A Sheridan 190B: Part Six

Sheridan 190B.

Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5

This report covers:

• Sizing the projectiles
• The test
• Wadcutters
• Domes
• “Shotgun slugs”
• What have we learned?
• Summary

Today we look at the accuracy of the Sheridan 190B tranquilizer dart pistol from 10 meters. If you recall, we tested it at 18 feet in Part 5, so this is almost twice the distance.

Sizing the projectiles

We discovered in the last test that the projectiles aren’t all the same size. They are 3D-printed and must vary in diameter by a couple thousandths of an inch, so today I sized them to the best of my ability by watching how tightly they fit the breech. If one did not fit like the others I pushed it back out and tried another one.

I used a cleaning rod to remove all the projectiles that fit the breech too tight.

The test

Since we already know a lot about the gun and these projectiles I decided to do a real accuracy test. You may recall that the 190 pistol is painful to pump after a few strokes, but I had to pump it six times per shot because today’s distance to the target is almost twice as far as the last test. And I shot five-shot groups so we would get a better feel for the accuracy.

I also adjusted the rear sight to the left because shots were landing to the right of the aim point in Part 5. The rear sight has two screws that are loosened, then the sight is pushed in the direction you want it to go, so it isn’t that precise.

I set up a sandbag on my shooting table to rest the pistol. All shots were rested and there were no called pulls.

Wadcutters

The wadcutter projectiles were the first to be tested. All of them fit the breech the same and five went into three inches at 10 meters. The shots are all to the left of the aim point (the red inner dot on the bullseye) because I adjusted the rear sight too far.

Five shots landed in three inches at 10 meters. It is clearly the best group of the test. Wadcutters were also best in the last test, so I think they are proving to be the most accurate 3D-printed projectiles in the 190. And they didn’t damage the back side of the target box.

The Sheridan 190B put five wadcutters into a 3-inch group at 10 meters. One projectile hit on the tear that’s left of the main group.

Domes

Next up were the domes. They did not fit the 190 breech well at all. To get five good shots I had to exclude eight projectiles that fit way too tight.

These eight domes were too tight in the breech.

Remember that Ian McKee who printed these projectiles said they could be used many times? I pulled one from the Part 5 test out of the target box and found it had a damaged skirt. I was going to use it again before I saw that. So, if I want to reuse these projectiles they need to be checked first.

This dome was shot in the Part 5 test. Part of the skirt broke off.

The 190 put five domes into a 3.75-inch group at ten meters. All shots were left of center, but the third shot strayed over to the center of the target. It wasn’t a called pull but it did enlarge the group. They did not damage the back side of the target box.

Five .50-caliber domes went into a 3.75-inch group at 10 meters.

“Shotgun slugs”

The last projectile I tested was the “shotgun slug”. These are the ones that penetrated the back side of the box and the moving blanket behind it in Part 5. Today five went into 5-inches at 10 meters. Two of the five penetrated the back side of the box but the rubber mulch trap box stopped them.

The 190B put five “shotgun slugs” into a 5-inch group at 10 meters.

What have we learned?

Testing the Sheridan 190B tranquilizer pistol the way we have has been an interesting project. There is no way I’m going to buy five practice darts for $12 but these printed projectiles gave us a good idea of what to expect.

We also learned something about penetration. Namely that the heavier projectiles are much more likely to penetrate than the lighter ones. We also learned that the fit of the projectile to the bore of the barrel is important. We also saw that in a pellet test if I’m not mistaken.

Ian told me to expect some dropoff at greater distances, but it wasn’t that bad at ten meters. 

Summary

This has been the test series for a very different and relatively safe big bore airgun. I can’t think of other tests to do so I think this wraps up the series. If you have a thought of something you’d like to see besides accuracy at greater distances, let me know.

Tom Gaylord (B.B. Pelletier)

Tom Gaylord, also known as B.B. Pelletier, provides expert insights to airgunners all over the world on Pyramyd AIR. He has earned the title The Godfather of Airguns™ for his contributions to the industry, spending many years with AirForce Airguns and starting magazines dedicated to the sport such as Airgun Illustrated.

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