet story.

 Some bullets at some velocities at some ranges become less accurate over a short change in range.

 Ex:  over a 10% increase in range, group size increases 20%. Over this 10% increase in range the bullets may or may not drop below the speed of sound.

 There is general agreement that this occurs."

The above is what I believe also. It is the question of WHEN the great increase in group size occurs, not the striking of the target group size.

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Squid Boy posted this 29 January 2020

It seems to me that there was a problem with the M852 from the onset. however it might not have been the bullet or the point it went trans-sonic. There are references to very good accuracy out to 300 yards or so and then bad from there out. The bullets were supposed to be commercial match 168 grain HPBT starting at 2600 so I would think they would still be supersonic past 300 and hit trans-sonic at around 500+. But keyholes show a complete loss of stability somewhere along the line. The M118 stays point on as you point out but why? Is there a difference in rifles being used perhaps or barrel twist rates? Thanks for bringing this up but just adds more things to consider. I really like these mind exercises. Squid Boy

"Squid Pro Quo"

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TRKakaCatWhisperer posted this 30 January 2020

Mann writes about the instability in a region of velocity (hence in a region of distance) where the bullet is unstable AND then (often) will re-stabilize.  Therefore, merely looking at 100 and 200 yard scores could miss the entire region of instability.

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Larry Gibson posted this 30 January 2020

"Does bullet rpm fall below the required stability level and bullets become unstable?"

That may or may not happen. However, that is not the reason accuracy can be lost during a bullets transition from sonic to sub-sonic velocity.

"Does going through the trans-sonic region cause bullets to become less accurate?"

Joe, there is no simple answer to your question as there are many variables.  Bullets transitioning from sonic velocity to sub-sonic velocity get buffeted around by the turbulence.  Bullet shape, sectional density, BC, the angle of the bullet in relation to direction of flight (some bullets don't nose over at long range), where the transition takes place in the trajectory, etc. are just a few of the variables. Some bullets/loads many times will lose stability also the M855, which is the military 7.62 loaded with the Sierra 168 MK, being an excellent example.  That round, as previously mentioned, does go sub-sonic in the 900 yard+/- region most often and many of the bullets will lose stability.  Many times, also as previously mentioned, the bullet is simply buffeted around yet maintains stability.  When the transition is complete and the buffeting stops the bullet continues on still stabilized but it's flight path has been slightly changed.  If that [loss of accuracy/group is larger] occurs close to the target little loss of accuracy may be noted.  However, if it occurs some distance from the target a large loss of accuracy/group gets larger than it should [not stability] will be noted and the shot most often called a 'flyer".

In the case of your 22LR with those that are sonic at the muzzle the transition is usually before 100 yards.  Ergo, groups at 100 and 200 yards occur post transition and won't demonstrate the accuracy loss caused by the transition.  They do demonstrate that HV 22LR, because it starts out sonic, is almost always  less accurate than the 22LR that starts out sub-sonic.  

LMG

 

 

 

 

 

Concealment is not cover.........

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Ken Campbell Iowa posted this 31 January 2020

there is a ton of stuff regarding bullet instability to be googled on the opinion-net ...

and even you-tube ...

i have spent a few hours * trying * to digest that information .. i have arrived at the conclusion that the results are pretty much what happens to everything else that we digest ...

**************

hey, for fun only ::

... a HP bullet takes about 3 seconds to travel 1 thousand yards ... if you do a Dr. Mann thing and set a bullet tip down  on a glass ... spinning at 100,000 rpm ... it will spin nicely ( with a teensy wobble )  for way more than 3 seconds ... probably minutes .............. so in our near-vacuum our bullets aren't running out of spin in 3 seconds ..

but at 3000 fps, our air looks more toward a swimming pool than a vacuum, so dammit anyway all of a sudden we have a complex situation where now that little wobble that didn't matter much in a vacuum is now exposing varying areas in varying locations to varying pressures causing varying forces .... eeeek ! ....

... and remember that the propagation of sound varies with the density of the medium ... crap ! ... at 3000 fps, the medium that counts ( as the bullet sees it ) varies from the shock compressed area to the almost-vacuum laminar flow area ... 

as Omar puts it .. " something happens to some bullets " when the inputs are changed during the transition time ...  probably not running out of spin, so probably has something to do with more force on one side of the bullet ... that un-balancing force has to be fairly large ... but remember, our bullet is still traveling 700 mph in a swimming pool ...

complex indeed 

i give up ...  maybe we should just shoot some bullets and see what happens ... ( g ) ... oh, google mentions that short bullets are more resistant to becoming unstable ...   like 22 rf, for instance.   

anybody tried high speed roundball at 1000 yards ??  do cannonballs achieve ultra-sound velocities and then become transitionally unstable ?  where would that mysterious force act on a round ball ? all the surfaces are the same and the cg is always in the middle ... 

******************

joeb's vari-pressure 22 rf gun is fascinating .... but maybe those roundish 22 rf really don't ever wiggle much through transition ...  oh, i might mention that if you change the velocity of your load , you have to change the barrel tuner setting if you want to test for best groups. 

do 3118 castings out of a 32-20 ( ok, 32 Fed. Mag )  ever go erratic through transition ?  some fun with a 32 mag for someone.   don't forget to adjust your tuner.

just some thoughts ... ken

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joeb33050 posted this 01 February 2020

Joe,

Ken has a point about the barrel tuner. We don't know if the super and sub velocities groups have the same precision before one of them transitions.  How about seeing those same cartridges and velocities group before one goes through Mach 1.  Groups at fifty yards maybe?

