Granted, for 80 percent or more of the game (whitetails) shot by Americans, bullets don't really need to hold together and penetrate particularly deeply to provide clean, humane kills. The Matchking has a coefficient of 0.417. This is because of drag caused by wind resistance. In this comparison, the 6.5mm 144 gr bullet has a G7 BC of 0.336, while the 30 cal 175 grain OTM has a G7 BC of 0.263. A cookie set by YouTube to measure bandwidth that determines whether the user gets the new or old player interface. If looking to acquire an automated powder-charge dispensing unit to speed up precision reloading, don't judge the RCBS ChargeMaster Lite powder scale and dispenser by its name; the Little Green machine packs a heavy-weight punch with speed and accuracy. shoots flat, hits hard, and fits in standard length actions. #4. Their new A-Tip bullet has a precision-machined, aero-ballistically-advanced aluminum tip, and the ogive (the curve of a bullets front section) and boattail are optimized for each caliber. .375 H&H Magnum (L), .338 Winchester Magnum (R) Public Domain. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. He is a well-known entrepreneur, having started many successful online brands, and lives in St George, Utah. Classic, soft, cup-and-core bullets perform beautifully on deer-size animals. Then, for other bullet types, we can create a fudge factor that adjusts the standard bullet trajectory model. Thats basically what the ballistic coefficient does. Tom says Ballistic Coefficient & Bullet Math is simple, keep reading to learn some shooting skills in our new long-range shooting science series. The G1 looks like more like a modern pistol round than a rifle round. For this example, I am going to use a Hornady 30-06 Springfield load with a 125 grain SST projectile, found here. We have discussed how gravity and wind are the two main variables that affect your bullets path. The downside is, of course, inconsistent BC as velocity changes. The boat tail helps, but not nearly as much as the point on the front of the bullet. (, We noticed that you have previously logged in with your, Check what do you get by creating an account, Bookmark and compare your favorite firearms, Ballistic Coefficient: Everything You Ever Wanted to Know, One of the first terms I ran across while discovering my fascination with long-range shooting was. Remember that in our example, the Matchking had a coefficient of 0.417 while the Pro-Hunter had a BC of 0.185. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". At the other end of the bullet, a boat tail (or tapered heel) reduces drag compared to a flat base. Provided by Google Tag Manager to experiment advertisement efficiency of websites using their services. However, some point out that since rotational velocity maintains itself much longer than downrange velocity, it must, to some extent, affect expansion via centrifugal force. This brings the cartridge into the mix, and possibly a trade-off in muzzle velocity for heavier bullets. 250 gr. Available Calibers: 6.5mm, 7mm, and .308. is both capable and popular, especially on the heavy-bodied game where bullet performance becomes critical. .257" (.25) 100 grain, BC .369.257" (.25) 100 grain BT, BC .393, .277" (.270) 130 grain, BC .408.277" (.270) 130 grain BT, BC .449, .308" (.30) 165 grain, BC .433.308" (.30) 165 grain BT, BC .477. Most bullets exhibit a lowering BC as velocity slows. Red Oak, White, or Chestnut for Deer Herd? It also demands purpose-built bullets. It wasn't hard to choose a bullet diameter and weight and a cartridge through which to test it: America is still a .30 caliber nation; 180-grain projectiles typically offer excellent sectional density and ballistic efficiency; and the .300 Win. I may earn a small part of the sale from links to any products or services on this site. Personalize your experience. As a result, bullet manufacturers have never made high-BC bullets in .277 diameter (the actual size of .270 Win. Theyre sequentially packaged and arent bulk washed after manufacture to protect their integrity. Niccolo Tartaglia was the first to notice that a shot trajectory was continuously curved. The new Sako Finnlight II sports an innovative stock and Cerakote metal paired with the terrific 85 action. In the end, the best way to understand the performance comparison between two bullets is to enter their details into a ballistic solver including the muzzle velocity, and see how the predicted drop and drift compare, all things considered. Mag., .308 Win, .30-06, .300 Win. Its long and narrow, so the surface area pointing into the wind is very small. It does not store any personal data. While factory .22 LR round-nose bullets have BCs in the 0.072 to 0.149 range for bullets of 26 to 40 grains started at typical low .22 LR velocities, the Cutting Edge bullets come in at only about 0.111 (G1 BC), according to the company's president, Dan Schmitko. Nice article, well explained except for the fact that you assumed people would know that they were both zeroed at 100 yards. Heres what you need to know about drag models. google_ad_slot = "7610963244"; A list of pointed (spitzer type) hunting bullets considered a