Labtecpower wrote:COG test
Given the forward CG and flat base, I see no reason why it shouldn't fly straight.
The Delrin tail projectiles are probably upset by muzzle blast as they are only kept centred in the barrel near the tip at full bore diameter, also there is a more likely chance off pressure effects from muzzle blast acting orthogonally to the flight path.
Dewey suggested this may be a factor, still haven't checked it out yet. Still, I'm not so sure it's the case. One of the "tests" I did with the finned projectile was throw it sideways at a paper sheet on the floor - it always hit nose first. I would therefore think that even if the muzzle blast deflected it, it would still have time to stabilise before hitting the target.
That's why fins are good, very little drag while flying straight but high drag if the projectile wobbles off axis.
A drag stabilised projectile doesn't have to be draggy the whole time.
Indeed, my quest to eliminate fins
and drag seems to be a bit of an evolutionary dead end.
Some math ahead of time would have been nice for this experiment, Could have saved JSR a log of machining.
Ah but I love machining

here's something I made in the meantime just for the sake of using the mill that was feeling a bit ronry, haven't worked up the courage to fire it yet.