Ammunition testing

Is there any point testing ammunition?

my thoughts ........ Tricia Van Nus

	Many shooters may well ask this question. I can hopefully provide a few comments for you to ponder. In August 2001, while in the UK at the Commonwealth Shooting Federation Championships, I had the opportunity to visit the Eley Test Facility in Birmingham as the guest of Matthew Chiswell and Martin Hoban (Supervisor of the testing facility).
We basically tested four rifles from the team with a variety of the new Eley 10X ammunition from more batches than most people see in a lifetime!!!! Not just 1x10 shot group, but multiples of them.

	The testing range is indoors with controlled air and the testing process involved clamping the barrels, cleaning and shooting a few "test" or control groups with the ammunition currently being used by the shooter. On the left is Jim Brown (NSW), and the right is Martin Hoban (Eley) working through the testing.
	The diagram on the left shows one of the better control groups for one of the barrels tested - currently using Lapua. The groups sizes did vary greatly....... even in the control groups - that in itself proved to be an eye-opener.

A couple of the shooters have agreed to let me share some of the resulting groups with you. It must be remembered that these groups were shot with different batches of ammunition, and you will note that batch numbers are not shown, as it is useless providing them, as no one batch will perform exactly the same in different barrels.

After the first group sizes were noted, batches that appeared to "work" were set aside, and more rigorous testing began.

We shot with some 25 different batches over a course of two or so hours. Once the premium batches (for the particular rifle) were identified, then the testing procedure started all over again before final comments were made as to the "matching batch to barrel"

As you can see, there is good variance between batches used for this particular barrel and it must be remembered that the batches that produced the 20.5mm and 21.5mm group here may well do something completely different in another barrel.

It must also be remembered that these groups were actually shot in a random sequence, not in the order shown in the illustration. I have ordered them to show the range of group sizes for this barrel.

What did this prove?

Well of course, the ammunition was not tested in the field, and it is common for some variances to occur once outside the rarified atmosphere of the testing range.

However, common sense would suggest that an ammunition that is shooting very tight groups in the test situation, will probably shoot well on any range, given that the shooter is competent.

The shooter whose groups I have illustrated above, obviously decided to go with the two batches that produced the groups on the left. They were consistent and small...... if the barrel will shoot groups like this with this ammunition, then there is more chance that the group sizes will not open up too much more when shot out of the shoulder and on the open range.

As an Australian shooter who does not have the luxury of attending this testing facility....what then are your options?

I firmly believe that everyone can, and should take the time to test the ammunition that they have purchased. While we do not often have the option of selecting batches, we can at the very least, know the potential capabilities of the ammunition in the barrel.

Angus Bell, Matthew Chiswell, Martin, Hoban, Warren Potent, Jim Brown

If you are not sure about how to test correctly, there are many others who do know the details - ask them to help and guide you.

comparison

And just for interest - and if you need further convincing that ammunition may well perform differently between barrels, I have compared the group sizes of ammunition that was shot by two of the barrels. While some batches produced similar groups, there were some surprises!

Before you go out and slit your wrists and complain about the ammunition you are using, test it. Information and knowledge will gain you points.

I cannot conlude this article without expressing thanks to the Eley staff who willing gave of their time, expertise and Eley product. The discussion topics in the car on the journey to and from Bisley, were almost as good as the testing!

The pursuit of excellence is taking care of the little things.