Optimized Velocity for Alpha Black

[Alpha Centauri]

I played around with my velocity today on my alpha black.

I can hit about a 12 inch spread on a tree approximately 50 paces away. Not sure if that's where I need to be, figuring as most combat hits in tight situations will be 35 paces or less. No crazy curvature at shorter distances either (10-15 paces).

If I was to arc the AB, I could probably hit around 60-65 paces. Doubtful that many would break at that kind of distance.

Shot about 300 rounds of Cryptic paint. Never had a barrel break shooting semi auto and 3-round burst. Didn't try full auto (none of my friends have full auto, so we agreed I could use 3-round burst and semi auto).

I don't really have anything that can measure my velocity though. Maybe a police laser gun?

[Shadow Wolf1990]

I would just say go to a paintball field if you ever play out there. Though the velocity will change as the temperature outside change. When I play with friends out at a private place like in the woods or something, we just try to estimate our velocity by sound and sight. You can tell if the velocity is too high if it is just flying out of the barrel and the ball curves and/or breaks often. Also if its tearing the bark off trees or something along that nature, that's a sign of it being too powerful. Of course if the velocity is too low, then the ball will arc alot and not go very far. I prefer my gun to stay around 265 - 270fps even though most paintball fields let you go up to 280 - 285 fps.

[Alpha Centauri]

I would just be afraid of hurting someone at 270fps. That's smokin'.

[Ironman289]

270 is fine as long as its not point blank. I would be worried if you were shooting over 300 though. Most feilds are 280fps.Ive heard of a few that make you shoot lower than that but 280 is the norm.They usually try and get everyone set at that speed.

[Alpha Centauri]

How do the fields know if your gun is set at 280? Or how do you know for that matter? Is there a certain distance that tells you?

[Ironman289]

They use a chronograph like these:
http://www.pbreview.com/is-bin/intershop.static/WFS/AVI-Store-Site/-/en_US/images/imagesOnline/imagesoon60.gif (http://www.actionvillage.com/050-285-0001) http://www.pbreview.com/is-bin/intershop.static/WFS/AVI-Store-Site/-/en_US/images/imagesOnline/imagesoon60.gif (http://www.actionvillage.com/050-3300)

[Lenny17]

You can buy a paintball chronograph, which will measure the speed of the paintball. Any field worth it's salt will have at least one. The good ones the field has are big red boxes that you shoot over and it records the speed. They are the best, but are expensive. You can also buy a handheld one, they run around $70-$100. Check places like actionvillage (here: http://www.actionvillage.com/AVI-Paintball/paintball-field-gear-field-equipment) to see your options.

And really, 280 fps is pretty much perfect. At really close ranges it'll sting, but it isn't dangerous. Indoor places will lower the limit to something more like 240, but you don't need the range indoors.

[Alpha Centauri]

Thanks guys. There's a field about 30 minutes away that limits to 280fps.

I guess I'll have to check it out when we go over there.

[Corrupted355]

I never go to play paintball without a chronograph. If I go to a place that doesn't have one, I'm always ready. I've got a nice Shooting Chrony that I can set up and let everyone else use so that everyone's shooting safe.

I'm quite fond of the Chrony style chronographs. Rather than using a radar, which is what all handheld chronographs and most field chronographs use, it uses electronic eyes to physically see each round as it passes two locations, then calculates the velocity. This makes it remarkably accurate; much more so than any radar chrono. It's easier to use than a handheld, because you set it down and shoot over it. And it's easier to transport than a big red field chrono because it's small and folds in half. And then to boot, the velocity range that it will measure is massive compared to your average paintball chronograph. Most handhelds won't pick anything up traveling under 200 fps or over 400 fps. The Chrony line will pick up anything moving between 30 fps and 7,000 fps. No, that's not a typo. I also use it for my paintball rocket launcher (which will shoot down as low as 150 fps) and real firearms (which range from 800 fps to 2,000 fps).

I don't mean to sound like a commercial, but I really love this thing.

[Lenny17]

How much does one of those run? I have a handheld that I'm not happy with, and I'd be interested in replacing it.

[Corrupted355]

On the Chrony website, the paintball specific one goes for about a hundred bucks. The only thing that makes it "paintball" is that it's got a splatter shield, but that little piece of lexan has saved me a lot of cleaning one time when some jackoff shot it.

I managed to find mine on eBay for about $65. The top-of-the-line one seems to go for just over $200 on the Chrony site, but that one's got a data printer, a timer, connects to your PC, and all kinds of goodies. If you just want one that'll tell you how fast you're shooting, you won't spend much more than $100 even if you go directly to the source.

Here's their website to pour over. There's about a dozen different "models". They are all basically the same chronograph, just with varying levels of accessories.
http://www.shootingchrony.com/products_SCMMCM.htm

[Shadow Wolf1990]

Gotta love them fancy TVs.

[Lenny17]

I found one for about $80 (includes shipping), so I'm pretty happy. It'll be here in about a week.

Thanks for the info corrupted! :)

[Corrupted355]

Glad I could help. You won't be disappointed.