Sheridan 190B.
This report covers:
- Not easy to get
- Why?
- No clue what to do
- The range
- The test
- First test – the “shotgun slugs”
- Penetration
- Test two – the wadcutters
- Test three – the domes
- What has been learned?
- Summary
Today we begin looking at the accuracy of the Sheridan 190B tranquilizer dart pistol that I’m testing as a big bore airgun.
Not easy to get
This gun isn’t being made any longer and the other tranquilizer dart launchers are too expensive to experiment with so I’m doing this examination for you because I can. I know nothing beyond what reader 45Bravo has told me and the few tests I’ve run this far.
Why?
In case you’re wondering why I would test such an airgun the reason is simple. It’s not that powerful, so it’s a pretty safe big bore to shoot and Ian McKee can 3D print ammo for it on demand. That makes it cheap to shoot. It’s a big bore that’s safer and cheap; what’s not to like?
No clue what to do
If this was a pellet gun I would have some idea of how to test it before I started. But this is something with which I have no experience. Where do I start? Well, I did talk to Ian about his experiences with the pistol and I also did shoot a couple of the printed projectiles when he dropped it off. You can throw in the velocity test, but there was no accuracy component there, so I think I will start with the target close.
The range
In the Part 4 velocity test I used my army duffle bag for a backstop. It is the toughest material I own and it suffered no penetrations of the projectiles when the gun was pumped 8 times and shot from three feet. Reader RidgeRunner said a sheet hung loose would stop the projectiles. I hung a moving blanket instead for a little more protection.
In front of the blanket I stood a tall cardboard box and taped 12-inch Shoot-N-C bullseye targets to the box. Then I backed up 18 feet, which was the farthest distance I could get with this range setup.
The test
The 190B is a multi-pump pneumatic and I find it hard to pump, so I limited each shot in today’s test to six pumps. I shot sitting down and used a monopod to steady the pistol.
I shot 3-shot groups because I had no idea how things would turn out. I held a 6 o’clock hold on the orange center of each bullseye.
First test – the “shotgun slugs”
The “shotgun slug” that Ian printed for the Sheridan 190B.
On six pumps the Sheridan 190B put three slugs into about 2.75 inches at 18 feet. The slugs all seemed to load with the same resistance, so I don’t think the fit was a factor.
Three shotgun slugs made this 2.75-inch group at 18 feet.
Penetration
How did the box and that moving blanket fare? Well, the slugs passed through both sides of the box and also through the blanket!
The shotgun slugs went through the front of the box.
And out the back.
And completely through the moving blanket!
So, RidgeRunner, your sheet idea won’t work for these slugs. They penetrate!
Test two – the wadcutters
Next to be tested were the wadcutters.
Wadcutters.
The three wadcutters all seemed to fit the breech the same. They went into a two-inch group at 18 feet.
Three wadcutters made a 2-inch group at 18 feet.
There was no penetration through the box. These didn’t even dent the back side.
There was packing paper inside the box and I saw one of the wadcutters in the paper. So for the third test I packed more paper in the box to prevent penetration.
Test three – the domes
The last projectiles I tested were the domes.
The domes.
The 190B put three domes into a 3-inch group at 18 feet. I will say the last dome loaded extremely hard and probably landed where it did (lower right) because of that.
The 190 put three domes into 3-inches at 18 feet, though the shot that’s low and right was probably caused by a too-tight fit in the breech.
These pellets didn’t go through the box but they did punch out parts of the back side. So stuffing paper in the box stopped the penetration. I don’t think it will stop the shotgun slugs though.
What has been learned?
I need to measure the projectiles before shooting them for groups. The wadcutters and perhaps the domes are the most accurate projectiles in today’s test.
Summary
This pistol is a blast! In think it’s a shame it can’t be purchased anymore.
I’m finding this test series fun!
B.B.,
Of course a moving blanket won’t work as the backstop for these projectiles!
RidgeRunner said a sheet not a moving blanket for a reason.
I’ll let him explain it for you.
shootski
Tom,
Looks like something that Pyramydair ought to look into. Maybe use the Umarex Strike Point as the base. Hopefully with the trigger fixed and a large barrel incorporated with the change of breech and sights it will be better pistol than it was before. Better in the sense that you would want to use it.
Siraniko
I use a hanging rubber mat. The kind used in gym flooring and horse stall flooring.
This is hanging behind 6 pizza boxes filled with loose cardboard sheets. Some glued together, some not.
If you place the target you are shooting at in quadrants, every few weeks you can rotate some of the boxes.
Behind all this, I have a 1/4 sheet of aluminum angles 45 degrees down.
Don’t have an old army duffle bag to use. Whatever happened to the Army Surplus stores?
-Yogi