Blaser BD14 + Zeiss Victory V8 (2.8-20x56) the shooting test was carried out on three days, in total by five different
shooters. The Test shooting was carried out on a 100 meter outdoor shooting range, from Caldwell shooting rest, with rifle
barrels. In Addition, a test was performed from at the distance of 35 meters, with open sights shooting, with all barrels.
The firearm and ammunition for the test was supplied by the Blaser weapons Finnish importer Nordic Distribution Oy (Nordis).
Test days
Test 1: 2/16/2019, weather overcast -2 °C, wind 2–4 m/s SE
Test 2: 2/18/2019, weather overcast -17 °C, wind 2–3 m/s SW
Test 3: 2/19/2019, weather overcast -4 °C, wind 1 m/s SW
Ammunition
.222 Rem Lpaua FMJ 3,6 g FMJ S538 (4315020)
.222 Rem Lapua Naturalis 3,2 g N566 (N315025)
6.5x55 SE Lapua Scenar OTM 8,0 g GB489 (4316032)
6.5x55 SE Lapua Naturalis 9,1 g N563 (N316102)
Test
During the tests the weapon and the ammunition worked flawlessly. There were no misfire cartridges. The test was shot
with three-shot series, with both rifle barrels,. 222 Rem and 6.5 x55SE. The bullet muzzle velocity speeds were measured
with the Labradar projectile velocity radar.
In the test weapon, the Blaser BD14 has 56 cm long barrels, which differ in length from the length of the Lapua’s test barrel.
The test temperature was also quite different from the temperature of the Lapua’s test, which in turn influences the behavior
of gunpowder, so that the muzzle velocity data reported by the cartridge plant is therefore not directly comparable.
Test group n:o 1 – February 2, 2019
Weather: -2°C, 998 hPA, 2-4 m/s, 91%
Ammo / Cal
Bullet
Factory Vo
Vo
Group min
Group max
Average
(g)
(m/s)
(m/s)
(mm)
(mm)
(mm)
.222 Rem
- Lapua FMJ
3,6
880
844-855
4,93
11,98
8,45
- Lapua Naturalis
3,2
965
951-954
26,91
54,21
40,45
6.5x55 SE
- Lapua Scenar
8,0
830
776-777
18,77
.44,11
26,09
- Lapua Naturalis
9,1
800
785-788
12,41
-
12,41
*) caliber .222 Rem, factory test barrel 600 mm
*) caliber 6.5x55 SE (Scenar), factory test barrel 740 mm, Naturalis 600 mm barrel
*) Blaser BD14 barrel length 560 mm.
Cold weather test – February 18, 2019
Weather: -17°C, 1013 hPA, 2-3 m/s, 84%
Ammo / Cal
Bullet
Factory Vo
Vo
Group min
Group max
Average
(g)
(m/s)
(m/s)
(mm)
(mm)
(mm)
.222 Rem
- Lapua FMJ
3,6
880
827-833
18,71
44,12
31,41
- Lapua Naturalis
3,2
965
929-930
45,01
62,07
53,54
6.5x55 SE
- Lapua Scenar
8,0
830
759-765
20,28
46,16
33,22
- Lapua Naturalis
9,1
800
789-792
13,79
17,28
15,53
*) caliber .222 Rem factory test barrel 600 mm
*) caliber 6.5x55 SE (Scenar) factory test barrel 740 mm, Naturalis 600 mm barrel
*) Blaser BD14 barrel length 560 mm
Test group n:o 3 – 19.2.2019
Sää: -4°C, 989 hPA, 1 m/s, 93%
Ammo / Cal
Bullet
Factory Vo
Vo
Group min
Group max
Average
(g)
(m/s)
(m/s)
(mm)
(mm)
(mm)
.222 Rem
- Lapua FMJ
3,6
880
827-830
15,89
-
15,89
- Lapua Naturalis
3,2
965
937-938
51,60
-
51,60
6.5x55 SE
- Lapua Scenar
8,0
830
772-777
17,58
-
17,58
- Lapua Naturalis
9,1
800
781-784
15,91
-
15,91
*) caliber .222 Rem factory test barrel 600 mm
*) caliber 6.5x55 SE (Scenar) factory test barrel 740 mm, Naturalis 600 mm barrel
*) Blaser BD14 barrel length 560 mm
Observations on the results of the test
Blaser BD14.222 Rem barrel was much better suited for Lapua FMJ than a Lapua Naturalis whose bullet did not seem to stabilize
properly in this weapon. Lapua FMJ has a lower muzzle velocity than Lapua Naturalis. When shooting 6.5 In the x55SE caliber barrel,
with the Lapua Naturalis cartridge achieved smaller groups in each test than with the with Lapua Scenar cartridge.
Observations about the muzzle velocity at different temperatures
During the tests, it was found that the temperature has a considerable impact on the bullet's muzzle velocity. In particular
.222 Rem cartridge muzzle velocity decreased by about 20 m/s when the weather was getting colder at 15 °C (-2 °C → -17 °C). The
same phenomenon was observed in the caliber 6.5 x55SE, but the difference in muzzle velocity at the temperature change was minor
than with the .222 Rem. The difference between the Scenar cartridge was about -10 m/s and the Naturalis cartridge at about-3 m/s.
Apparently, the lower the temperature effect at muzzle velocity in the Lapua’s 6.5 x55SE caliber cartridges are explained by a
different gun powder type that is not so sensitive to temperature variations.
Ammo / Cal
Bullet
Factory Vo
Vo, -2°C
Vo, -17°C
(g)
(m/s)
(m/s)
(mm)
.222 Rem
- Lapua FMJ
3,6
880
844-855
827-833
- Lapua Naturalis
3,2
965
951-954
928-930
6.5x55 SE
- Lapua Scenar
8,0
830
776-777
759-765
- Lapua Naturalis
9,1
800
789-792
786-788
Shotgun and rifle barrel test
In the Drilling, the barrels are aligned so that all three barrels should hit roughly the same point or at least very close to
each other on a desired distance. This should also be successful when using the optical sight device.
The testshoot with Blaser BD14-Drilling was carried out on a 35 meter shooting distance. In the shotgun barrel was used the
Rottweill Exact 20/76 slug cartridge. The Exact cartridge contains 26 gram Gualagi-type lead bullet and plastic stopper combination
with a muzzle velocity of Vo 455 m/s. Lapua Scenar and Lapua FMJ cartridges were used in the bullet barrels.
The Blaser BD14 barrel test was performed at the firing range 18.2.2019. The test was shot with a gun with open sights, first a
shot from a shotgun barrel, using the Rottweil Exact cartridge. After that shots using the rifle barrels .222 Rem Lapua FMJ and
6.5 x55SE Lapua Scenar cartridges.
The hit point for the shotgun slug cartridge was, -17 °C sub-zero temperatures, about 18 cm below the aiming point. The test was
repeated at the following day, when temperature was only -4 °C. In this case the shotgun slug bullet hit point was only about 9,8
cm below the aiming point (Vo 443 m/s). The differences between the hit points of the shotgun slugs when the temperatures changed,
is possibly explained by the property changes of gunpowder at different temperatures. It could be assumed that at a temperature of
+20 °C, a shotgun slug hit point would be around 50 mm from an aiming point, as in combination guns generally.
Attention
It should always be remembered, that the result of the shooting test is specific for test weapon. The suitability of different
manufacturers cartridges for the test weapon, has its own consequences (example bullet weight and shape, and output rate). The
magnitude of the human impact also varies slightly from one shooting series to the next one, especially when shooter using weapons
iron sights.