Subsonic, Transonic and Supersonic Flight - Airgun Ballistics 101, pt. 10

Finally, the next AB101 video!!
Schlieren Imaging: • Shockwave Shadows in U...
Transonic Flight: • Shell Oil "Transonic F...
Visit Element Optics: www.element-opt...
--------------------------------------------------
SUPPORT THE CHANNEL & RECEIVE ACCESS TO EXTRA CONTENT:
ON PATREON: / airarmshuntingsa
ON PAYPAL: paypal.me/aira...
………………………………………………….
DISCLAIMER: This video has been produced and uploaded with the intention of providing educational content that encourages safe and ethical practices.

[@heathhalfhill6867]

Thank you for this knowledge. I hate feeling like a smarty pants when I try to explain these thing to shooters. Now I can just avoid the frustration and send them to your video..lol...you have a better way about explaining things anyway, plus having illustrations helps a lot also. Thank you keep up the great work bud. Love it.

[@minionman6177]

Brother in law bought that 1200fps springer. I got him sold shooting heavier pellets but sold him on "stopping power" of the heavier bullet. Ended up at about 800fps. Grouping was ok for a springer, but didn't have to get in the velocity debate. Did him a favor and he don't even know it.

[@heathhalfhill6867]

Minion Man brother sometimes that’s the easiest job and the most enjoyable. This will without question be the beat thing for him and his confidence. You and I both know the magic number for most pellets is around 800-900 FPS and if you got him pushing the heavier lead he has very good energies to put on target. Thanks for sharing your knowledge and time with the next generation of air gunners. 👍

[@misterkaos.357]

Let's be real. Your typical Wal*Mart air rifle that boasts speeds of 1,050 FPS, will probably shoot in the range of 800-900 fps anyway. Unless you're using fancy pellets and your barrel is squeaky clean, transonic flight will be the least of your worries!

[@finq0997]

@@minionman6177 jeez, a 1200fps springer?

[@safiakhan1076]

Try dieseling they will increase 200 fps​@@minionman6177

[@JaredBrewerAerospace]

I'm an aerospace engineer. Trans-sonic is difficult because not every part of the vehicle or project beaks the sound barrier at the same time. Shockwaves bounce around and interact with other parts and cause them to create shockwaves but they can cause the original shock to disappear. Those shocks were only there because the original shock was there. If it's not there then the second shock disappears. Then the cycle repeats. The peak of transonic drag is M=0.85 (950 ft/s sea level) in general. Go with the heavier projectile because the rifling minimizes precession (the inherent wobble you see in a top), drops the muzzle velocity and is more resistant to the cyclic effects mentioned above. Supercritical aerodynamic bodies are a very well area of active research but I don't see them saving the projectile body because they depend heavily on the pressure gradient across a shock. Supercritical aerofoils work because we can manipulate the airflow downstream of the shock. We are getting to the point where we have things like active boundary layer techniques where the back half of the aerofoil is porous and we pull a vacuum to essentially suck the shockwave down to the wing. Of course, technology will get there one day but the $/shot when every shot has a microchip and a battery in it is going to skyrocket. Though sign me up. I would love to put some of those down range.

[@joubapotgieter3975]

This video helped me a ton to understand how bullets can be affected🙌I have a .243 win rifle that I love, I only have a little hatsan breakbarrel airgun , but it is still good to know and so interesting. Oh and btw I am really looking forward to .300wsm videos next😎😎😎

[@AlexaBarathaHV]

My gun just want use Jsb Heavy .177 pellets... 😁😁👍🇮🇩🇮🇩

[@bmsniperfish5492]

Tekan kene si alex😂😂

[@lexsteel12]

Wow, this is great information. You should really consider becoming a school professor. I'll bet your class will be the most popular in school. Thank you for your public service.

