Shooting over a body of water?

[Hollywood]

What if any does shooting over a large body of water have for an effect on a bullet? My range at home depending on what distance I plane to shoot at (100, 200, 300) has a pond that must be shot over. Anywhere from 50-100yds worth of water must be crossed by the bullet. Temp of water vs ground and relationship of air temp to both.

 

[Raythemanroe]

I don't know, I use to shoot snapping turtles at about 300y with no difference in point of impact. They would climb up old stumps and sun them selves, exact impact was hard to tell because you would just get a large orange flash when you squeezed the trigger.

Only correlation between golf and a good range is a golf course is a waste of a good range..

Ray

 

[Joe Salt]

Our 1000 yard range has a big pond about half way out, I think that is one reason its the toughest ranges in the Country to shoot at! We have wind flags before the pond and after, but I've seen them in different direction on days. A small pond may not hurt you. But the biggest reason is its like a big open field the wind can do some strange things. Oh and some days if the air is cold and the pond is warm. You get fog till the ground warms.

Joe Salt

 

[Bryan Litz Ballistics]

If more than 1/2 of the trajectory has water under it, you're better off loading the bullets backwards; you know; with the boat tail in front. Gets over water better. Back your load off a few grains if it's high tide.

For real though, no significant trajectory effect shooting over water.

-Bryan

 

[watercam]

Bryan is also comedian as well! Nice.

 

[Sniper338]

I just saw this but yeah I havent seen any type of different when Ive done it. Hits right where I am. Humidity that is put of over the water doesnt change trajectory enough to even try to worry about.

 

[XTR]

I think a lot of the "bullets fall faster over water" myth is from Joe Average who has no real understanding of long range ballistics trying to shoot at something across a pond at a woefully underestimated range and seeing his impact splash.

 

[Joe Salt]

Bryan You have shot at Williamsport so what else would cause our wind problems? Cause I have yet to see anyone that could read it right.

Joe Salt

 

[Hollywood]

If more than 1/2 of the trajectory has water under it, you're better off loading the bullets backwards; you know; with the boat tail in front. Gets over water better. Back your load off a few grains if it's high tide.

For real though, no significant trajectory effect shooting over water.

-Bryan

So I hear your new hobby is building VLD cigarette boats.

Thanks for for the info. Good to know I am not adding another variable to consider.

 

[dmoran]

Shooting over water can be an advantage, less mirage.

 

[Bryan Litz Ballistics]

Joe, I think its just the terrain. pond or no pond there's a lot of hills and valleys and trees on that range. I think that's what makes it difficult.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Ask any pilot thats flown into little rock national airport on the short runway. The arkansas river runs right up next to the end of it. As youre coming in to land over the river when you get over land you fall at least 100' instantly

 

[Joe Salt]

WE CAN'T SHOOT TRACERS, BUT WATCHING THE VAPOR TRAIL OF THE BULLETS IT SEEM TO HAVE SOME EFFECT AT THAT POINT. AND BRYAN YOU'RE TELLING ME THE BULLETS AREN'T SUPPOSE TO GO IN THE CASE POINT FIRST, THEY SEAT A LOT NICER THAT WAY! DAMN I'VE BEEN DOING SOMETHING WRONG. I COULD SEE THE LANDS MARKS A LOT BETTER THAT WAY. DUSTY I KNOW A PILOT I'LL ASK HIM.

JOE SALT

 

[Hollywood]

Ask any pilot thats flown into little rock national airport on the short runway. The arkansas river runs right up next to the end of it. As youre coming in to land over the river when you get over land you fall at least 100' instantly

Asked a friend who is a pilot for a private jet company his opinion and this is it.

Water and ice radiate far less heat than land. Asphalt radiates a lot more heat than grass. On a hot sunny day the air is all churned up with rising and falling air currents. That's why you see more thunderstorms in the summer (and bigger ones in the South) than you do in the winter and the North. Those same air currents, AKA thermals, are what makes the air more turbulent. How it affects a small projectile which is in a constant state of free fall versus an airplane which is not, I don't know. I would suspect that on a really long shot, like 1000+ yards, it might make a big difference. That said, it's the variation of the surface that's the issue. A projectile shot over water should be more consistent than one shot over land due to the uniformity, barring any strong wind currents. As far as general trajectory, I would be surprised if there was any real measurable difference.

That's my semi-educated understanding of it. Make sense?

 

[barefooter56]

Bryan,
Henny Youngman would be proud...