22 mag .

[rangerruck]

why doesn't a 30 grain or say a vmax tipped 33 grain, 22 mag bullet, which is almost as fast out of the muzzle as a 17 hmr, have better trajectory or inherrent accuracy than a 17 or even a 22 hornet? Or am i just promulgating a myth? if is twice as heavy as a 17 hmr, shouldn't it have better b.c. and s.d.? shouldn't these qualities make it more accurate, and with better trajectory?

 

[kory]

rangerruck,

Part of what give a bullet good BC is the shape. As a rule of thumb, if you have two bullets of the same weight,grain) the longer one will have a better BC because it is more aerodynamic -- that is, it flies better. This is just a rough rule of thumb as there are many variables that determine BC. That is why, for example, a Berger 35 grain 20 cal bullet will have better BC,BC=.191) than a Berger 35 grain 22 cal,BC=.136). The 22 cal bullet will be short and stubby as compared to the 20 cal.

This is what makes 20 cal cartridges so attractive. Low bullet weight means low recoil but high velocities, at the same time, the higher BC means they shoot flatter than the 22 cal counter part.

Regards,
Kory

 

[rangerruck]

thanks for that, a most excellent post. i allways assumed that bullet weight had more to do with b.c. than bullet shape, looks like i was wrong!