Comparing bullet drop of different calibers.

[asmith5144]

I have been trying to compare the bullet drop differences between different calibers on my Ballistics AE app on my iPhone but the muzzle velocity is of course required for each round in order to calculate the correct ballistics. I was wondering if there is a location that I could research in order to find these MV's for different rounds? Or would some of you guys care to share some of the average MV'S that you have seen from your own experience with your current calibers being used.
I have been thinking of changing calibers recently but I am not sure what caliber I want to go with. I would like to reach distances of around 1000yds or better and eventually do so in competitions.

 

[arborpro]

Re: Comparing bullet drop of different calibers.

Look at some loading manuals. or use the sniper hide search engine for caliber loads.

Arborpro

 

[Mod Adahy]

Re: Comparing bullet drop of different calibers.

Here is a start. 6.5-06 130 berger at 3260, 6.5x47L with 130 JLK at 2960, 6.5x47L with 123 Scenar at 3060, 308 175 SMK at 2550 and 338 EDGE with 285 Hornady at 3000. Good luck and what caliber are you shooting now?

 

[CoryT]

Re: Comparing bullet drop of different calibers.

Thing is, bullet drop is the least of your problems. Drop is very predictable and good laser rangefinders make an accurate range simple. The real problem is wind. For that, you want a very high BC bullet driven as fast as possible.

Other things to think about are barrel life, case and bullet availability, weight and length, as well as a suitable rifle in that caliber.

All of these are actually much more important than drop.

 

[BusterB]

Re: Comparing bullet drop of different calibers.

I second the loading manual idea. If you don't have access to one hodgdon and vihtavouri both have easy to use online data resources
http://data.hodgdon.com/main_menu.asp
http://www.lapua.com/en/products/reloading/vihtavuori-reloading-data

 

[asmith5144]

Re: Comparing bullet drop of different calibers.

Thanks for the input arbor. I am currently attempting to get set up for reloading so one of my first purchases will be a reloading manual.

 

[asmith5144]

Re: Comparing bullet drop of different calibers.

Azprc, thanks for the help. Currently I am shooting a Savage 10 FP in .308
I am very happy with the .308 and my Savage but I've been thinking that maybe it's time for a new rifle so I've been considering all the options. I know from here on the "hide" that the smaller calibers are very effective and accurate but I don't want to rule out some of the larger caliber rifle platforms.

 

[asmith5144]

Re: Comparing bullet drop of different calibers.

Cory, thanks for the great input. I really had not been thinking about BC's. That really makes a lot of sense. Is that why the smaller calibers (6.5 etc.) are so effective at long ranges, high BC moving at a high rate of speed?

 

[asmith5144]

Re: Comparing bullet drop of different calibers.

I don't have a loading manual yet but I'll check out these online versions right now. Thanks Buster!

 

[jbailey]

Re: Comparing bullet drop of different calibers.

Asmith5144-

You need to get the book Applied Ballistics for Long Range Shooting: http://www.appliedballisticsllc.com/Book.htm

You will learn more about ballistics than you want to know. You will learn all about BCs, velocity and drops, plus you will get a huge reference guide covering literal hundreds of different bullets from all manufacturers and all calibers. Yes the book is expensive, but it might be the best $50 you ever spend on shooting. Knowledge is power.

 

[asmith5144]

Re: Comparing bullet drop of different calibers.

Thanks for the heads up James. I'm headed to the link you posted right now.

 

[KYpatriot]

Re: Comparing bullet drop of different calibers.

JB has some good advice - money for that book is well spent. I use the shooter app and ballistic FTE on my iphone and the ballisticFTE app will allow you to directly compare loads like you are wanting to do. You can pull up factory load ballistic data for everything from 17HMR to 50BMG, with LOTs of different bullets. It even suggests which bullets are best for flatness, wind drift, and energy.

Definetely buy the realoading manual (or several so you can compare) and Litz's book so you understand the how and why. But Ballistic FTE has the ballistic data you are looking for in a great format.

 

[Outerspace]

Re: Comparing bullet drop of different calibers.

Federal Ammo website has tons of such data, don't know if you can download it, but the website has lots of charting features.