The Smashing Coconut Test V: FX Wildcat MK2 .25

Behold, the quietest and most accurate lead-slinger in our collection. 

The  FX Wildcat Mark II is a  pre-charged pneumatic (PCP) air rifle. It can fling a .25cal pellet weighting 25.39gr at 895 feet per second. This compact and lightweight rifle wins gold for benchrest accuracy and hunting small to medium sized game.

Real-world stuff? I could make nearly single-hole groups at 50 meters and pellet on pellet hits at anything closer.

I ordered a suppressor from a local gunsmith and it matches the performance of imported designs. The OEM moderator was adequate but I got something that would make it inaudible from outside my window.

This belongs at the highest-end category for air rifles. It contrasts greatly to my break-barrel Gamo Whisper IGT in terms of price and performance.

At 45.15 Foot Pounds Energy, it is a little over half the power of a subsonic .22lr.


Accessories: 

• Coupled with a Vortex Ranger 1000 range finder and the Hawke Sidewinder 8-32x56 Mil Dot scope,  we could land all of our first hits out to a maximum of 200 meters. 

• Ammunition featured is the JSB Exact Kings Diabolo airgun pellet. Made in the Czech Republic, these are the gold standard for airgun pellets.

• I added a bipod and rifle sling to enhance its versatility in field conditions.

-----------------------------------

Can it kill a zombie? Let's find out!

I brought along our young Zombie Hunter so she could do all of the shooting.

A. Target: 

Three fresh coconut shells with the husks removed for consistency. These simulate the hardness of a zombie skull.

B. Distance: 35 and 50 meters

C. Results: 

Zombie brains destroyed!

There were no exit holes at either distance. All pellets expanded completely flat inside the coconut for maximum damage and energy transfer.

The Wildcat is a certified zombie killer.

It has zero recoil and its laser-accuracy lets us hit any eyeball under 100 meters with ease.

As mentioned earlier, the suppressor is a major contributor to this weapon's effectiveness.

Imagine being able to silently eradicate hundreds of walkers without being noticed.

My daughter enjoys shooting this rifle. It is a bit large for her but she is growing very fast and that will cease to be an issue in a year or two.

Click the video to watch the test!

We shot all kinds of things so check out the video for the surprise at the end!

This was tremendous quality time.

Who knows what else we would yeet together?


Stay vigilant!


(Click here to check out to all previous Smashing Coconut Tests starting all the way back to 2011)

The Smashing Coconut Test III: GAMO Silent Stalker Whisper Air Rifle (.177)

I've had my Gamo Silent Stalker Whisper air rifle for nearly a year now with over a thousand rounds shot through it. With the Gamo Pro Magnum pellet I can group under 2 inches at 26 meters (or 28 yards) from the standing position. I'm a happy guy.

Why an Airgun?

This break-barrel air rifle is using a new IGT gas piston system that does not have the recoil and sensitivity that spring systems have. Unlike other airguns, it does not need to refill by a hand pump or CO2 tank.

This thing is no toy, it could shoot 7.8 grain .177 caliber pellets at an average of 970 feet per second. Ammo is cheap and lightweight, and you can use this to hunt small game and train your family very affordably. The sound moderator or silencer on the rifle is also quiet enough to do all these without attracting unwanted attention.

This is an ideal survival tool, but can it kill zombies?

Equipment:

• Gamo Silent Stalker Whisper (.177)
• Gamo Pro Magnum pellets
• a spoon 

Target: 

• 3 coconuts, husk removed (needs to be "ripe" for maximum shell strength)

The Test:

• Can an air rifle penetrate a human skull?

Technique:

We will most likely employ this weapon from an elevation so I shot at the coconut from my balcony at approximately 40 degrees and then from ground level.

The Results:

Coconut 1

Coconut 1 was fired upon from my balcony from 28 yards away five times. You could see in the photo that there are 3 holes on top and then two hits below that did not penetrate. This shows that you can punch through the shell if you hit it squarely.

The white stuff tasted good. I didn't eat the lead, don't worry. 

I cracked the coconut open with my United Cutlery M48 Tomahawk and was pleased to see three pellets inside. They were deformed flat and took out decent-sized chunks.

Coconut 2

The second coconut was a lot more interesting. I must have landed my shot at a certain spot that caused it to split open. Crack! Coconut juice flowing out! Gnarly.

I don't expect to split a zombie skull like that, but the impact was quite convincing.

The third coconut was a larger sample and had already gone stale. The shell is nearly twice as thick as the others but the pellet also punched through.

Check out the video below, note that from 26 yards away you could barely hear the rifle, good to know that the silencer works.

Conclusion:

I am very pleased to report that this air rifle chambered in .177 caliber pellets can punch through a coconut and do significant damage to the brain. With good aim, these are likely to penetrate a zombie's skull. I hope that destroying them would require less than two well-placed shots. 

 

I'm limited to relatively short distances with this weapon, but I'm good enough to hit a zed's eyeball at around 30 yards. That would definitely take them out.

