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Posted: 9/8/2009 8:15:05 AM EDT
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I was looking over several ballistic charts in regards to sighting in my rifle. I sighted it in at 50 yds and was curious if that was more useful that 25yds, yadda yadda. Upon looking at the charts, it appeared that lighter, faster loads, like the XM193, don't drop as fast as heavier rounds and therefore have a longer range. For whatever reason, I was previously under the impression that the heavier the round, the slower it was, but it had a slower drop over the distance travelled due to it retaining its energy better, giving it a longer range. Can someone explain this to me to clear up my confusion?
For a completely different question, I was out shooting yesterday, sighting in my irons. I used three different loads: Winchester 5.56 55-gr, Federal .223 55-gr, and Wolf Gold Match 75-gr .223 (brass cased, BTJHP - exact same round as PPU 75-gr Match). Out of all of them, the Wolf Gold shot the best. It cycled MUCH smoother and had significantly less of the "brisk" recoil found with the Federal (not that there's much recoil whatsoever with an AR, but it was noticeably less). Why is this? Is it the heavier round? A cooler/hotter powder load? I apologize for my noobishness. Thanks and regards... |
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Quoted:
I was looking over several ballistic charts in regards to sighting in my rifle. I sighted it in at 50 yds and was curious if that was more useful that 25yds, yadda yadda. Upon looking at the charts, it appeared that lighter, faster loads, like the XM193, don't drop as fast as heavier rounds and therefore have a longer range. For whatever reason, I was previously under the impression that the heavier the round, the slower it was, but it had a slower drop over the distance travelled due to it retaining its energy better, giving it a longer range. Can someone explain this to me to clear up my confusion? For a completely different question, I was out shooting yesterday, sighting in my irons. I used three different loads: Winchester 5.56 55-gr, Federal .223 55-gr, and Wolf Gold Match 75-gr .223 (brass cased, BTJHP - exact same round as PPU 75-gr Match). Out of all of them, the Wolf Gold shot the best. It cycled MUCH smoother and had significantly less of the "brisk" recoil found with the Federal (not that there's much recoil whatsoever with an AR, but it was noticeably less). Why is this? Is it the heavier round? A cooler/hotter powder load? I apologize for my noobishness. Thanks and regards... Bullets that are heavy generally have a good BC. They start out slower with worse drop and drift untill the light fast bullet with poor BC slows down more quickly. At this point the high BC bullet will actually pass the light bullet, be faster, and end up dropping less. The better BC bullet also has less drift even before it has less drop. So yes at long range heavier bullets are better because they are resisting wind better and are moving faster as well. High BC bullets that are heavier are usually only better beyond say 300-400 yards or so. At 100 and less yards speed is really all that matters. A great BC and low velocity still means more drop and drift out to 100... but past that its velocity drops so off fast a heaveri, slower round that retains velocity and bucks wind better makes more and more sense as range increases. Winchester 5.56 pressure ammo is 5.56 pressure. Wolf Match is not a hot loaded round and its a match grade bullet. It will have less recoil and more accruacy vs. Winchester Q3131 or similar every time. |
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