Yesterday afternoon, around 5:30 ... it just seemed like a good idea to go to the range field. I loaded up, sat in the truck ... and looked at the overhead digital readout ... 100 degrees F. I wondered to myself ... "Who's stupid idea was this?"

But, when I got to the range, the field had been harvested. It wasn't muddy. There was actually a breeze. And I was glad I came.

In the course of filling orders, I have opportunities to develop previous base line performances. I've had a series of VLC slugs that I've been working on for years. "Very long for caliber" slugs add up significant mass ... which drives up energy. However; they require special stabalization.



This is a very promising design. Shot thru a Barnes 18 groove left hand twist barrel atop the shop mule test bed.

I tested a variety of things. Didn't have a bunch of these slugs. But - you can bet I'll make more and test again.



There's three shots at 50 yards under that quarter. This slug has good promise too. These VLC Series slugs, in 32 caliber - range from about 165-220 grains. Quite different from the more normal 65-100 grain per 32 slugs.



Light was fading, but I wanted to try these two slugs out at 150 yards. I only had time for a group or two of each. It was still about 9pm when I was packing up. This slug will fly. I need to tune my bench technique. This was shot off of a bi-pod. Bags would most likely do better. And, I was shooting 10X glass at 150 yards.



Here's the heavier slug at 150 yards. They shoot nice triangles! haha.



Most of the ledger is airguns. However; people "catch me" carrying unfinished shop knives I've made for myself sometimes. My plan doesn't always work. They ask to buy them unfinished, and wait for them to be completed. This one has been laying in a tuna can, disassembled for about two years. It's now complete. A silky smooth button lock mechanism of my own design.



Inlaid bone in an innerframe of hard color anodized aluminum.

Gary

Gary,

You know someone has to ask, velocity? Energy calculations ya know.

Nice groups. Nice knife!

Lon

Lon,

I'll check next time. Didn't take the chrono.

I was accuracy testing the slug yesterday. I'll fool around with velocities as I go. I didn't notice any hang time @ 150 yards though.

Gary

Here ya go Lon,

187.7 grains @ 823 feet per second .... about 282 foot pounds I think I recall for this 8mm.

Gary

Wow . . . that knife sure would go nice with my Delta 45.

I don't think most folks realize how *long* a .32 slug has to be in order to weigh 220 grains. That's the same weight as a .45 Barnes Shrike, the default slug for my aforementioned Delta. What's the length on that puppy?

-- Jim

Hello Jim,

Yeah - you're right. That would blend right in there.

The slugs are around 1 3/8" long. Look like a pencil. haha. I keep them in a quiver.



Gary

Forgot to add these.

The smashed slug was one that went thru the 3/4" plywood backer @ 50 yards and smashed into the switchblade target I was using to prop the plywood. I wasn't running real hot. That's a 215 grain slug.

The other is the group under the quarter.

Gary

Amazing accuracy, especially the 150 yarder. The BC on those most really keep the energy up at range! It appears that those are a few thousands smaller in diameter than some of the other "32" slugs. Must be the length/ number of rings keeping the slug tight. Those may fit in a Delta I'm getting ready to rescope.

Jim, I agree that anodizing would complement the colors on your "cocker".

Kent

Hi Kent,

I'll "loan ya" a few of these slugs to try. So long as you don't bend them all up like the last ones I sent you ...

Yeah - as you note from the "melted slug pic" ... there's 18 sets of double knives in the barrel. It gains control very fast. Doesn't need top cut as deep. Actually - that melted looking slug was shot at .3155".

So - you must have received your "box" from the previous owner. Hope all was well. Guess we'll see something in due time. Probably ordered one of those Simmons Turkey scopes ... didn't ya?

Gary

Nice post Gary! That slug in the follow-up is a great picture. You coud probably convince someone that it melted on the dashboard...

Nice knife, want to trade it for an authentic Barnes folder with custom made belt holster?

Hey - how do ai know it's an "authentic" Barnes folder, and not some Chinese knock-off ....

Sorry - this one is going to it's ledger sitter. Thanks for the offer.

Gary

Nice shooting GB. It's not everyday ya just wake up and design and cast a new bullet design. Oh yeah, and build nice knives to boot. Man, you are the Jack of all Trades.

That smashed bullet is pretty cool looking too.

Gary, those 150 yard groups are looking good! As are the 50 yarders, though the real test is the long shots..
Gotta say though, it is a real teaser that we can't see what the slugs look like! Dang intellectual property!
Regards
Neil

Hey ... it's not paranoia when the whole world REALLY IS against you ... ... hahahah.

Heck - they just look like any ole depleated uranium smart slug ...

Gary

I think they look awesome...right up until impact. Then they turn "cool."

you guys are killing me...lol. I too wanna see them slugs.

That's just it Cedric .... you can't SEE them. They are invisible too ... didn't I mention that. I had a tin of the things ... turned around, and then couldn't find them! Yeah - the make the tin invisible too!

Heck - I'll send you a tin of them ...

What size do you need?

hehe

Gary

That's some cool looking stuff in this post. Not just the pretty knife, but that lead model of a tree stump that you painstakingly carved with all those stripes.

OK GB, i need size .457". And if you send me an empty box and say that the slugs are in there, you'll pay