[@carsonwells1785]

A beautiful brain has been hiding behind that pretty face. Thanks for sharing. I find this sort of stuff fascinating, plus, it is too cold to go out and shoot now. Tally ho, pip pip, chins up, and all that sort of jolly old English rot. Luv and kisses, Carfunkle

[@FirstStateAirgun]

Agreed with you on the 1200 feet per second Springer advertising although most do hit that number with a light pellet if you go to a heavier pellet you will bring down the speed and increase the knockdown power

[@peteralexben]

hello , the 22-250 is not soft on the barrel , it wil wear out sone compared to 223 or so . i load the 22-250 to moderate pressures and then it is a long accurat gun. if jou want the muzzle energie of a 223 in a airgun ,jou have to switch to the monster kalibers like 15 mm or more.and in that caliber is a firearm stil king a good vid did you made happy newyear

[@Make_Boxing_Great_Again]

If the transonic range is bad for bullets why are so many pistol rounds and purpose built sub sonic rounds having a speed that puts it directly in the transonic range..

[@ChrisZoomER]

I beg to differ about how fast planes go. I know the lower end of transonic speeds in unsustainable and makes the airplane uncontrollable. Though the “not too many commercial planes than fly transonic” (5:04) can operate at the higher end of transonic speeds due to a decrease in drag after the initial increase at the lower end of transonic speeds seen at 5:35. The decrease in drag happens when the shockwaves are no longer over any surfaces but in front and behind them which means no loss of laminar flow. Though the chart at 5:35 only shows the drag from normal shock waves, there’s also the oblique bow shock at the front which happens when a plane exceeds Mach 1 and drag from this shock wave skyrockets once you reach Mach 1.2. This is why airliners never at TRUE supersonic speed where all the air flowing around the plane is also supersonic.

[@LastCast2011]

Great job!! Very informative!!! And Mewwy Chwismass to you too...:-)!!!

[@iltrmb]

Why are firearm calibers like the 22lr and 9mm right in the middle of the transonic zone?

[@Meloncholymadness]

Will the FX hybrid slugs work in sub 12fpe rifles?

[@coreymoyers]

Love this video and now I know what I was missing! It explained to me why we haven't seen faster slug shapes yet. We would need stability in the transonic range as well as super sonic because we simply don't have enough power with air to maintain supersonic flight over long distances.

[@davecisneros5285]

Fantastic stuff, Matt. The high speed camera work would be outstanding to see. I'm honestly surprised manufacturers don't already employ this method to visually see flight characteristics.

[@happyhalfwit8862]

The inner geek in me loves your 101 series. Very well explained for both experienced and new. The real problems with transonic envelope estimation is that it varies with altitude, pressure and temperature hence if you live at sea level your gun may be fine but take it up to Utah or the high Velt and its time to rethink the speeds and back to trial and error to find what works or some stupidly long mathematics.

[@je8422377]

I have found that FX STX barrels shoot JSB HEAVY DIABOLO pellets in .177, .22, and .25 calibers awesomely accurate at 950 fps. All flat stable and straight...

[@larry.k]

I found my Dream tac shoots .177 heavys within 1/2 inch at 50 yards with reg 100 bar and hammer just off minimum giving 905-907 fps. Lots of trial and error knowing science was watching, laughing till I found the right combination. Like Ted says, you know you have it right when it quiets down, as in no extra air to destabliize the pellet as it leaves the barrel.

[@910AirgunTuningandRepairs]

Wow Matt, just wow! So much knowledge in one video, I wish this was the introduction video when someone buys a PCP, (like an Impact) so they can understand more speed is NOT the key. Now obviously there are heavier projectiles to lower the speed, but there is always a maximum point, which this video describes very well! I think I can speak for the community to say this was a very needed video and everyone appreciates all of the hard work and research you put in to making these videos 👍

[@pesthunteroutdoors]

Excellent video this will help out a lot of the beginners out there and thank you for putting up all the graphs showing the subsonic transonic and Super Sonic speeds this will help me explained do some of the beginners in my area where I live I have gotten quite a few people to look at airguns as a tool to keep their skills up and a alternative for backyard Pest Control and hunting especially when they find out how powerful these new air guns are and thank you and keep up the good work and I believe yes on the high-speed camera I think we'll find out a lot of surprising results as one person has said in the past there is no such thing as a failed experiment you'll still learn something from it

[@nlcirque]

Great video with lots of detail. Do you have a background in engineering/physics or is your learning all based on a love of the technical aspects of precision shooting? RE: high speed camera -Maybe reach out to the SLO Mo Guys and see if they would be willing to do a collaboration?

