Where does the term "flat-shooting" come from?

[Wannashootit]

As we (sons and I) are shooting at longer ranges, I've been reading up on external ballistics. The term "flat-shooting" gets used alot, when discussing long-range capable calibers.

Since the parabolic flight of a bullet is due to the angle of the bore, how can one caliber be "flatter shooting" than another?
I can easily understand how one <span style="font-style: italic">bullet</span> can be "flatter-shooting" than another, due to it's B.C.

I can easily understand how more velocity= less time to target= "flatter" flight path. But the term seems to be used in other contexts.

What exactly constitutes a "flat-shooting" caliber?

 

[fox5]

Re: Where does the term "flat-shooting" come from?

You're on the right track, more velocity, more distance covered in the same amount of time versus a slower traveling bullet

 

[Mike]

Re: Where does the term "flat-shooting" come from?

Think of it like a football pass. Some quarterbacks can throw the ball faster and harder than others. The ball flight will be flatter for the stronger quarterback.

Same physics on a much slower scale.

 

[bone collector]

Re: Where does the term "flat-shooting" come from?


It's referring to the path of the bullet or trajectory. A large slow moving bullet may have the trajectory of a rainbow and a smaller fast moving bullet most likly will be a much flatter shooting bullet and have a flatter trajectory.

 

[AXEMAN]

Re: Where does the term "flat-shooting" come from?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: bone collector</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
It's referring to the path of the bullet or trajectory. A large slow moving bullet may have the trajectory of a rainbow and a smaller fast moving bullet most likly will be a much flatter shooting bullet and have a flatter trajectory. </div></div>

i remember the movie Tom Horn. he referred to the trajectory of the 45-70 as being like a rainbow.

 

[scotharr]

Re: Where does the term "flat-shooting" come from?

Maximum point blank range is one illustration of flat shooting. When hunting, for example, what is the maximum range during which the bullet flight will stay within + or - 3 inches? "Flatter" shooting cartridges will have a great max. pt. blank range (MPBR). More aerodynamic bullets launched at higher muzzle velocities have great MPBR: it's that simple.

 

[slg888]

Re: Where does the term "flat-shooting" come from?

In 1962, Al Lickertwat accidentally drove over his rifle and flattened it. Even though the rifle was smashed, Al and his friends were able to shoot a 1/2" group at 100 yds.

"Flat shooting" came from this incident of a flat smashed rifle.

Friends....(Mary Juanna, Bell E. Flopp and Max E.Padd) all take credit for the term "flat shooting".

 

[Wannashootit]

Re: Where does the term "flat-shooting" come from?

I get the basic concept, thanks.

Just trying to understand how the two main varaibles interact, depending on the distance being covered.

A .223 can have a mv of over 3,700 fps, but with a small bullet having a comparatively "lousy" bc. At shorter ranges, this load might be "flatter-shooting" than a .308 round at 2600-2800 fps using a bullet with a much higher bc?

At some distance, the lower bc of the .223 will result in faster velocity drop (and bullet drop) and the .308 takes over in "flat-shooting", right?

Like I said, need to do some reading

 

[XTR]

Re: Where does the term "flat-shooting" come from?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Wannashootit</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I get the basic concept, thanks.

Just trying to understand how the two main varaibles interact, depending on the distance being covered.

A .223 can have a mv of over 3,700 fps, but with a small bullet having a comparatively "lousy" bc. At shorter ranges, this load might be "flatter-shooting" than a .308 round at 2600-2800 fps using a bullet with a much higher bc?

At some distance, the lower bc of the .223 will result in faster velocity drop (and bullet drop) and the .308 takes over in "flat-shooting", right?

Like I said, need to do some reading

</div></div>

Dude, you are putting way too much thought into this. A 30-30 is not a flat shooter, a .223, or a 7mm Mag, or a 6.5 or a 300 WM is.

 

[colt933]

Re: Where does the term "flat-shooting" come from?

Gravity is constant.

So the lower the flight time the less gravity will affect the path of the projectile.

Higher retained velocity = less flight time = less drop.

So at a given range, the round that has the lowest flight time has less drop and is thus the flatter shooting round.

This can be achieved by higher muzzle velocity, higher ballistic coefficient of the projectile, or both.

55gr .223 Rem loads have a high muzzle velocity compared with the big 80gr match bullets. But the 55gr bullet slows down quickly and the 80gr match bullet with its high ballistic coefficient retains its velocity better, and catches up and passes the 55gr bullet. So at 600 meters, the 80gr load is flatter shooting even though its initial velocity is less.

 

[bone collector]

Re: Where does the term "flat-shooting" come from?


AXEMAN

Good referance. Good movie too

 

[Barikade]

Re: Where does the term "flat-shooting" come from?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: colt933</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Gravity is constant.

So the lower the flight time the less gravity will affect the path of the projectile.

Higher retained velocity = less flight time = less drop.

So at a given range, the round that has the lowest flight time has less drop and is thus the flatter shooting round.

This can be achieved by higher muzzle velocity, higher ballistic coefficient of the projectile, or both.

55gr .223 Rem loads have a high muzzle velocity compared with the big 80gr match bullets. But the 55gr bullet slows down quickly and the 80gr match bullet with its high ballistic coefficient retains its velocity better, and catches up and passes the 55gr bullet. So at 600 meters, the 80gr load is flatter shooting even though its initial velocity is less. </div></div>

^^ well said, its about time to target. As far as flatter shooting calibers, what that is about is typically going to be the overbore ratio, (case capacity to bore diameter) as in, the ability to not only achieve higher velocities but shoot longer bullets that occupy a larger portion of case capacity, still having case capacity to push the round hard. Try not to get absorbed in velocity differentials at longer ranges if your focus is trajectory. A 300 win mag may only have 75 fps at 1000 yards on a .308 with a tyical BC, but its trajectory will be counter-intuitively better throughout.