My takeaway is this data is really of more interest to long range (over 300 yards?) Someday maybe Ill have the time and money to play in the long range sweepstakes game one friend is regulalry hitting his targets at 800 yards, and often at 1000 yds.. me, Im happy at present if I can hit at a couple hundred yards Need more range time. This cookie can only be read from the domain they are set on and will not track any data while browsing through other sites. I like the way you played it out, easy to understand for me as a new loader. Getting consistent hits at extreme distances requires specialized rifles and optics. Originally, those smart people who did a lot of testing on the range worked out predictive models for bullet flight based on that standard projectile shape. google_ad_height = 90; By adding an aerodynamic resin tip to the MatchKing, Sierra was able to reduce drag and produce a more favorable down-range ballistic coefficient. Instead, the BC is best used as a comparative number between different bullets. @Tio, The thought part is the most important and that costs nothing. All long-range bullets have three things in common: Theyre long and slender; theyre built to stringent specifications with a high level of quality control; and they deliver ballistic coefficients (BCs) much higher than traditional bullets. Niccolo Tartaglia was the first to notice that a shot trajectory was continuously curved. These hypothetical examples show us two things: 1) A more aerodynamically efficient bullet wont slow down as much on its way to the target, and 2) efficiency doesnt matter as much when the air density is low (thin air). shooters. Its great for accurate target shooting. BC will help you determine the effective range of a projectile by taking drag into account. One more thing. Some hunters prefer a solid copper or solid gilding metal bullet. Luckily, there are some awesome ballistics calculators out there. Its just the love that goes into solving the problem. Ballistics Coefficients - Rifle 1450 .224 50 BlitzKing .142 .248 @ 3300 fps and above.243 between 2650 and 3300 fps .232 between 2050 and 2650 fps . It adjusts the trajectory prediction for each bullet type. Be careful here. presaged the 6.5mm frenzy. The weight needs to be well-balanced in order to provide the best ballistic coefficient. There are lots of ways to get around the expense Some of the data that are collected include the number of visitors, their source, and the pages they visit anonymously. Google DoubleClick IDE cookies are used to store information about how the user uses the website to present them with relevant ads and according to the user profile. One of the first terms I ran across while discovering my fascination with long-range shooting was ballistic coefficient. e dont want slow bullets. In actuality, the smaller caliber, lighter-weight bullet actually has a BC that's 28% higher than the larger caliber, heavier bullet. I wonder if anyone has validated a continuum mechanics equation with rifle testing a super high speed sensors. Very short and wide. Am I long range shooter? Their Hybrid Target design incorporates two different shapes within its nose. You do not pay Mach number is the velocity of the bullet divided by the speed of sound. Learn all the important stuff about handgunswith none of the attitude. One is a 150-grain Sierra Pro-Hunter. 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. purchase helps support my work in bringing you more awesome gun and gear articles. These are all pointed hollow point, boat tail bullets. As for distances, I'd already decided to choose 50 yards as the close mark, and after some discussion the editor settled on a max of 400 yards- a long shot, for sure, but a range at which most accomplished riflemen can make clean, ethical hits from field positions. My question is to what extent will bullet weight affect BC in a cast bullet where the outer dimensions are held constant, but the weight may vary with the alloy used. Tom McHale is the author of the Practical Guides book series that guides new and experienced shooters alike in a fun, approachable, and practical way. It delivers smaller BCs but is consistent throughout the velocity of the round, giving you a much more accurate representation of BC. Travis Pike is a Marine infantry veteran, firearms enthusiast, and NRA certified instructor. Sierra calls their new tipped GameKing bullet the GameChanger. Ballistic Coefficient is the capacity of the projectile to keep as much velocity as possible in comparison to the standard projectile. 