[@sebastianlotter287]

Thx a lot Sir Matt... Always bringing us viewer on the right way to ulitimate precision and consistent accuracy🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦💪👌👍

[@cai0proenca]

What a coincidence, just watch the other episodes one ou two weeks ago

[@gainforlife5877]

Have enjoyed your series immensely but for this episode, as an aeronautic engineer, please understand a few things. First up. Trans sonic area is way way way harder to explain, for the layman, than is done here. I appreciate that you´ve tried to make it understandable and coherent to masses. That resistance for instance increases from v2 to v6 in the transonic area is for rather hard to comprehend reasons. Other side of the wall, as you´re probably aware,we in turn see v1,5 approx. Point still is that the understanding of the trans sonic area is way way more involved than most think and we´ll do ourselves, as shooters,a great disfavor if we regard it simple. Second up. Mach is a relative flight speed. No matter if an aeroplane or a bullet.Imperative word being relative. It is dependant of a few variables why discussing hard fact speeds in Mach numbers simply isn´t done. Speed,to us as shooters, should thus always be in either fps or m/s to avoid mix ups.

[@cameronwilliams3042]

Thanks for having me 😎 was fun!

[@marklelohe3754]

Bloody excellent videos mate. Thanks for being at the head of the crowd at helping the rest of us understand what is going on with our air rifle accuracy issues. You have the knack of explaining things very well. All ears here!

[@timmcat]

I'm officially impressed by your knowledge. And, not for nothing, this video was just fun to watch, especially with your sense of humor. Keep 'em coming!

[@osmanguner4621]

150 DOLLAR MONEY HAVE PCP RIFLE 100 METERS SHOOTING WHICH Binoculars RECOMMEND FOR FRIENDS

[@flytelaw1]

Well done Matt! I would have been happy to have contributed being an Airbus Instructor and a GA instructor since 1984....Mewwy Quismass!

[@bctpcp9546]

What about a system designed specifically around "dieseling" (or similar) to increase the velocity (with design for overall safety) to overcome the 3K PSI limit to SCUBA tanks/etc. OR we go the SciFi way of P. Anthony and uttilize Supersonic steam for the "propellant" of this "new air rifle" LOL. I'm sure this has already been discussed.

[@peewee007654321]

I have that gamo. Couldn’t hit a barn door from 10’ with it 🤦‍♂️🙈 well not the same spot every time anyway 🤷‍♂️. This video explains why not. Gamo just sits in the corner now 😕 I use my aa s200 all the time now ( fantastic little pcp) hopefully I’ll get an fac impact next year, if my fac ticket ever turns up 🤷‍♂️

[@josinaldomelo8663]

Adoro seus vídeos Matt Dubber são ótimos não perco um, adoro quando você faz participação no Air Hunters é muito show faz um vídeo com uma participação do Ted Holdover

[@patfarra627]

In the phantom the critical Mach number was very high due to the coke bottle shaped fuselage. .98. So. Going to Mach you just noticed the altimeter flip around and that was it. Meant to go fast especially thru the number. …Mach 2 is very fast. Doable in a slick phantom going downhill.

[@henrikhalby6584]

Really informative and "easy to chew" - and "nerding" vids are not only informative but will help improve the avarage shooter in his game. - Well done !!!

