You guys are thinking about it all wrong. The 120 really doesn't over take the 140. When shooting distance the drop doesn't matter as much as the wind drift. As long as you know the distance you can dial, the wind is the only thing that's not a constant in this equation, its the only thing we can't control 100% and that's what hurts our end results. If you look at all the long Range comp disciplines be it F-Class, BR,PRS or even ELR its always the wind that separates the winners from the losers not the bullet drop. Bottom line in long range less wind drift Trumps less drop
140 Berger @ 2785FPS @ 600 yards requires 1mil (22.26") of wind on a 10mph wind.
120Lapua @3010FPS @ 600 yards Requires 1.21mil (26.22") of wind on a 10mph wind
In your above example you have the 120gr Lapua beating out the 140 by 0.4mils (7.36") in less drop. But the 120gr Lapua is giving up 4" in wind drift to the 140 gr Berger at 600yds.
At 1000yds the 120 Lapua is giving up 15.88" of wind and and is only gaining 8.88" in less drop to the 140 Berger.
@1000yards 10mph wind;
140Berger 70.15" of wind
120Lapua 86.03" of wind
@1000yards Drop
140Berger 307.00"
120Lapua. 298.12"
Bottom line at the end of the day it's the wind that wins or looses matches most of the time. Now is that to say its just the better bullet that wins it, no not necessarily, you have to also know how to read wind but in most comps the people who are the best wind readers are shooting bullets that shoot the best in the wind and are less concerned with the drop because they know the wind is the one constant in this sport we can't control and is always changing.
On another point you have to remember this is on paper, in real life situations it seems that heavier bullets do buck wind better that lighter weight bullets with the same B.C. or better to a point. That has been my experience and others I have talked to.
This isn't directed at you whatsupdoc, I'm just using your example since you posted numbers.
On a side note I have shot a bunch of 130gr Norma Gold Target out of my Creedmoor and they shot great out to 1000yds. Would I choose them over the 140 Berger hybrid...no not at 600yrds and not at 1000yrds. I got a good deal on them when I first built my Creedmoor. do I still shoot them.. yes I have bout 1000 left and use them for practice and ringing steel. Will they work for what your doing yes I'm sure they would I just wanted to point out that they really don't beat out 140 Bergers or any other 140 with a good BC...at least not where it really counts.
If I was paying for Berger 140 and Berger 130 I would spend my money on the 140's, If I was getting a different brand 130 that was a good bullet at a better price would I shoot them maybe, but if I was serious about the comp I was doing I would defiantly go with the 140 Berger even if it cost a bit more.
Just a side note the 130gr Norma's where the same BC 0.583 as the 140gr Hornandy HPBT. I was able to shoot them in the same rifle without having to change my dope or POA with my two given loads.