This weapon is now part of my survival gear. My family can practice marksmanship and hunt small critters. With 2000 pellets easily stored in my pants, a comfy chair, and a cold drink with me on top of my hidden post at my roof, I could whittle down zombies that come close to my fortification.

The white coconut meat was my rewarding afternoon snack. Tasty!

*****

For my next round of tests I need to acquire a pig's skull for me to shoot at. Why a pig's skull? Because they can be readily obtained from our local butcher. These are thicker than human skulls but should prove to be a definitive penetration test. 

Stay vigilant!

Armscor .22 TCM VS Steel Plate

On my recent trip to the Armscor Firing Range at the basement level of the Makati Cinema Square, I was delighted to find the Rock Island Armory .22 TCM pistol already being sold. 

I'm excited about this thing. And so is American Handgunner. 

The .22 TCM weighs only 40 grains but can travel over 2000 feet per second. Pretty impressive numbers for a tiny little package.

Check out this framed 4mm steel plate that shows the effect of various types of ammunition that were tested against it.

This is the same steel that protects each shooting bay. As you could see, only the 5.56 caliber bullet fired from a Ruger Mini-14 and the .22 TCM were able to penetrate. 

A pistol round doing what a rifle bullet does? Holey moley.

When I tried it out a few months ago at the Bolo Cup tournament in the ARMSCOR FIRING RANGE in Marikina City, I was just amazed at how fun it was to shoot. I felt hardly any recoil and it was very accurate. It did things to a watermelon that would put a .45 to shame.

Can someone please send a few samples to that truly awesome gentleman at The Box 'O Truth so we can see how it works against water jugs & denim, drywall, door locks, car doors, and other cool stuff?

I'm a bit worried worried about how this would perform in a personal defense scenario.  Over-penetration endangers you family members in your home, and also your next-door neighbors. You are responsible for all your shots, even if it passes through your target and into someone else!

Now imagine if someone would develop a submachinegun using the .22 TCM that would hold 30-100 rounds in its magazine. I'd say it would be a fantastic zombie-killer.

Stay vigilant!

Small Bullet, Big Hit: The new Armscor .22 TCM

About two months ago at the Bolo Tuason Cup I was able to try out the new .22 TCM bullet developed by ARMSCOR.  The little thing is based on a necked down .223, travels at 2,100 fps and its JHP head weighs only 40 grains. That is a tremendous amount of velocity and performance from such a small cartridge. It is quite exciting to see where this will go in the world of personal defense.

The photo below is a nifty size comparison between the two most common pistol calibers.

The birth of a new caliber and handgun:

The guys from Armscor were demonstrating the bullet with a prototype Rock Island Armory .22 TCM Pistol.  Its basically a double-stack magazine 1911 chambered for the new caliber.  This was definitely one of the early models judging from the low serial number.

While lining up for my turn, I was intimidated by the large muzzle blast coming from the gun. It was also really loud! I don't shy away from big stuff, but hearing it from a handgun gun was a new experience. I even flinched in anticipation before breaking my 1st shot. To my surprise, it had hardly any recoil despite the thunder from each trigger pull.

I love this fire-breathing pistol! There was hardly any kick, and placing 5 rapid-fire shots in the center of a target 10 meters away was really easy. This was a popular attraction at the Level Three IPSC Match and a lot of rounds went downrange.

This is one of the prototypes. Check out the old "Rock Island Armory" logo, and the rough "Armscor" rubber grips.

I found another video showing what it could do to a watermelon. Those things are heavy. Sure they're soft, but blowing it up like that is proof of physics.

I wish we could see lot of ballistic testing for this caliber, particularly in its terminal performance as a defensive round as well as how it will fare over a long distance. Does it tumble when entering a target? Does it expand? How will it deal with layers of denim and bone? Will it smash through a car windshield? We need answers. Another key to success would be the availability of the ammunition. I'm sure the company is working on producing sustainable quantities for this breakthrough caliber as it looks like it was designed to make a significant mark on the industry.

What if they built a rifle or submachine gun chambered in this round? What about a polymer concealed-carry pistol? Can we have a drum magazine? The possibilities are endless!

VS Zombies?  Think of a gun that shoots light as a .22, could hit harder than a .45, and could carry twice the amount of ammo. Accurate head shots are definitely not a problem. I sure hope to see more developments for the .22 TCM!

UPDATE: I've got more info about this bullet's penetrating power over here.

Stay vigilant!

Mecha VS Zombies?

Fellow survivors, it is my honor to present the NMX04-1A.  It will be the first mecha prototype that could give us the edge in the coming Zombie Apocalypse!

Who wants some?

"Big Red" was Designed and created by Mr. Carlos Owens, the head of Neogentronyx.  A former US Army Heavy Equipment Mechanic, his company is presently developing mecha and  various  projects such as an advanced body armor, the NG-09 Skybike, and more.  

Like many of us growing up, he's dreamed of piloting walking robots to save lives or defend the homeland against invaders.  Only this time, the threat he may fight against may come from within.  