good bet for long range shooting in their respective calibers, with their ballistic coefficients, follows. Find a Retailer. BC is mostly used by rifle shooters. USA -(Ammoland.com)-Heres why obscure [and some say boring] bullet ballistic concepts like ballistic coefficient and sectional density are essential if you want to hit targets regularly when shooting at long-ranges. Want a bullet that has both a high BC and a consistent BC? tried some sierra boattail in 300 win. Think about it this way: An arrow is more aerodynamically efficient than a tennis ball. These projectiles even come with a polishing cloth. A bullet's efficiency is measured by its ballistic coefficient (BC). As Hornady moves the industry to drag coefficient based trajectory calculations for these types of projectiles, the Ballistic Coefficient is becoming somewhat irrelevant. The Remington Model Seven is ready, willing and able to handle just about any task. This website uses cookies and third party services. Lets assume youre shooting a .308 rifle and you have two types of bullets of identical weight. My best "take away" was the reinforcement of consistency in long range shooting. RELATED: 10 Best Long-Range Hunting Cartridges. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. gives us a very small window of the projectile/bullet's ability to overcome external factors such as wind and gravity. Learn more . Get proficient on YOUR time. The following photographs of our test subjects show an unfired bullet, a sectioned bullet and a bullet recovered from gel at 400 yards and a bullet recovered from gel at 50 yards. Luckily, there are some awesome ballistics calculators out there. BC is measurement of how efficiently a bullet is able to cut through air . Ballistic Coefficient is essentially a measure of air drag. Therefore, these variables are mostly a concern when youre trying to determine the change in your bullets speed from the last time(s) you went shooting. Succinct explanations for someone just getting started. gear. Mach 2.0 (2,233 fps @ ICAO Standard Atmosphere) and Mach 1.75 (1,954 fps @ ICAO Standard Atmosphere) BC values are also available. By adding an aerodynamic resin tip to the MatchKing, Sierra was able to reduce drag and produce a more favorable down-range ballistic coefficient. Good write-up Tom. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Ballistics is an odd, but fascinating science, and it can be intimidating to go too deep. Hunters who choose a 195 Berger EOL hunting bullet compared to a 140gr Nosler Accubond-even if both bullets are shot at 2,800fps- would see 6 less drop and 8 less wind drift at 500 yards. Pick a tough, bullet with a high ballistic coefficient to get the best out of it..260 Rem. Both can be launched at the same speed, but an arrow will fly farther because it doesnt slow down as much due to wind resistance and therefore maintains its speed better. Put another way, its the ratio of the bullets sectional density to its coefficient of form. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Quantserve sets the mc cookie to anonymously track user behaviour on the website. It details drop, time, energy, velocity, range, and does so in . A bullet's ballistic coefficient is based on a few different factors, the first of which is weight. Then youll repeat the process. But a higher ballistic coefficient doesnt necessarily mean it is a better bullet. BC is a number that can be used as an input for ballistic solvers to predict trajectories. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Eight major concealed carry insurance programs are now available to the millions of Americans who carry concealed. We'll send you the latest guides and training tips geared In short, a high ballistic coefficient is indicative of a rounds ability to resist drag. In this comparison, the 6.5mm 144 gr bullet has a G7 BC of 0.336, while the 30 cal 175 grain OTM has a G7 BC of 0.263. Ballistic Coefficient (B.C.) Spitzer, which means pointed, is a more efficient shape than a round nose or a flat point. ; G7 Ballistic Coefficient - this is an updated equation and the preferred system of measuring a BC for long range bullets. 2023 Outdoor Sportsman Group. A bullets density is a ratio of a bullets mass and its cross-sectional area. (Examples being rounds like the 30-30.). This cookie is used to keep track on user informations and reports it to Alexa analytics service. Simply put, ballistic coefficient is a fudge factor. Not so long ago a Barrett or Cheytac was needed at a high price for shots out to a mile+. They are the ones to choose for long range shooting where a flatter trajectory is important. So why the significant differences even though bullets were of the same diameter, weight, and velocity? It scored just behind the .340 Weatherby and has the least recoil among the cartridges tested. Both objects will slow down much faster in water, but the arrow wont slow down as much from its original speed in the air as will the tennis ball. To do this, bullets should be compared at a given Mach number (e.g. Introducing the latest products from the worldwide leader in ammunition. Data are also found in the accompanying