The Kistler pressure transducers were provided with a filter and filled with silicone grease to protect them from hot gases. This probably adversely affected the frequency response but Norma does not use shock tube calibrations so system response could not be determined. They plan to add this capability at a future date.
Velocity readings were taken with a 2-meter long radar setup located either 3 meters or 12 meters from the muzzle. Velocities were not corrected to the muzzle but all test setups were the same for each test series of the two cartridges. Testing was often stopped when production testing interfered. You simply DO NOT hold up production on a line that is manufacturing 80,000 units per day! This sometimes forced us to move back and forth between test facilities. Figure 4 shows Christer spending endless hours on the phone in support of production.
We could not record the entire pressure time integral for our tests even though it would have been highly desirable. The pneumatic trigger operating system that sets start time on the pressure and velocity recorder was not hooked up to our test barrels. It was tied up in production quality control tests. Therefore all pressures recorded were simply peak pressures. Figure 5 shows the test loading room, figure 6 shows the cleaning bench, figure 7 shows some of the thousands of pressure test barrels at Norma and figure 8 shows some of the five rail gun facilities for quality testing bullet lots. Each production lot of match bullets is tested for group size!