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. Another thing to keep in mind when comparing BCs is related to caliber. Let me hear from you in the comments below! The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". google_ad_width = 728; Scott Rupp gets a chance to talk to Aaron Oelger about a few new products from Hodgdon and why reloading store shelves are empty. I didnt know, but the term came up enough in forums, articles, and videos that I had to do some research. Here are a dozen bullets to help you go the distance, whether your target is an animal or paper and steel. This is the very basics of ballistic coefficients. A slower barrel twist of 1:10 is generally adequate to stabilize bullets weighing up to 100 grains, while the accuracy of heavier, higher ballistic coefficient bullets is improved by a 1:7 or 1:8 twist. Fifty years ago, when hunters argued over which cartridge was best, they focused on muzzle velocity. Get proficient on YOUR time. Lets assume youre shooting a .308 rifle and you have two types of bullets of identical weight. Available Calibers: .224, 6mm, 6.5mm, .277, 7mm, .308, .338, and .375. Imagine launching a quarter at a target, but we somehow get it to fly face first, so the top flat side with Georges head is leading the way. 30cal and. This means that the speed and energy will vary from cartridge manufacturer to manufacturer. The higher the number, the less drag the projectile will experience. The Remington Model Seven is ready, willing and able to handle just about any task. The flat point Pro-Hunter has a ballistic coefficient of 0.185. Ballistic Coefficient: 0.14 Bullet Weight: 115 gr Initial Velocity: 1100 fps . Ballistic Coefficient is essentially a measure of air drag. At a MV of 3100 fps a .224" Speer 52 grain BTHP Match bullet zeroed for 300 yards has a 500 yard drop of -43.9 inches, not much better than the 6mm round nose bullet in our trajectory examples near the beginning of this article. He is interested in helping folks protect themselves with firearms and shoot better at the range. All RifleShooter subscribers now have digital access to their magazine content. .375 H&H Magnum (L), .338 Winchester Magnum (R) Public Domain. 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 . Spitzer, which means pointed, is a more efficient shape than a round nose or a flat point. This is shown by the smaller difference in BC between the two pointed bullets, .357 for the flat base and .400 for the boat tail. The boat tail helps, but not nearly as much as the point on the front of the bullet. The cookie stores information anonymously and assigns a randomly generated number to recognize unique visitors. This anonymous data helps us to better understand users' needs and customize the website accordingly. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. In conjunction with the hollow nose cavity and a lead-alloy core, the tip optimizes penetration and tissue destruction over a wide range of distances. That doesn't seem to be an overstatement, based on the Ballistic Coefficients (BC) WTC has published on this new line of bullets. On such heavy-bodied game animals, which are challenging to hunt and rarely offer a perfect broadside presentation, I'm a believer in using premium, heavy-for-caliber bullets. Shooters taking these long shots have to factor in their BC to ensure the round gets where its going. In summary, comparing BCs is a natural thing to do for shooters interested in long range performance. Sierra MatchKing bullets have a worldwide reputation for stellar accuracy and have probably won more target competitions than all other bullets combined. Unfortunately, many shooters did not understand that Hornady was listing a more useable 800 yard BC while other manufacturers list 200 yard* BCs. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. But it can also be rewarding, and highly educational. Due to the sensitivity of BCs to velocity, it can highly skew the comparison. How to choose one of the myriad premium bullets available today? In addition to the standard G series bullet profiles, a Custom Drag Curve (CDC) can be used for a specific bullet which is the actual drag characteristics for that bullet. The Matchking has a coefficient of 0.417. It details drop, time, energy, velocity, range, and does so in . shoots flat, hits hard, and fits in standard length actions. The definition according to Wikipedia is, the ballistic coefficient (BC) of a body is a measure of its ability to overcome air resistance in flight.. Hornady's Precision Hunter 178-grain ELD-X at 2,600 fps is probably the best long-range option, but look also at the new 168-grain Berger Hybrid Hunter load from Federa l. Ballistic Coefficient . Three words: Use Berger Bullets! Its .224-diameter bullet with ridiculously high Ballistic Coefficient (BC) number can maintain supersonic speed and drift less in the wind right up until about the 1,300-yard mark. To illustrate the practical difference between these three styles of bullets, let's use Hornady's trajectory figures for the 100 grain 6mm bullets above. As an extreme example, lets use water because it is easy to picture how much denser it is than air. Different tasks require different types of bullets, and in some cases, BC is the last thing a shooter needs to consider. Heres why. Mag. G1 Ballistic Coefficient - this