His main goal is to create a working prototype to prove its strengths in various real life applications.  Its not hard to imagine the many advantages the mecha platform will have for military, industrial, forestry, firefighting, space exploration, zombie killing, and other exciting fields. This should attract greater funding and interest for the advancement of the new mecha development industry. 

Mr. Owens is a rare breed.  Its not often that we find creativity combined with real world skills and the drive to craft ideas into reality.  Many of us are merely content to dream big.  Mr. Owens & The Zombie Hunter are no such people.  

His mecha is now in the late stages of development, and the results are promising.  Big Red is already capable of movement, its functioning hands can grasp various objects or dish out impressive crushing power.  Its controls are relatively simple: the pilot straps inside the machine's chest area and the machine can mimic basic human movements.  

Advantages

Walking & moving like a human offers tremendous mission versatility compared to wheeled or tracked vehicles.  Having legs means you could travel nearly any terrain type, from rocky and snow-covered hills, shallow rivers, wooded areas, etc.  Its arms also let you manipulate your surroundings.  You don't need to drive around a fallen tree,  just pick it up! 

And don't forget that the mecha can amplify your strength a hundred fold.  Crushing zeds with your metal hands will be be no sweat at all.

The biggest edge with a mecha is its cost efficiency when mass-produced. 

You'd never guess it, but the mighty M1 Abrams is a grossly inefficient weapon for fighting the zombie war: 

• Each costs a whopping $6.21 million Dollars. 
• It takes forever to build and relies on too many advanced technologies.
• Its engine guzzles 3.8 Liters of diesel fuel per 6 kilometers.
• The main gun, a massive 105 mm cannon has practically no effect on even a small group of zombies. 
• Eeach shot from this gun costs as much as your dad's precious Toyota.

*****

Allow me to present my own Zombie Fighting Variant: the NMX04-1Z.

This is a specialized modification of the NMX04-1A that I have designed specifically for the efficient destruction of zombie hordes en masse.  I hope Mr. Owens would approve.

My proposed improvements would add capabilities that will make it superior to any fighting vehicle at a greatly reduced cost and maintenance.  All of the modifications rely on existing technologies.

click to zoom

Technical Specifications: NMX04-1Z

Manufacturer: Neogentronyx (USA)

Type: Humanoid Powered Exoskeleton

Height: 15 feet

Mass: 3 Metric Tons

Motive System: Bipedal Mecha

Maximum Speed: 3 KM/hr. (projected speed)

Communications System: Standard VHF/AM communications gear w/ power supply

Target & Tracking System: Heads-Up Display capable helmet linked to shoulder weapons

Power Plant: Prototype Hybrid Advanced Fuel Cell + Internal Combustion Engine

Armament:

2x Flamethrowers, on each hand
2x forestry-grade chainsaws (can cut trees), arm mounted
2x battle fists: crushing force = 5,000 psi
2x .50 caliber machine guns, shoulder mounted
2x Bomb Dispensers, leg mounted

Overview:

In order to face the challenges of an all-out zombie war, armies need to re-evaluate and tailor their present arsenal for the coming threat.   On a mass-production level, the NMX04-1Z is designed to be a cheaper & more effective zombie-killing platform compared to traditional tanks & infantry fighting vehicles.

Capabilities:

• Its proposed primary weapons are a pair of .50 caliber machine guns mounted one on each shoulder.  They are controlled by the targeting system built into the helmet.  This is already in use with the AH-64D Apache Longbow attack helicopter.  Accuracy is maximized as the pilot only needs to look at his target using his right or left eye as the mouse cursor, a trigger then fires one or both guns.  One shot at a time will do the trick.

• Its back could carry more ammo than you could count, plus fuel & whatever the pilot needs.

• If it ever gets swarmed by too many zombies at a time.  The mecha could use a dispersal bomb system to scatter them.  The cockpit and legs need to be shielded against this low-grade explosive.  Multiple bombs could be carried in the legs.   

• Most of the work will be done with its chain saws attached to each arm, this will let it cut through up to ten zombies per swing at a leisurely pace.   Supporting troops can mop up.

• Heavy armor is not required since the undead do not utilize firearms.  This will reduce cost and overall weight. 

• The hybrid advanced fuel-cell + internal combustion engine will allow up to 12 hours of operation so a backup team should be ready to provide assistance to the mecha's pilot in case it needs to exceed operating hours.  A flatbed truck could serve as its transport.

• It is best suited to being supported by infantry teams in case the pilot needs to bail out, pee, or refuel.  The vehicle can be recovered later on when the zombies disperse.  

The combination of lower production cost, anti-zombie armament, and superior mobility makes this an asset to any army that will face the undead. 

*****

It is my dearest hope that governments & big industry takes note of this mecha prototype.  A single defense contract is all we need to gain the upper hand.  

Got a friend or dad who works at Boeing, Caterpillar, Inc. or Detroit Arsenal? Spread the word!