Scott Rupp gets a chance to talk to Aaron Oelger about a few new products from Hodgdon and why reloading store shelves are empty. 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. Type your new password and hit button below to confirm it. If a bowling ball was used for the drag model, the BC would be very high because the bullet would be much more efficient as it flew through the air. 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. The Matchking has a coefficient of 0.417. Let's compare the practical ballistics of a traditional flatbase bullet with a modern high-ballistic coefficient bullet when both are zeroed at 200 yards and fired in standard sea-level conditions. How much a bullet slows down depends on the density (thickness) of the air and the efficiency of the bullet. Many shooters choose 7mm cartridges for the potential of incredibly high BC bullets. This Sierra Pro-Hunter is also a .308, 150-grain . The BC of a bullet is a ratio calculated by a mathematical model based off of its density and its particular shape. 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. To further assess the importance of a boat tail, note these pairs of Speer spitzer bullets of the same weight and caliber. REcently I have been casting bullets for and competing with Black powder cartridge rifles and competing at ranges out to 1000yds. Manufacturers might be tempted to advertise high BCs for their bullets, and the comparison to the drag model is more complicated than I made it out to be and actually changes with speed. The new Sako Finnlight II sports an innovative stock and Cerakote metal paired with the terrific 85 action. In the world of ballistic coefficients, a bigger number means that a bullet flies more efficiently. The extent of how much a BC will change depends on each unique bullet shape. This cookie, set by YouTube, registers a unique ID to store data on what videos from YouTube the user has seen. Ballistic Coefficient values at Mach 1.75 (1954 fps @ ICAO Standard Atmosphere), should be used when calculating trajectories for shooting beyond 600 yds. Thats way too complicated, so lets use an illustration. The _ga cookie, installed by Google Analytics, calculates visitor, session and campaign data and also keeps track of site usage for the site's analytics report. This is an extreme example but illustrates that the different shape of a projectile will affect your ballistic coefficient. Available Calibers: 6mm, 6.5mm, and .308. Weight retention (175.9 grains) was a remarkable 98 percent, and the expanded bullet measured 0.69 inch, actually larger than at 50 yards. No 168 grain .308 caliber bullet will have a high BC, simply because it is an awkward shaped bullet. On the other hand, the G1 BC above 3000 fps can be 0.590, while the average from 3000 fps to 1500 fps is only 0.533. A bullet's ballistic coefficient is calculated by a model based off its density and shape. Click below for a FREE LESSON! presaged the 6.5mm frenzy. e dont want slow bullets. The boat tail bullet had .3" inch less rise at 200 yards, and 1.9" less fall out at 500 yards. If youre looking to learn more or reload your own ammocheck out our Ammo & Reloading Definitive Resource. I count myself among them, and I think the market for high ballistic coefficient bullets will likely explode with the release of the new Hornady 7mm PRC. His latest projects include an online course to help people get an FFL (. If you are looking to hit a target beyond 600 yards, your really need to learn and understand your rounds BC. Good question and its a controversial one. Calculates the ballistic trajectory of a bullet fired from a rifle, handgun or other firearm. Technically, its the ratio of the weight to the surface area, but its easier to think in terms of diameter as thats how bullets are measured. Ive put together a convenient table of the highest BC bullets on the market. This interactive bullet database is free and containst 173 caliber ballistics, history, stats, and their trajectories charted out in full detail. Knowing ballistic coefficient allows you to calculate how far your round flies as it loses velocity. This is a specialized bullet intended for a specialized purpose: killing big-game animals at extreme distances. RELATED: Heavey Gets Schooled in Long-Range Shooting at Gunsite Academy. The other is a 150-grain Sierra Matchking. Some big, heavy, and efficient bullets like the .50 BMG can have a ballistic coefficient greater than one, but that topic is for another day. Shooters taking these long shots have to factor in their BC to ensure the round gets where its going. