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,
If that is your gun, send me an e-mail with your address and I’ll send you a check for those 5 practice darts.
Got to see what it can do with tranquilizer darts.
If it is not your gun, never mind…
-Yogi
Yogi,
It’s not Tom’s but it does belong to Ian McKee whose blog handle is 45Bravo.
Siraniko
Siraniko,
Ian gave me the gun.
BB
Tom,
I missed that part. I thought he just passed it over to you for testing.
Siraniko
Yogi,
Yes, it is my gun. But please tell me why you are so interested in the practice dart performance. I don’t mind testing it with them, but why?
BB
Because I was a big fan of “Animal Kingdom” when I was a kid and I thought tranquilizing animals to help them was very cool!
I was only half joking when I earlier suggested to get darts filled with tranquilizer juice and try them on your cats….1/2 joking.
I would love you to test the tranquiler guns they use to tag sharks. That would be COOL.
So would testing the machines that send t-shirts hundred of feet into the crowd at sporting events.
Air power is fascinating.
HTH?
-Yogi
Yogi,
It does. I’ve sort of decided to do what you asked.
And did you know that Shin Sung, the Korean company that made the Career 707 and other powerful airguns also made those tee-shirt launchers?
BB
Did not know that.
They few times that I have seen them I have much impressed.
-Yogi
Yogi,
They aren’t the only maker of those things—just one of them.
BB
Yogi,
Why stop at 50 caliber?
https://chunkinup.com
Go BIG or Go Home!
shootski
shootski,
I have seen those Air Cannons that can launch pumpkins a thousand yards or so.
So what?!
-Yogi
Yogi
They can launch Sweatshirts…
shootski
BB,
I think Yogi is interested in the accuracy with the practice darts because the air pistol was designed to use darts, not “pellets”. The accuracy is likely going to be abysmal, but you never know.
Yogi,
This pistol was likely intended to be used in a “caged” environment, at very close range. The rifle version was likely intended for “field” use. The darts may be better in the accuracy department, but I would not hold out much hope. I too am curious to see what the practice darts will do, but I do not think we will be that impressed.
Back to BB,
Who cares what the accuracy of this air pistol is. This is likely very fun to shoot. Just imagine what the darts will be like on a dartboard at 15-20 feet. My Webley Junior is not that impressive either, but it sure is fun.
Set up the range for much greater drop with darts.
There seems to be a little interest in seeing what this pistol can do with practice darts. I am considering it.
BB
Hi BB,
I imagine you’ve already considered .50 cal. blowgun darts? Perhaps constructed similar to the darts for the GoGun SixNeedler?
nathan,
No, I had not considered them.
BB
I would bet that some of the “less lethal” ammo would shoot well in this pistol. I have a .50 “self defense” revolver and it is surprisingly accurate with the slug type rounds.
https://www.pyramydair.com/outdoor-gear/self-defense/non-lethal-ammo
B.B.,
Do you think 45 Bravo’s .50 caliber projectiles would be to small in diameter to effectively launch out of my .58 (.575) caliber DAQ Pistol or ShortRifle?
shootski
shootski,
Why not shoot .58 caliber projectiles?
BB
B.B.,
Just wondering how much energy the printed projectiles could tolerate in a rifled bore.
I do shoot .58 caliber Lead (Pb) but haven’t seen any stuff that is that size and wondered if some of your hard loading projectiles were close to .575 inch.
shootski
The rounds at the most are probably no more than 5.15 in diameter.
That being said when “slicing” the model (using software to take a 3 dimensional object and converting it to G-Code which is the commands to control the print head and flow rate and other aspects of the printer)
You can change the scale of the object easily before sending it to the printer.
50, .457, .590, anything. Just have to find what diameter actually fits your bore best.