Velocity and ballistic coefficient buy you windage, not "flat shooting" when the ranges are long.
Wrong - it "buys" you both..
I see what the OP is getting at even though it's a bit of an open ender. I would love to learn more about all the different rifle calibers and what they do well, and not so well, and at what ranges-also from least to most powerful, generally speaking. I wonder where I could find a list like this, preferably all in one place? Im sure there's a book out there, can anyone suggest a title?
PM me if this constitutes a hijack.
Although it is the case with many rounds, with one example being the 6.5x284, I don't think it to always be the case.Pretty much anything that is a barrel burner cartridge since it'll go farther without dropping. As with everything, there are trade-offs.
ThanksSee post #25. I provided a link to a non-exhaustive list of cartridges providing their Maximum Point Blank Range and mid trajectory stats. It's a good place to start. For something more encompassing, Cartridges of the World, available online.
I ran the ballistics on two .308 F-T/R loads I have used.
The 175 gr SMK at 2654 fps actual from my rifle has about two FEET more "drop" at 1000 yards than the 155 gr Palma at 2850. So the lighter faster bullet shoots "flatter" all right.
But it has about one INCH less wind deflection. So the "flatter" trajectory shoots a tiny bit closer to the wind, too. Hard to spot at 1000.
And the 175 groups a little better in my rifle.
If someone knows of something "flatter", please post the MV and bullet BC here, so we can calculate and see what we come up with.
You said it much more effectively than I did DZ. Thanks.The only two things you need to know if you want to compute "flatness" of trajectory and wind drift is, 1) velocity and, 2) projectile BC (ballistic coefficient). Two projectiles leaving the muzzle at the same speed with identical BCs will have the exact same trajectory and same amount of wind drift. And, yes, I am not taking atmospheric conditions into account - this is if the 2 bullets are fired at the same time, at the same temperature and same atmospheric pressure.
That is why earlier in this thread I brought up the .338 Snipe-Tac; very high MV (3450) and very high BC bullet (.818 G1, Berger 300 OTM). I'm sure there is something flatter shooting than that, but I have not seen it yet. And, no, none of the Weatherby's, the 50BMG, 408 Chey-Tac or the flattest shooting factory 6.5mm (26 Nosler) will beat that.
If someone knows of something "flatter", please post the MV and bullet BC here, so we can calculate and see what we come up with.