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. He has managed multiple gun ranges, and has hunted around the world. The nail flying point forward has a very high sectional density because its long and skinny. Mag @ 100 yds. It scored just behind the .340 Weatherby and has the least recoil among the cartridges tested. Built to maximize long-range performance for target shooting, Logan Schamburg from Blackjack bullets says the ACE Match bullet works very well on big-game animals too. AccuBond Long Range bullets will hold up to extreme, high-velocity impacts at close range, and still deliver expansion and penetration at crazy long distances. Its that simple. These differences are real, but unlikely to make or break a shot at a big game animal. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. A high BC bullet can maintain velocity better than a low BC bullet under the same conditions. These are all pointed hollow point, boat tail bullets. It's when game such as elk, moose, caribou, mountain goats and the bigger bears are on the menu that bullet integrity becomes critical. Knowing ballistic coefficient allows you to calculate how far your round flies as it loses velocity. It details drop, time, energy, velocity, range, and does so in . You'll now receive newsletters of our best articles on techniques, 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 . We already have an account registered for email address 1 Single-Shot Rifle: Tips to Improve Its Accuracy, Wilson Combat Paul Howe Tactical 6.5 Creedmoor: Full Review of the Versatility Champ, .45-70 vs .450 Bushmaster Cartridge Clash, 10 Great .22 Mag Bolt-Action Rifles Right Now, Sweet Scents of Gun Solvents and Oils: 12 Perfumes for Firearms, .375 H&H Mag. Weight Bullet Sectional Ballistic Coefficients # (inches) (grains) Type Density and Velocity Ranges Sierra The Bulletsmiths TM TM. Love your simple explanations. ELD-X stands for Extreme Low Drag eXpanding bullet. google_ad_slot = "7610963244"; This includes the rounds trajectory, velocity, and wind drift. 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.. G1 is most commonly used because its the old standard and the industry has not adapted to the more modern incarnations. 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. Your choide for the two examples was excellent.. at first I wondered why you were trying to compare two radically diffferent bullet shapes.. THEN it hit me the differences would be so radical they would be very distinct, then you could go into the details and explain WHY. Remember High Cost does not equal High Performance. The fastest, most streamlined bullet may go right thru the animal you're shooting at, so you might need to use a heavier bullet that doesn't move as fast, but expands a lot more & won't go all the way thru. Jim Harmer is a host of the Backfire Youtube channel. With the right BC you can make a . This also applies to the shooter's skills. To throw a little light on the subject (and out of my own curiosity), I recently shot a selection of eight of my favorite bullets into 10-percent gelatin at 50 and 400 yards. When entering this stuff into your Kestrel or ballistic smartphone app, be sure to use the right BC number with its corresponding drag model. I like the way you played it out, easy to understand for me as a new loader. Its great for lever-action rifles and hunting. I would imagine the best BC would be the Berger 168 VLD. Ballistic Coefficient values at Mach 2.0 and 1.75 offer comparisons to other manufacturers that publish multiple BCs based on velocity. 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. is the numerical evaluation of a projectile's efficiency in flight. Fluid properties (air) vary with velocity and environment. The boat tail helps, but not nearly as much as the point on the front of the bullet. Long range shooters have to practice, and they must have consistent ammo to practice. !, Next article-Brass how to choose which is better? If your app or device asks for a G1 number, be sure to use 0.646. Here are a dozen bullets to help you go the distance, whether your target is an animal or paper and steel. As opposed to same in a flat base bullet. Drag slows a bullet down, and we dont want slow bullets. ; G7 Ballistic Coefficient - this is an updated equation and the preferred system of measuring a BC for long range bullets. Understanding basics means more game on the table, and more steel pings. The best styles for long-range shooting will have high density and aerodynamically efficient shapes. So are barrel twist and length. Mach number is the velocity of the bullet divided by the speed of sound. Ballistic coefficient (BC) is a mathematical representation of how efficiently a bullet flies through the air. But there is less difference between the trajectory of the flat base spire point bullet and the boat tail spire point bullet. The unsurprising part is that, on average, a .40-caliber bullet makes a 6-percent-larger hole than a 9 mm bullet, and a .45-caliber bullet makes a 6-percent-larger hole than a .40-caliber bullet . We cover this subject further in our next article, Form Factors. Using B.C. Save my name and email to use for future comments. Vimeo installs this cookie to collect tracking information by setting a unique ID to embed videos to the website. They typically expand violently, causing tremendous wound cavities and resulting in rapid kills. 