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Ball Flask PCP
(New Testing
added 10-14-02 bottom of page)
Early Testing: First Fire - 10:30 pm - 10-11-02
I've been working on
an enjoyable side project for some time. Half a day here and there;
it's finally added up to the point where I could assemble the
rough parts and test fire.
This is always a great
experience. Having had an idea months (sometimes years) before,
I will have taken the time to carefully make drawings and shop
notes for the project. It might then be additional months (or
years) before time affords a chance to begin a build on the project.
I've mentioned before ... "the only thing I can do quickly
is to ruin something ..." So, we start, and stick to it for
as long as it takes. A billet of steel, a drilled hole, a milling
operation, a weld ... month after month. Eventually, parts begin
to accumulate.
This one has been in
my mind for three years or more. And, last night, I test fired
the action. Here's a pic of the rough action assembled and charged.
The heart of the project
was the development of the Barnes Tri-Valve Safety Ball Reservoir
(say that ten times backwards!) Or ... as we like to call
it, here in the war room, ... the BTVSBR ... ;?)
A-L-O-T of work. But
... soooo neat. The bottom unit houses the quick fill port, the
over-fill safety release regulator, and the fail safe O ring unit.
The other end of the ball reservoir houses the firing valve.
The ball threads onto
the bottom of the action in the traditional location. Clearly
the action is in the rough and the stock has yet to be built.
This particular prototype
is also a breech loading, rear hammer, 32 caliber.
How's it shoot? Well,
I'm just "sneaking up on it" for the first dozen shots
or so. I broke out some 64 grain Barnes Hornets to play with.
And, I choose to set the regulating limit valve at approx. 1,250
psi. I was running the action on air for these first tests, but
I'll try CO2 as well. After a while, I'll run the action hotter
with higher pressure air. But, let's see what you can do with
1,250 psi ....
_
And ... what can you
do with 74 fpe?
The slug punched straight
through this 1 by 10... (3/4" thick)... pine board and then
still slammed into the bullet trap with enough force to totally
flatten itself! Neat.
It's fun to test the
new units and see what they can do. I'll keep you posted.
More testing 10-14-02
Ran the ball flask
32 @ 2,100 psi today.
78 grain Barnes Falcon
slug flew 860 fps for 128 fpe.
Ohler chronograph of
a shot @ 2,100psi with the 78 grain slug.
Entry of 32 Falcon
in 2 by 8 framing lumber.
Exit of slug from back
of plank. Oddly - the knot didn't show from the front. I accidently
picked a nasty part of the plank without knowing it. the slug
didn't care. It had enough energy to shatter on the bullet trap
behind. Fragments shown.
Hey - this will work.
An classic looking ball flask PCP with modern ballistics. Totally
handmade including the tri-valve Barnes globe. Ohhhooooo ......
I want one!