is the older system of measuring BC and is more suitable for flat based bullets, although many bullet manufacturers use this coefficient for boat tail bullets as well, as it is more commonly found. Its currently available in loaded ammunition and as a component for handloaders in .277, .284, and .308 calibers. The drag created by the bullet depends on a number of factors, including the projectiles weight and design. Get Our Top Shooting Drills and Zeroing Targets ($47 value - but FREE for a limited time). Fluid properties (air) vary with velocity and environment. The G7 is more representative of the current state of rifle rounds. The higher the number the less drag, and the more efficiently the bullet cuts through the air. Finally, if your goal is to indicate performance potential of a bullet at long range, you . 30 Cal .308 178 gr ELD-X. 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. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. The belted cartridge can be loaded for velocities up to 3,500 fps with lighter bullets, but the best long-range loads use a heavier bullet with a higher BC and velocities between . . Sectional Density is a measurement that reflects the ratio of somethings mass to its cross-sectional area. Why Is Knowing Your Rounds BC Important? Just an old curious guy. Great scores on paper targets do not equal the best shots when hunting -- unless you're using the same bullets for both target practice & hunting. It scored just behind the .340 Weatherby and has the least recoil among the cartridges tested. We already have an account registered for email address Great info! Its a lead-tipped, jacketed bullet with a flat-point tip and a flat base. As examples of very streamlined bullets, note the BC of these Speer match type bullets. If a Mach number is unavailable, velocity can be used if the BCs are corrected to Standard Atmosphere which is fairly typical practice within the industry. So, someone said, Hey! Some of the links on this page are affiliate links, meaning at no additional cost to you, Ammoland will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. . Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. And stay in touch with newsletters of our best articles on techniques, guns, & gear. Punching holes in a target? I just returned from the range today and found out some interesting stuff about b.c. you a link to reset your password. There are just so many factors to consider, many of which the manufacturer cant know, including atmospheric conditions, the drag created by your rifling, and more. A high BC bullet can maintain velocity better than a low BC bullet under the same conditions. In short, a high ballistic coefficient is indicative of a rounds ability to resist drag. This makes the bullet less sensitive to seating depth and makes load development much easier. All measures of ballistic performance including drop and wind deflection . We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. Both bullets for loading and ammo are available in 6mm, 6.5mm,. doubleclick.net - browser supports cookies. Savage Impulse Big Game Straight-Pull Bolt-Action Rifle: Full Review, How Rifle-Shot Recoil Affects Scopes, Rings and Bases, Ruger No. Do you have any more questions? Available Calibers: 6.5mm, .277, 7mm, .308, and .338. Give a Gift (, 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. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. With an Accu-Fit stock and left hand adjustable bolt, this rifle is a perfect choice for anyone! Introduced in 1965 with the .444 Marlin cartridge, the Model 444 was the most powerful lever action of its day. With modern ammunition, we are seeing higher ballistic coefficients such as the ridiculously high BC of the shiny new .224 Valkyrie Matt was raving about. Lets design a standard bullet and do all the math for that one. If your app or device asks for a G1 number, be sure to use 0.646. How much a bullet slows down depends on the density (thickness) of the air and the efficiency of the bullet. Hunters who choose a 195 Berger EOL hunting bullet compared to a 140gr Nosler Accubondeven if both bullets are shot at 2,800fps would see 6 less drop and 8 less wind drift at 500 yards. Remember High Cost does not equal High Performance. They like that they are lead free; that they retain 100 percent of their weight; and penetrate deeply. Weve got a dedicated section for the AR-15 here. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. With modern ammunition, we are seeing higher ballistic coefficients such as the ridiculously high BC of the. And this means it will also be less affected by external variables. Long range shooters have to practice, and they must have consistent ammo to practice. The following at the most standardized: The G1 is the oldest and still the most commonly used. If they penetrate only 12 or 14 inches (inhibited by that same massive frontal diameter that's causing such dramatic tissue destruction), that's usually adequate. Hornady A-Tip. Subscriber Services. A bullet with a high ballistic coefficient is slippery and less subject to drag (slowing down) as it continues on its merry way. For most calibers there are several different bullets available, so you want to consider what you want the bullet to do 1st, then decide which weight & shape will work best for you. Item #3074 | 100/Box. These bullets have extremely high BCs. Thats because the BC varies with speed. Jim Harmer is a host of the Backfire Youtube channel. Absolutely not. These variables, which well discuss in the next column, can change each time and location you shoot. This interactive bullet database is free and containst 173 caliber ballistics, history, stats, and their trajectories charted out in full detail. The only homogeneous bullet included in this test, the, A unique crossover design featuring a solid copper base and a bonded, lead-core front half, the, One of three boattail, polymer-tipped, bonded bullets included in this test, the, Known for superb accuracy and dramatic on-game performance, the, A tougher, bonded version of Remington's much-loved Core-Lokt bullet, the, Second only to the Barnes TTSX at retaining weight, the, Offering higher-than-average BCs, even for boattailed, polymer-tipped bullets, coupled with heavy-jacketed, bonded construction, the. I dont have much experience beyond 600 yards. These bullets also feed very well from the detachable magazines being used by most long-range semi-auto and bolt-action rifles. !, Next article-Brass how to choose which is better? Its really very simple. This means you have the option to read your magazine on most popular phones and tablets. 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. Ballistic Coefficient (BC) values at Mach 2.25 (2512 fps @ ICAO Standard Atmosphere) should be used when comparing to other published BC values within the industry. These bullets also feed very well from the detachable magazines being used by most long-range semi-auto and bolt-action rifles. Ballistic coefficient, and to an extent drag itself, is what is going to determine some of the most important factors in shooting. The ability to know, in advance, how much a bullet will drop or drift in the wind at a certain distance allows you, the shooter, to make scope holdover adjustments that will increase the odds of you hitting your target. The Standard projectile is the base we establish to gauge ballistic coefficient. The U.S. Army calls the round "next generation," and based on .277 Fury's capabilities, that is not an exaggeration. RifleShooter Magazine editor Scott Rupp breaks down all the features of the Mossberg Patriot Predator rifle chambered in 6.5 PRC. It takes a lot of research and development and field research by a good team of engineers to design a bullet that will both expand and hold together through a wide range of velocities. Click below for a FREE LESSON! Type your email address and well send At the very bottom, you see the BC listed. Luckily, there are, G1 or Ingalls (flat base with 2 caliber (blunt) nose ogive by far the most popular), G5 (short 7.5 boat-tail, 6.19 calibers long tangent ogive), G6 (flat base, 6 calibers long secant ogive), G7 (long 7.5 boat-tail, 10 calibers tangent ogive, preferred by some manufacturers for very-low-drag bullets), G8 (flat base, 10 calibers long secant ogive). It was nice to see it all brought together in one. And the .300 Win. No math just brute force raining down pain. This is done so you have an accurate number that represents the bullets performance over long range. He is a well-known entrepreneur, having started many successful online brands, and lives in St George, Utah. Terminal Ascent will be available in a wide range of cartridgesincluding the 6.5 Creedmoor, 6.5 PRC, .270 Win, .270 WSM, .280 Ackley Improved, 28 Nosler, 7mm Rem. The bullet manufacturers that choose to advertise BCs taken at high speed only, may appear to compare better to Bergers, but the apparent advantage is misleading, and will not result in accurate long range predictions. Niccolo Tartaglia was the first to notice that a shot trajectory was continuously curved. Unfortunately, the .270's relatively slow 1:10 rifling twist, as spec'd in SAAMI's reg book, won't stabilize the stretched-out, heavy, streamlined bullets that offer extremely high ballistic coefficients. Subscribe to Pew Pew Tactical's sales and deals email. Weight. This website uses cookies and third party services. If you look at the G1 bullet image, youll see that it resembles a common projectile shape from the 1800s era, give or take. The highest-BC 7mm match bullet is the 190gr Hornady A-Tip Match, and the highest-BC 7mm hunting bullet is the 195gr Berger EOL Elite Hunter. When comparing BCs of different bullets, it is important to use an apples-to-apples approach. Does the actual BC matter? Mag., .308 Win, .30-06, .300 Win. Enfield No. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Vimeo installs this cookie to collect tracking information by setting a unique ID to embed videos to the website. Slow-burning, temperature-stable propellants like H4831SC and . Due to their size, in some cases, they will only work with custom rifles with longer-than-normal magazine boxes. Finally, if your goal is to indicate performance potential of a bullet at long range, you have to consider the muzzle velocity of the bullet as well as the BC. Hornady originally published 800 yard* average Ballistic Coefficient (BC) values for ELD-X and ELD Match bullets. This system is a great way to compare cartridge systems so you can better make an informed purchase. Copyright 2001, 2013 by Chuck Hawks. The slower the bullet the less range youll have. It's like the humpty-dumpty or weeble of the .308 bullet world. Conversely, if we launched the two objects in a vacuum (no air resistance), then both would continue to fly at the same speed. Its great for lever-action rifles and hunting. Adding more tin, the weight can go down to 545gr from the same mold. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The new Tipped MatchKing is living up to that legacy. The 131 ACE is an efficient bullet purposefully designed to maximize the role of the 2547 . Thanks again for your very informative article. It also demands purpose-built bullets. For example, your bullet doesnt fall more at farther distances because of the distance (the bullet doesnt know how far it is traveling), but rather because it takes longer to reach a farther target, and therefore it has more time to fall due to gravity. .243" 100 grain Round Nose (BC .216): -1.5" @ muzzle, +4.8" @ 100 yards, +6" @ 200 yards, 0 at 300 yards, -15.9" @ 400 yards, -46" @ 500 yards. But there is less difference between the trajectory of the flat base spire point bullet and the boat tail spire point bullet. Pick a tough, bullet with a high ballistic coefficient to get the best out of it..260 Rem. Available Calibers: 6mm, 6.5mm, and .308. How to Sight in a Scope - Step by Step Guide. For big-game hunters, the Nosler AccuBond might offer the best balance of terminal performanceexpansion and penetrationthat can be found. These projectiles even come with a polishing cloth. Exceptions are for those still using BC based trajectory calculators or when using BC as rating criteria for bullet performance. The higher the number the less drag, and the more efficiently the . There are three variables that determine a bullets speed on its way to the target: We explored the first variable, the initial speed of the bullet, in the last column. After spending some time with this database you will most likely find the bullet that best meets your needs. The base is a boat-tail shape. A bullet's ballistic coefficient is based on a few different factors, the first of which is weight. Obviously, a lighter "G7" type bullet will fly thru the air faster, but will it penetrate & expand enough when you're hunting a particular animal? Hornady now publishes 200 yard Mach 2.25 (2,512 fps @ ICAO Standard Atmosphere**) G1 and G7 Ballistic Coefficient (BC) numbers for all A-Tip, ELD-X, and ELD Match bullets. A variation of the _gat cookie set by Google Analytics and Google Tag Manager to allow website owners to track visitor behaviour and measure site performance. Bullets that are too heavy can drop sharply because of an increased rate of drag. Until now. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. Mach 2.0 (2,233 fps @ ICAO Standard Atmosphere) and Mach 1.75 (1,954 fps @ ICAO Standard Atmosphere) BC values are also available. BC is measurement of how efficiently a bullet is able to cut through air . The __qca cookie is associated with Quantcast. Ballistics Basics: Bullet Efficiency And Ballistic Coefficients, Gun Review: Nighthawk Border Special 1911, Classic Guns: The Ithaca Model 37 Shotgun. He currently teaches concealed carry courses and enjoys spending time in Floridas Nature Coast. Select what level shooter you are! Without getting into the math, I'll define the ballistic coefficient in words as: The ability of the bullet to maintain velocity, in comparison to a ' standard projectile '. All three of these bullets have a sectional density (which is the ratio of a bullet's diameter to its weight) of .242, because they are all .243" in diameter and weigh 100 grains. gives us a very small window of the projectile/bullet's ability to overcome external factors such as wind and gravity. For 2020, Federal will be offering a new line of ammunition called Terminal Ascent, which uses a bonded bullet with a solid-copper rear shank to penetrate deep on close targets, and a polymer tip to initiate expansion at velocities 200 fps slower than comparable designs. Red Oak, White, or Chestnut for Deer Herd? Which explains why .22 bullets drop so much at long range and are so subject to wind drift, compared to larger caliber bullets with superior sectional densities (and hence, BC's).