Betsy Gun Help

[TacticalSpork]

Hey guys,

So it ends up my department has the Betsy Gun from Jurassic Park. Our old department tech supplied the Betsy Gun for the movie. His wife donated it to us after his passing, and we've had it in the basement for the last 6 years.

Apparently no one has fired it since we received it. My advisor just asked me to check it out and "test it" so we can start using it.

For those who don't know, a Betsy Gun is used in experiments as a seismic source. It fires a shotgun slug into the ground and the energy is recorded from the ground with sensors. Typically we use a metal plate struck with a sledge hammer, but using a Betsy Gun is a lot more fun and provides a better source.

Here's the problem: The Betsy Gun uses 8 gauge slugs. We have a box of them, but does anyone know where I can some? Or even better, does anyone know where I can get an 8 gauge to 12 gauge shotgun adapter sleeve?

And since this thread is useless without pictures:









If you want to see the gun fired, it's in Jurassic Park(1993) Starting at the 6:00 mark. Any help with a source for 8 gauge slugs or an 8 gauge to 12 gauge adapter sleeve would be awesome!!

[TacticalSpork]

Betsy Gun Help

Hey guys,

So it ends up my department has the Betsy Gun from Jurassic Park. Our old department tech supplied the Betsy Gun for the movie. His wife donated it to us after his passing, and we've had it in the basement for the last 6 years.

Apparently no one has fired it since we received it. My advisor just asked me to check it out and "test it" so we can start using it.

For those who don't know, a Betsy Gun is used in experiments as a seismic source. It fires a shotgun slug into the ground and the energy is recorded from the ground with sensors. Typically we use a metal plate struck with a sledge hammer, but using a Betsy Gun is a lot more fun and provides a better source.

Here's the problem: The Betsy Gun uses 8 gauge slugs. We have a box of them, but does anyone know where I can get some more? Or even better, does anyone know where I can get an 8 gauge to 12 gauge shotgun adapter sleeve?

And since this thread is useless without pictures:








Sorry for the large pictures, I can't figure out how to reduce the size.
If you want to see the gun fired, it's in Jurassic Park(1993) Starting at the 6:00 mark. Any help with a source for 8 gauge slugs or an 8 gauge to 12 gauge adapter sleeve would be awesome!!

[VegasND]

http://winchesterindustrial.com/loads.html

[powderedtoastman]

I want to see a shotgun fire an 8 gauge round deer slug into ballistic gel now.

[TacticalSpork]

Thanks for the help and link guys! Fortunately, we found another 500 8 gauge slugs we can use, but at least I know where we can get more

[Kerplow]

What do you do for work?

[TacticalSpork]

What do you do for work?

I'm a grad student studying geophysics. So I also work at the school helping out with various experiments, working on equipment, and teaching classes

[duckman1]

Watched the movie last night and happened to tune in right as they were firing the gun. Don't know if the portrayal was accurate but looks like a fun ride.

[TacticalSpork]

Watched the movie last night and happened to tune in right as they were firing the gun. Don't know if the portrayal was accurate but looks like a fun ride.

That's how they actually work. You have to stand on them to make sure it doesn't get launched in the air when it fires.

However, the part where they are looking at a raptor fossil on the computer screen is complete false. They are looking at Ground Penetrating Radar(GPR) data, but using a seismic source

[Steve_In_29]

That's how they actually work. You have to stand on them to make sure it doesn't get launched in the air when it fires.

However, the part where they are looking at a raptor fossil on the computer screen is complete false. They are looking at Ground Penetrating Radar(GPR) data, but using a seismic source

But the dinosaurs are REAL right??

[Che762x39]

But the dinosaurs are REAL right??

LMAO! Starbucks on the keyboard

[NapalmCheese]

But the dinosaurs are REAL right??

As it turns out there's a guy in MY department that supplied the dinosaurs for the movie. I'm told he put them back in the basement at the end of filming. We used to have a number of grad students feeding them, but I haven't seen any venture down there for a few years.

[Garand1911]

Ive seen those "Betsey" slugs before, but did not know what they were for.