Even though they “deemed” the test a roaring success.
There was still a unexplained 39ms difference with a three foot drop and a .45 jacketed round.
Had this been done in a vacuum (not likely to be done that way....ever) I believe the times would have been almost if not exactly the same. So yes the gravity/mass argument is valid, but the gun/bullet/ and the air it travels through are potential variables.
Which is my point.
How about this classic physics experiment.
Shooting a falling monkey. The monkey begins to fall the moment the gun is fired.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=cxvsHNRXLjw
I think part of the difference could be related to lag in the pistol firing and/or the “lock” mechanism of the drop rig.
And as they point out that differnce is less than the blink of an eye.
I was interested in the the travel distance as the round when held exactly level at 36” as well.
Regards
alfa6 ;>}