charts. Subscriber Services. Two weeks after its introduction, the Hybrid Target bullet began winning matches, and it continues to do so. Here are a dozen bullets to help you go the distance, whether your target is an animal or paper and steel. is the numerical evaluation of a projectile's efficiency in flight. The goal was to be able to predict how far projectiles would travel, the arc of flight, and at what velocity they would impact targets. In actuality, the smaller caliber, lighter-weight bullet actually has a BC thats 28% higher than the larger caliber, heavier bullet. Scroll down to the bottom and you see that Hornady provides most of the information you need. Thanks! I wonder if anyone has validated a continuum mechanics equation with rifle testing a super high speed sensors. The pattern element in the name contains the unique identity number of the account or website it relates to. It doesnt pass through the air, or the animal, easily. You have entered an incorrect email address! So, someone said, Hey! Just $1 per month , Without the right bullets, you wont get very far. Thats way too complicated, so lets use an illustration. These are all pointed hollow point, boat tail bullets. I shoot a variety of fire arms and have hunted and shot competitively for .quite a few years. A decent BC for a bullet based on the G1 drag model is in the 0.5-0.6 range, whereas the same bullets BC based on the G7 drag model will be in the 0.2-0.3 range. The Sierra GameKing has been cleanly killing critters for many years. The ACE Match is only available in one caliber, and you might be wondering why this bullet is even mentioned. Hmmm Looking at the chart, says bullet drop @ 100 yards: 0.0. To grossly abuse math and physics, bullets with high sectional density are long and skinny. Boat tail bullets are designated "BT," all other bullets have flat bases. BC is what determines trajectory and wind drift, other factors (velocity among them) being equal. No 168 grain .308 caliber bullet will have a high BC, simply because it is an awkward shaped bullet. The BC-enhancing polymer tip initiates expansion, and the LRX deforms with four razor-sharp petals that create a large frontal diameter. YouTube - Store data on what videos from YouTube the user has seen. The higher the number the less drag, and the more efficiently the bullet cuts through the air. All of this algebra and calculus mumbo jumbo is intended to solve one thing: to predict the behavior of a bullet as it flies through the air. As an example, a bullet can have a G7 BC of 0.279 above 3000 fps, but when averaged from 3000 fps to 1500 fps, the G7 BC is 0.273. The round design lowers the BC and creates more drag compared to a modern Spitzer round. With the jackets thick shank and the Hornady InterLock ring, you can expect 50 to 60 percent weight retention inside 400 yards and as much as 85 percent weight retention at greater distances. Note that with bullets of the same weight and style, such as the 100 grain .243" and .257" bullets or the 150 grain .311" and .323" bullets, the smaller diameter bullet always has the superior BC due to its better sectional density. Ryan Cleckner is a a former special operations sniper and author of the Long Range Shooting Handbook. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. Weve built dozens of ARs and well cover all the best AR-15 upgrades such as handguards, triggers, BCGs, gas blocks, and more. Weight. This means you have the option to read your magazine on most popular phones and tablets. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". shooters. ELD-X stands for Extreme Low Drag eXpanding bullet. Shooters taking these long shots have to factor in their BC to ensure the round gets where its going. Save my name and email to use for future comments. Simply, large and light bullets are less dense than small and heavy ones. Learn all the important stuff about handgunswith none of the attitude. For big-game hunters, the Nosler AccuBond might offer the best balance of terminal performanceexpansion and penetrationthat can be found. Get 12 Issues a year of the country's best firearms writing. Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made. 5 Mk 1 Rifle: History of the 'Jungle Carbine', Kimber Hunter Pro Desolve Blak - A Lightweight Heavy Hitter, Browning BLR Lightweight '81 Stainless Takedown Lever Rifle, Mossberg Patriot Predator 6.5 PRC Rifle Review, Review: Springfield Armory M1A Loaded Rifle in 6.5 Creedmoor, RCBS ChargeMaster Lite Review: Not 'Lite' on Ability, Remington Model Seven SS HS Bolt-Action Rifle Review. Take a look at the bullets themselves and what we learned. Two measurements that help define the downrange performance of a bullet are ballistic coefficient and sectional density. Americas oldest Second Amendment News outlet. Hand-Picked Daily GUN DEALS, and Exclusive Coupons Codes >>>. For example, the sectional density of a 175 grain .308 caliber bullet is: 175/7000/ (.308^2) = 0.264 (the bullet weight is divided by 7000 to . Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. That doesn't seem to be an overstatement, based on the Ballistic Coefficients (BC) WTC has published on this new line of bullets.