Ballistic Coefficient of Wolf 7.62x39?

[benEzra]

I downloaded a nifty ballistics program for the Palm, but it needs to know the ballistic coefficient and doesn't have a load database. Does anybody know what the ballistic coefficients of Wolf 123-gr FMJ and 122-gr JHP are, as well as Remington 55-gr .223 JHP? Thanks!

 

[CB900F]

Ben;

First of all, B/C is a moveable feast, not a constant. Second, without extensive testing on the exact bullet, any other number is a derived guess.

So, not having a ballistics lab of my very own to test these Russian bullets in, I'm gonna take a look at a couple of reloading manuals, Speer #13 & Hornady #6, and guess.

The .30 cal AK is probably gonna run around the high .2's to .3. The 55 grain Remington will most likely go .21 to .23.

And there you have it sportsfans, a semi-literated guess. Just (barely) this side of a W.A.G. but ya gotta play the hand yer dealt.

900F

 

[Gewehr98]

BenEzra, could you point me to where that Palm software is?

My Samsung cell phone is a Palm OS handheld, too. I'd love to have a BC program to work with while my wife shops for clothes...

 

[benEzra]

Here's the one I'm using, Ballistics! by Mike Finch:

http://www.geocities.com/mikefinch24060/ballistics/ballistics.zip

There are others. I'm using a Palm VIIx and this is freeware.

CB900F, thanks for the info! That at least gives me a ballpark figure.

 

[jtv3062]

http://www.handloads.com/calc/ i hope this helps

 

[benEzra]

Thanks. For a .311-inch 122-grain bullet, I get about 0.3 for a spitzer and 0.35 for a boattail. I pulled a round just now and the Wolf 122-gr is sort of a semi-boattail, so I'll guesstimate 0.33 or so.

BTW, I think I see one reason why Wolf ammunition isn't the most accurate ammo on the planet. The cannelure isn't a clean, shallow indentation like you usually see; rather, the bullet actually looks a bit wasp-waisted (the cannelure is almost the same radius as the boattail) due to having been apparently squashed around the middle. Great from a reliability standpoint--you'd need a hammer to cause setback problems--but probably less accurate than a smoother profile. Also had to whale on the bullet puller to get it loose; that case did NOT want to let go (steel case +, deep cannelure = sure grip!).

 

[Gewehr98]

That's probably a good reason why my own 7.62x39 handloads...

Are so much more accurate in my two AK's and two SKS rifles than the crappy Wolf fodder. I never thought to dissect a Wolf round or two and take a good look at them.

 

[R.W.Dale]

I wouldn't say that wolf is inaccurate. This photo shows a 100yd group I fired through my CZ527 using wolf 154gr 7.62x39 chronyed at 2184 fps.I cannot beat this load accuracy or velocity wise by handloading

 

[Gewehr98]

You can do that. You're shooting a CZ bolt gun.

Your rifle happens to like the stuff. I'd be interested to see how a quality handload would tighten it up even more.

However, I will still say Wolf is inaccurate, in my own rifles. I can group inside of 2" at 100 yards with my Bulgarian SLR-95 AK clone using my handloads, and that's with the rudimentary iron sights as delivered on the gun. There's no way on Gawd's green earth I can get inside of 3.5" - 4.0" with steel-cased Wolf in that same rifle.

My Romanian SAR-1 exhibits the same tendencies.

Your mileage may vary, of course.

 

[R.W.Dale]

Your rifle happens to like the stuff. I'd be interested to see how a quality handload would tighten it up even more.

However, I will still say Wolf is inaccurate, in my own rifles. I can group inside of 2" at 100 yards with my Bulgarian SLR-95 AK clone using my handloads, and that's with the rudimentary iron sights as delivered on the gun. There's no way on Gawd's green earth I can get inside of 3.5" - 4.0" with steel-cased Wolf in that same rifle.

My Romanian SAR-1 exhibits the same tendencies.

Your mileage may vary, of course.

The best group I've fired using Seirra .311 sp measured .689 at 2100 fps. Like I said I cannot beat the wolf 154gr load with handloads, in a way it just doesn't seem right.

 

[benEzra]

Put the pulled bullet on the scanner in hopes that it would show the cannelure. It's a little out of focus, but you can sort of get an idea. Like I said, the cannelure is squashed into the bullet almost to the same radius as the boattail, though that's a tad hard to see in the photo.

Sorry about all the glare, but I wasn't about to get all that case lube/powder residue on my scanner (bullet is between a folded sheet of Saran Wrap).

 

[jtv3062]

the ak isnt the most accurate rifle design but 2" at 100 yrds is pretty good. whats usgi specs on a m 16 somthing like 2"-3" at 100 yrds

 

[Coronach]

2" at 100 yards translates into, roughly, 2 MOA. That is not at all bad for combat weapon. For an AK, that's pretty good indeed.

Mike

 

[Gewehr98]

Yes, I think it's phenomenal for the platform.

For an AK, that's pretty good indeed.

I just wish I had the forethought to buy more of those SLR-95's when they were selling for $219.95 back in the day.