Jones, we all recognize that there's a drop in velocity from the muzzle to 3 feet. We understand why. We're only disagreeing about how great that drop is. The article goes on to explain that Lowry also determined that downrange velocities weren't quite as high as those previously listed. I'm sure Winchester has more sophisticated instruments to measure velocity than do people with a chrono, and what Zutz reported is what Lowry measured.
Zutz goes on to stress that we should not confuse the 3 foot velocities, which are the standard numbers published in this country (and by SAAMI) with actual muzzle velocity. Most people don't realize that.
As for CIP numbers, per the latest information I have--which comes from the British Association for Shooting and Conservation--it now appears that velocity is measured at 2.5 meters. In the case of British velocity figures, that represents a change from both "observed" velocity and true muzzle velocity, both of which have been used in the past. Confusion will arise if you don't pay attention to the date of your source material. Gough Thomas, writing in the 60's in reference to Eley Grand Prix shells, said they had a "designed velocity" of 1070 fps--which seems very slow to us. However, he makes clear that that's the velocity over 20 yards: the old "observed velocity" figure.