Easy to think up work for you but then I don't have a rifle with a valve in the barrel.  I guess I could try to do it by hand loading super and sub velocity loads.  That sounds like fun and would see what longer higher BC bullets do. Hmmm, when the weather gets a bit warmer maybe.

John

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Larry Gibson posted this 01 February 2020

"but maybe those roundish 22 rf really don't ever wiggle much through transition "

As I mentioned earlier some shapes of bullets are known to be less susceptible to buffeting and thus loss of accuracy when transitioning from Sonic to sub-sonic.  The flat base round nose bullet is one of them.  The center of mass is nearer to the center of pressure.  The typical 40 gr 22LR bullet fits that criteria.

LMG 

Concealment is not cover.........

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Bud Hyett posted this 11 February 2020

Shooting at the Marston Municipal Ballistics Laboratory Range with Ed Doonan many years ago, we observed a slight disruption in the trajectory on the way to 200 yards. The Sun was directly behind the benches and we could track the bullet on its way to 200 yards. There wa a slight aberrance in the trajectory at about 175 yards. This was done on a light wind day with wind flags and two people trading rifles and different ammunition. 

The end result of many rounds of .22LR Match ammunition was this aberrance in the wake of the bullet occurred, but the occurrence was the same each time and there was no effect on accuracy. 

Farm boy from Illinois, living in the magical Pacific Northwest

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Squid Boy posted this 12 February 2020

I shoot a 5.6x61 vom Hofe SE with 90 grain bullets but can't slow them down enough to test at the range I have available and see what happens. The barrel has a 7-1/2 twist and is very accurate to 200 that I have available but would be interesting to see what happens out at 1000 yards and beyond. What comes to mind here is that our fighter planes routinely fly at well above the speed of sound and then return through trans-sonic to land and I never hear anything about loss of control due to that. I know that with earlier jets people were more concerned in going super-sonic than coming back. Also, could it be that we are talking about instances where the bullet is only marginally stable to begin with. Like a very long bullet in a slower than needed twist? Wish I could test this myself. Squid Boy

"Squid Pro Quo"

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Larry Gibson posted this 13 February 2020

Let us not confuse the adverse affect of bullets not attaining stability on launch with the adverse affect on a stale bullet going from sonic to sub-sonic. 

Also let us remember that some inaccuracy during that transition [sonic to sub-sonic] is caused simply by some bullets being buffeted (moved) around a bit and not destabilized.  They may be buffeted around and are still stable flying point forward and not "tipping".  Bullets with their center of gravity, center of form and center of pressure (flat based blunt RN'd) are less prone to destabilization when going the the sonic to sub-sonic transition.

LMG 

Concealment is not cover.........

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Larry Gibson posted this 13 February 2020

"THERE IS NO = NONE DATA, THAT I CAN FIND, SHOWING THAT THERE IS  destabilization when going the the sonic to sub-sonic transition."

 

joe

Simply because you can not find "data" on a subject does not mean it does not exist.  There is a wealth of knowledge not contained in EXCEL spreadsheets on the subject.  You seemingly want to make a blanket statement of fact based on tests with 22LR at just 100 yards.  Your results may apply to the 22LR out to 100 yards but it is in no way "proof" that there is not destabilization of the bullet from stabilized to dynamically stabilized or even totally unstable with other bullets or even with the 22LR at longer range [some do shoot 22LR at longer ranges].  

Since you question the veracity of several who have posted actual experience with bullet instability during transitioning from Sonic to sub-sonic, I suggest, for a start, if you can't find the information on Google, that you refer to pages 152 to 160, Transonic Effect on Bullet Stability, in Brian Litz's book Applied Ballistics For Long Range Shooting. Unfortunately the data (there's lots there) is not in EXCEL format but it's relatively easy to understand.  You can also find an abundance of discussions with data in most every treatise on the subject.

As to your question; "HOW COULD WE CONFUSE THE TWO?"   in your recent post you listed numerous examples of your 22-250 going from "bullet stuck in barrel" to "bullet tipping" to "no tipping".  Those example just demonstrate the velocity/RMP level needed to obtain bullet stability.  One might suppose some of the tests the bullets exhibiting "tipping" were in the transonic area a large percentage of the distance from muzzle to target and thus was the reason for the instability.  However, I would suggest the bullets were on the minimal edge of stability (dynamic stability) if at all and the transition area further buffeted them into instability.   The first would mean simply the entire series of tests is meaningless to your hypothesis and there fore the two were "confused".  The second would mean you've ample proof your hypothesis is incorrect.  

A quick Google search of; bullet instability in the transonic region reveled the following sites.  You might read/look at them for a better understanding.  

 

www.accurateshooter.com/ballistics/transonic-effects-on-bullet-stability-bc/

 

 

 

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/External_ballistics

 

 

 

precisionrifleblog.com/2018/09/17/extreme-long-range-tips-ballistics-time-of-flight/

 

LMG

Concealment is not cover.........

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