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). Enjoyed your discussion on BCs. google_ad_width = 728; BC is what determines trajectory and wind drift, other factors (velocity among them) being equal. This is an extreme example but illustrates that the different shape of a projectile will affect your ballistic coefficient. The longer they have to act on your projectile, the more of an effect theyll have. 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 system is a great way to compare cartridge systems so you can better make an informed purchase. It will also work with other .257 caliber rifles, as long as they are fitted to barrels with a very fast twist. The flat point Pro-Hunter has a ballistic coefficient of 0.185. Simply, the faster one starts out, the more remaining velocity it will have at the target. shooters. This aerodynamic tip enhances the bullets ability to resist gravity and wind, and it ultimately reduces flight times. Long range shooting absolutely fascinates me. His books are available in print and eBook format on Amazon. Data are also found in the accompanying charts. . If it asks for a G7 number, use the 0.326 figure. vs 9.3x62 Cartridge Clash. To do this, bullets should be compared at a given Mach number (e.g. Available Calibers: 6.5mm, 7mm, and .308. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. Ballistic Coefficient is the capacity of the projectile to keep as much velocity as possible in comparison to the standard projectile. So what is the standard projectile? Pick a tough, bullet with a high ballistic coefficient to get the best out of it..260 Rem. Variation in BC with Velocity (G1, G7, etc), Manufacturing Effects on: BC, Accuracy, and Precision. Niccolo Tartaglia was the first to notice that a shot trajectory was continuously curved. YouTube sets this cookie to store the video preferences of the user using embedded YouTube video. 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. Boat tail bullets are designated "BT," all other bullets have flat bases. As a result, bullet manufacturers have never made high-BC bullets in .277 diameter (the actual size of .270 Win. These bullets have extremely high BCs. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Understanding Bullet BC (Ballistic Coefficient) We hunters love to argue endlessly about calibers, cartridges, bullet weights, and muzzle velocities, but we should be equally concerned with BCs Ballistic Coefficients. Ballistic Coefficient (BC) is basically a measure of how streamlined a bullet is; that is, how well it cuts through the air. This difference in the two BCs for the same bullet is because an efficient bullets performance will be much better than the G1 model and only slightly better than the G7 model. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". It's often been compared to the 6.5 Creedmoor. The password should contain at least 8 characters with at least one number or special character. 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. These days, most bullet data is published with BC numbers for the traditional G1 drag model, but given the explosion of long-range shooting interest, more are also publishing numbers for the G7 model which is more accurate for sleek and slender long range bullets. The following at the most standardized: The G1 is the oldest and still the most commonly used. Now, lets launch them both at 2,750 feet per second from a Sierra Bullet Blaster 7000 rifle and see what happens. 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 . When doing pre-purchase research either on the web or at the store, the increased performance of the ELD Match and ELD-X bullets wasnt always realized in a head-to-head BC comparison. Its a product of the early 1900s, so at the time it was representative of rifle rounds. Ballistic coefficient makes a tremendous difference in downrange ballistics. Another thing to keep in mind when comparing BCs is related to caliber. Want a bullet that has both a high BC and a consistent BC? First Focal Plane vs. Second Focal Plane Scopes Explained: Which is Best? These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. Its great for accurate target shooting. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". Instead, when youre making the decision on which one to use for the best long-range performance, choose the one that shoots well in your rifle first. For this example, I am going to use a Hornady 30-06 Springfield load with a 125 grain SST projectile, With that said, the number the manufacturer gives you is a rough estimate. Dont chase a particular BC. It has a better trajectory than the lighter 36-grain and 40-grain bullets. For this example, I am going to use a Hornady 30-06 Springfield load with a 125 grain SST projectile, found here. The same weight bullets from other manufacturers will have different BC's, because they are slightly different shapes. Very short and wide. Available Calibers: 6mm, 6.5mm, .277, 7mm, and .308. For example, if you like to shoot old cap and ball revolvers you are familiar with standard round balls as projectiles. 