[@sniperkalengkaleng9823]

Nice video...👍👍😁

[@airgunshootingandoutdoorch4260]

Interesting. Thanks for that detailed explanation. Pete

[@laurahaaima1436]

I wonder if something like golf ball dimples could help with stability.

[@osmanguner4621]

HI 100 YARD 2 INCH GROUP PCP 18.13 Grain PELLET rifle scope FFP END FS?

[@josemiguelmejia6313]

hello good night like this, I have a 22 caliber walther maximathor rifle the 250 bar air tank the valve is damaged and in my country the Dominican Republic does not sell it in your country I think if I want to know if I can go to my house country and I pay the fee please I have 5 months I can not use the rifle and I love the farmhouse is my favorite sport I want to know if you can please please

[@homey3051]

You could drive you self nuts trying to find ultimate precision, projectile material, shape, twist , constant projectile uniformity, plus or minus aclaration, than you have the weather conditions, elevation etc etc. Ah, the never ending search

[@rubsara28]

I wonder why I see some many videos of airguns combine with certain pellets making groups but cant see them making groups with slugs.... hunting with airguns shooting pellets was shot placement important but haven't seen this is important with slugs...

[@NikolaosLedZeppelin]

I just want to know which combination of speed weight and bore can kill zombies to get the appropriate airgun...

[@hienvan5164]

Nếu có vietsud kênh sẽ có thêm rất nhiều lượt xem và đăng ký

[@anomalyp8584]

If you are shooting at a certain amount of Joules: adding more weight means sacrificing Joules and therefore the effective range of the rifle. Then again...rather have a more accurate rifle than a rifle shooting far but inaccurately.

[@erics_hobbies9677]

Spectacular info there Matt! Well put! Quote of the year: "we climb the mountain of trial and error only to find science waiting for us at the top the whole time." SOMEBODY WRITE THAT DOWN!!!!!

[@stevenbingham859]

What about needle like rounds in smaller diameter ultrasonic velocities. Very good Good presentation.

[@gordy1961]

Brilliant, totally accurate AND interesting.... can't get any better than that!

[@peteralexben]

I like shooting and pestcontrol ,but i think it would be wise to shoot decoys and ballistic gel and shooting cards only in your vids and no animals,a hunter knows what the gun can do , and anti gunners and antihunting folks can`t complain , yours peter

[@mackattack8627]

Been shooting for 48 years now this information is dead on something I always have known thanks for sharing 🎯🔫✌️

Thanks for a great year of airgunning! Merry christmas and a happy new year!

[@TPVPRO]

Well that anwsers my question why I have the best luck with 52 grain slugs traveling in the1000-1025 fps zone.

[@yockhunter]

I came away learning something from this video, on that note that was good! Gotta sub!

[@LonC1966]

Very good information. I can explain to others better now and I now have a video to send people to.

[@PeakyBlinder]

PT 10, why don't u tube put them in order, Can you send these vids to my drop box for a fee please

[@AtlantisArch]

What a noisy piano in the background seriously, it adds nothing good 😢

[@TristanAndersenYang]

This is Discovery Channel presenting, very well made

[@SinhNguyen-rk9gr]

ok we can sum up the video in a simple way, super is good and sub is good but trans is bad :)

[@MrBenjaminkruegereu]

Thanks for the education on ballistics on airguns!

[@khembarachannel1927]

Bunch....send my indonesia..chanel you ok bunch,,,goodd

[@JoshJos-Shwa]

The sound barrier is such a weird thing when you think about it.

[@darrellcapps3998]

Thank you very much I learned A lot And a And a lot made sense

[@williamthomas5780]

Great video. Meywy Chwismas.

[@twodogsyyc6729]

Happy New Year thanks for fantastic video

[@dragonflyfab9703]

Just learned a lot about 22wmr from here..

[@JM10344]

Sonic the hedge hogs, indecisive cousin Transonic

[@Cu-sith7]

I was able to hit a target at 219m with a gameo rifle.

[@tomasrandom6430]

so ~850fps is the best for pellet accuracy?

