Velocity vs bullet weight
- Thread starter Mj30wilson900
- Start date
I like heavy for caliber going slower. Personal preference. Although the new Hornady ELD-VT bullet has me intrigued.
Bullet mass is part of the BC calculation, so when a high BC bullet will shoot tight, I prefer it.
When a high BC bullet is high strung and won't group, the trajectory is cold comfort at distance. YMMV
When a high BC bullet is high strung and won't group, the trajectory is cold comfort at distance. YMMV
It really depends imho on the target but for me on personal defense I want really really fast moving light weight bullets that do destructive things and do not over penetrate or pencil hole .
Probably not a popular view here ... but I support "compromise". For instance, for my 338-LM I shoot Berger 250's and have found that to be a good combination of weight and velocity. Heavier, I might get more wind-performance, lighter and I might get more velocity, but finding something that's in between works for me. I think I'll reconsider that if I start shooting for the extremes, like over 1-mile. At that point, I might go "heavier" rather than leaning towards that elusive "compromise".
Velocity and heavy high BC bullets together are the advantage.
High velocity alone loses its edge as the yardage increases, to where it falls behind, the heavier high BC taking the an increasing advantage.
It depends on the comparison of the bullets and their velocities where the transition occurs...just a few hundred yds or further down range. Ballistics programs will give you a fair guesstimate.
High velocity alone loses its edge as the yardage increases, to where it falls behind, the heavier high BC taking the an increasing advantage.
It depends on the comparison of the bullets and their velocities where the transition occurs...just a few hundred yds or further down range. Ballistics programs will give you a fair guesstimate.
I was about to say I prefer the heavies going slow... but I think what I really mean is: I just prefer slow (with whatever weight bullet). The longer I do this shit and the more rounds I send downrange, the less I buy into faster = better.
Some guys act like the extra speed is what's going to turn a miss into an impact, an edge hit instead of just off the edge... but more speed means more recoil, and I don't think it shrinks one's cone of fire enough to justify the penalty of seeing less.
Some guys act like the extra speed is what's going to turn a miss into an impact, an edge hit instead of just off the edge... but more speed means more recoil, and I don't think it shrinks one's cone of fire enough to justify the penalty of seeing less.
Like most things, the answer is relative.
If your faster bullet shaves off .1 or .2 and the target is .6 wide, it's not a huge benefit. If your faster bullet shaves off .1 or .2 and the target is .3 wide, then you're gaining quite a bit of extra margin of error.
The same idea works with elevation at times as well. You'll get a longer max point blank with a faster bullet (if fast and slow use the same bullet).
Also, some top pack shooters have done things like use a 6cm because they were losing matches via a point or two when they burned them off the edge on the long range stage/s.
If your faster bullet shaves off .1 or .2 and the target is .6 wide, it's not a huge benefit. If your faster bullet shaves off .1 or .2 and the target is .3 wide, then you're gaining quite a bit of extra margin of error.
The same idea works with elevation at times as well. You'll get a longer max point blank with a faster bullet (if fast and slow use the same bullet).
Also, some top pack shooters have done things like use a 6cm because they were losing matches via a point or two when they burned them off the edge on the long range stage/s.
I shoot a 7RM and prefer long heavy bullets.
The 190gr A-Tip will still do 2940fps and get way the hell out there. I'm running a 26" barrel so I can get the speeds up fairly high with a heavy bullet. The BC of that bullet is confirmed as advertised at a G1 of around .830.
The 180gr ELD-M's are a great choice for me also, but I've had a couple blow up on me at 3000fps when they're passing 200-300 yards spraying dirt and making a wonderful popping noise out there. LOL
The 190gr A-Tip will still do 2940fps and get way the hell out there. I'm running a 26" barrel so I can get the speeds up fairly high with a heavy bullet. The BC of that bullet is confirmed as advertised at a G1 of around .830.
The 180gr ELD-M's are a great choice for me also, but I've had a couple blow up on me at 3000fps when they're passing 200-300 yards spraying dirt and making a wonderful popping noise out there. LOL
hornady 300 win mag in match edition is 178 gr.....a lighter bullet than most hunting rounds from the factory . I have yet to try them at 300 yard steel ,they sure have much less recoil than a 220 gr.
I do not nor is it ported this is my decades old hunting rifle while i stopped hunting i decided to pull it out and start to give it range use . It is a slow transformation from stalker to gentleman plinker , if all i am going to shoot is ELD at 300 yard steel i have no need to calm it now using the mild match ammo . Besides, i still get a thrill drawing a crowd of .22 ar bois when i am using the cannon at the range .