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. 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. Heres what you need to know about drag models. 2-Reloading the real Pleasure of the shooting with math. The slower the bullet the less range youll have. Since those early days, other smart folks have developed different predictive models on bullet flight based on a variety of bullet types. /* GunData.org Ballistics */ Get the latest news and reviews from Gundigest.com. I may earn a small part of the sale from links to any products or services on this site. They are the ones to choose for long range shooting where a flatter trajectory is important. My best "take away" was the reinforcement of consistency in long range shooting. 2023 Outdoor Sportsman Group. 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. Ballistic coefficient makes a tremendous difference in downrange ballistics. He is interested in helping folks protect themselves with firearms and shoot better at the range. 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. Available Calibers: 6.5mm, .277, 7mm, .308, and .338. But it can also be rewarding, and highly educational. 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. Before you get into all the calculations, answer this question: what do you want the bullet to do when it hits what you're shooting at? In each pair, the first bullet has a flat base, and the second has a boat tail. Hmmm Looking at the chart, says bullet drop @ 100 yards: 0.0. 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. 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. 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. The slower the bullet the less range youll have. There are actually several different standard projectiles with different measurements and they each measure drag in a different way. In addition to the change listed above, a select few ELD-X and ELD Match bullets initially had BC values that were determined from prototype bullets. Introduced in 1965 with the .444 Marlin cartridge, the Model 444 was the most powerful lever action of its day. #4. For example, a Hornady 100 grain round nose 6mm bullet has a BC of .216; a Hornady 100 grain spire point 6mm bullet has a BC of .357, and a Hornady 100 grain boat tail spire point 6mm bullet has a BC of .400. Spitzer, which means pointed, is a more efficient shape than a round nose or a flat point. 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 a jacketed bullet with a tiny hollow-point, non-expanding design. Newly Published base of comparison. Stock Dia. Even their ammo is great. Under the tutelage of Walt Bergerone of the best bench-rest shooters of all timeBerger Bullets established a reputation for creating some of the most accurate bullets ever produced. The bottom line is this. Ballistic Coefficient is essentially a measure of air drag. What did this exactly mean? The extremely poor SD of the .224" bullet lowers its BC, even though its shape is similar to the others. The B.C. Therefore, rather than simply loading down to simulate 400-yard impact velocities (which has the unavoidable side effect of reducing rotational velocity), we set gel blocks out at 400 yards and shot them. 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. 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. This means that the speed and energy will vary from cartridge manufacturer to manufacturer. Why Is Knowing Your Rounds BC Important? towards your level. The higher the BC, the less drag on the bullet. It is accurate, has an excellent ballistic coefficient, and provides moderate recoil. Ballistics Basics: Bullet Efficiency And Ballistic Coefficients, Gun Review: Nighthawk Border Special 1911, Classic Guns: The Ithaca Model 37 Shotgun. During this time of overwhelming demand, our team is doing everything possible to produce more bullets and ammo than ever before. The __qca cookie is associated with Quantcast. And stay in touch with newsletters of our best articles on techniques, guns, & gear. Sierra MatchKing bullets have a worldwide reputation for stellar accuracy and have probably won more target competitions than all other bullets combined. Spitzer rounds with a boat tail have a slightly higher BC than Spitzer rounds with a flat base. This is done so you have an accurate number that represents the bullets performance over long range. Instead, the BC is best used as a comparative number between different bullets. All measures of ballistic performance including drop and wind deflection . For example, a lead round-nosed bullet can sure pack a punch!