[@williamrobinson2877]

Excellent video, very well presented. I am a retired pilot (civilian therefore subsonic flight only) but I'm getting further into rifle shooting (17 HMR), so thanks very much.

[@paulandrews3785]

Brilliant Matt thanks For the information 👍

[@TheVabene73]

hello,is a .22 pcp shooting a 16 grain at 700 fps for the shake of air econmy good for long range hunting?

[@0251GAZA]

Try h&n coppa spitzkugel pellets

[@mdibrahimhosen549]

Wow i know youre all videos best brother

[@tdmmcl1532]

fascinating. this really explains things for me that I did not truly understand many many years ago. when I was in high school, I was one of a team of match shooters. We used springfield 1903, but the load and bullet were matched to be subsonic. We shot at 10 meters. standard peep iron sights. The armory chief did all the loading, and gunsmithing. I just assumed this was the typical match rifle setup and the subsonic was to eliminate the need for sound reduction/moderator/silencer. But I do remember doing some 'field work" with my rifle and trying to place rounds out at 100 meters. Oh man, I tried everything ...I could not hit anything, not even from a rifle clamp! Yet, I can use my .22 LR with a decent scope and place shot within 3 inches at 100 yards from prone...It never occurred to me at the time, that the match rifle was detuned specifically for the range and the weight of the bullet to consistently move just above supersonic around 1400 fps...and it never encounters transonic in the 10 meter range. But at 100 meters, that same match rifle breaks back down from super mach to trans sonic and then subsonic. this video reminded me of that experience..I had never been able to fully digest what is exactly going on at those mach ranges. Now I own 4 air rifles...all break barrels. ironically, the least powerful .22 caliber 49 dollar hatsan with a decent scope shoots just as accurately as the hw30 at 40 yards. both are shooting sub sonic. I am convinced this is due to other variables other than subsonic and pellet weight. I am convinced that this 49 dollar air rifle simple does not experience the same level of barrel and piston barrel resonance as the higher end....and thus more accuracy and consistency. Science is fun and confusing. experimental science in the field is a blast!

[@nikhilbhamare6761]

U rock bro. Very good video. Well made.

[@jrlayneoliver]

Hey Matt, With availability as it is; would you recommend grabbing whatever caliber you can get and then just change the caliber? the new power plenum has just come out, this is the reason for the question... thank you

[@AMShokr]

İ watched most of this series and found it quite informative(still some went over my head :D)! Dankie! I am actually interested in buying my first pcp, was wondering if you could point me in the right direction, it would be mainly for (extreme) long range but still want a calibre that has a punch at the distance to ring a gong or if i ever decide to hunt at shorter distances (which eliminates .177 and .20). Having trouble finding the right balance between calibre and power.

[@henrymoreland8719]

I will have to watch this several times to get the full Gist, however on the first listen I noticed 12:30 in , better a heavy dense (solid?) slug at slower than a lighter (hollow?) slug quicker, this is not what I am reading/watching folk tell regards the "lighter" Hybrid v the solid.

[@khalilnassim8838]

VERY KNOWLEDGEABLE PERSON

[@kimbayo8682]

One of your KZbin video follower all the way from Philippines..nice and informative video Sir

[@weijholtz]

I'm curious, one factor not mentioned is the pressurized gas, if high velocity is desired, helium may do the trick. anyone know anything about helium as a drive gas? (or even hydrogen if you are feeling adventurous)

[@AirArmsHuntingSA]

It’s extremely difficult to seal helium, normal o-rings will not work. Plus, the market is just too small. Some people do make helium guns, but they are not mass produced.

[@weijholtz]

@@AirArmsHuntingSA I totally understand the sealing problem. It would be intresting though, to investigate the increase of V0 by using helium. (from a physics point of view I suppose) best Peter

[@brian_el]

So transonic speed is like resonance.

