4thPointOfContact said:
Contrast 0:55 to 1:00 against 1:30 to 1:40 -
Contrasting 4.8 grain projectiles with a 437.5 grain projectile and multiple 53.8 grain projectiles.
It is not a comparison of similar projectile weights to accurately compare spherical shot with flechettes, so there is no real comparison.
If you compared tiny spherical birdshot to giant arrow like flechettes the birdshot would look pathetic too. You have to compare similar projectile weights.
The muzzle report is also not that affected by payload, and in fact the lighter flechettes load if loaded decent would be even louder with additional velocity loaded at the same PSI. Yet the buck and ball load is clearly louder with a deeper report, which lets you know the factory loaded flechettes are severely underloaded with a minimal powder charge.
So its like comparing a light field load of birdshot to a slug and buckshot. The birdshot would look bad too.
A steel airgun BB is about 5 grains, heavier than some of these flechettes. I just weighed out an 8 grain nail, that is tiny!
To really make a judgement you need at least some decent size nails.
If you had a 3.5 inch shell you could give about 1" to powder and wadding, leaving 2.5" for nails.
A 2.5" wire nail is a J size nail. One source says there is about 106 to a pound. Dividing by grains that gives us a projectile weight of about 66 grains each.
There you go.
Also you could move onto concrete nails which have a larger diameter, and can reach the desired weight in a shorter length, and also contain carbon (you could even heat treat them for extra hard tips and better penetration.) However you may need to remove some of the head on a concrete nail to allow more to fit in a shell, or trim the head into fins.
I see some 2" concrete nails said to be about 99 per pound, giving over 70 grains per projectile. With trimmed heads still likely over 60 grains, and you could fit those in a more common 3" shotshell.
Those would be buckshot weight nails you could compare the performance of.
I would load some up and go make a range report but unfortunately California does not like flechettes. Perhaps I can reload some next time I am in a neighboring state.
I would recommend a long shot cup at least the length of the nails to protect the bore from the hard sharp steep points. Cylinder bore would also be advised, a constriction might force the steel into contact with the bore.
Being an arrow like projectile they should pattern similar even without a constriction once they stabilize in the air.