[@Rico11b]

Has anyone been able to determine the exact Mcrit for the FX Hybrid slugs, and any of the NSA slugs??

[@flytelaw1]

Well done Matt! I would have been happy to have contributed being an Airbus Instructor and a GA instructor since 1984....Mewwy Quismass!

[@icuppu2]

Another great video. Thank you

[@Baehrman87]

Merry quizmas to you too ✌️😁

[@seanparchim9165]

Cwismas that's Sylvester from the old Looney tunes cartoons from when I was a kid lol, very informative video thanks much... Napa valley California

[@vincehogg8935]

Matt, this is a great channel you have. Very interesting technical info and great cinematography. I particularly like your respect for your quarry, in contrast to many American channels with blaring metal music, inappropriate weapons for the animal and whooping as a wounded animal crawls away. I hope we in UK have a similar calm, respectful approach to yourself. I had one of the original Daystate Midas and re-engineered the valving and trigger. 40FtLbs and very accurate (for its simplicity). Due to your channel, im looking at an FX Impact now as love to ‘fiddle and tune’. Keep it up. Would love to see more sloMo vid of your theories of projectile stabilities. Team up with ‘So Mo Guys’, for a vid perhaps?

[@o8ko8k]

This answers a lot of questions i had about airgun slugs. I'd be willing to venture a guess that the transonic region of a projectile is partly dependent on its shape, i.e. a pellet would have a larger transonic speed region than say a boat tail bullet. Possibly allowing one to push the subsonic speed of a slug a bit beyond was is accurate and stable for a pellet.

[@benjaminadorno8574]

Thanks, Matt your information is appreciated. Let me ask something is possible I use slug for my wild cat mk2 twist x, original barrel.

[@RolandArthur]

Merry quiz_miss and a happy new year! And thanks for the informational videos, I like them a lot.

[@brauliodiniz7753]

You helped me a lot. Luv ya bro

[@minionman6177]

Took me several tins of pellets but I came to the same conclusion on my benjamin marauder. Without measuring the speed I lowered it from maximum until I got the best groupings i could. Then I measured it and found I was shooting right at about 900 fps. I primarily shoot after black birds at 60-80 yards at the fishing camp. Use 7.4 grain crossman pointed due to less bullet drop. For closer stuff (fur not feather) I shoot the 10.5 grain crossman heavy domed at about 850fps with no changes to the air setting. Adjust the scope dope of course. Been pleased with this versatile setup. A video a while back from Ted's Holdover showed the erratic pattern of supersonic/transsonic path of a pellet and I quickly adopted the advice. This video helps me understand it even more.

[@markflowers1953]

Very informative video. I'm just getting into extreme long range big bore air rifle shooting using the airforce texan in .457 and your video has answered many questions I had about sub and transonic ballistics. I've been using the chair gun ballistics app for some time now but I now have a much better understanding of things overall. Thank you for the great video it's time to put some lead down range.

[@muntee33]

5:30 shouldn’t that visual include an ‘air density’ factor of sorts? Or is that graph for a set altitude, such as typical cruising hieght, ie 30,000-35,000 ft

[@ellobo1326]

Matt is not only an excellent marksman, but very intelligent and knowledgeable about the physics involved in projectile flight.

[@albinpirinen7044]

Love your videos!

[@norm5431]

Great vid, very educating. I was intrigued till,”Christmas”😄🤙🏽🍍🍍

[@El-Diablo-Blanco]

He said the quiet part quiet.🤣

[@andersgrassman6583]

Outstanding video and content. And you also really have the personal ability to reach out through the screen. Thank you!

[@trevorseals6588]

Thank you so much! I learned more about bullet and pellet aerodynamics than ever in the last 15 minutes.

[@edricheson]

Matt, just start making your own projectiles and get the damn thing right for us out here...

[@Simon_Nonymous]

This is an excellent video, and the explanation of external ballistics given is really well done, very easy to understand, and I would recommend it to anyone who wants to know more about this area of ballistics.