Curious about your thoughts

[Oldcoyotetrapper]

I’d really like to hear your thoughts on BC or ballistic coefficient. I don’t reload as I don’t see a need for it,in my business if i can hold .5 to .75 moa that’s plenty good. Cause I don’t believe i could shoot better. I hear horror stories about Hornady factory loads, tho i personally haven’t experienced any issue. So to my question, how big of a factor is a high BC, when it comes to flat shooting. I understand the preverbal need for speed, I shot a 22-250 50 grain v max for a long time enough to rebarrel twice. That said my 22 arc makes it look like a 22 LR. Also my 6mm arc has quite a fur hold, even though it’s fairly weak on the muzzle velocity side of life. This isn’t a stoke the fire post, its an honest question, has any one tested this theory or have any kind of logical explanation. Or completely disagree, I do plan on running some test myself but most likely be springtime before i can. Thanks for any input.

 

[old cat]

IMO I pay no attention to BC I don't shoot 1000 to 500 yards. Ilike the fastest load I can find . For me if it is not 3000fps I am not interested. To many guys are shooting 50gr vmax as far as 400 yards. I could run the as fast as 4000 fps in 220 swift or 22-250 no one I know has any trouble killing coyotes with them. I would continue with them, I like a known killer.

 

[22magnum22]

I don't use anything other than Hornady factory loads, 223 55gr vmax and 243 87gr vmax. I have never been disappointed with the results on coyotes or hogs.
If what you are using accomplishes the task at hand, don't try to fix what ain't broken!

 

[bohunr]

i use federal factory 53 grain v-max out of a wilson combat 20" super sniper barrel (heavy barrel, suppressed) on my AR chambered in 223 wylde.

when i do my part from the bench it shoots 1/2 groups (3 shot)

 

[AWS]

I don't use any factory ammo. I also don't shoot long range. Most of the stuff I reload are flat base hollow points. So BC doesn't mean a lot to me.

 

[crapshoot]

For most calling situations I'd say BC doesn't matter with the exception of those hunting areas with longer shots (400+ yrds) especially in windy conditions. YMMV and just my opinion.

 

[Oldcoyotetrapper]

Thanks for the responses. While I really don’t hunt anything long range. My furthest coyote was 420 and next was a little past 200. Average though is 50-80 probably there abouts. I do like to stretch my shots when I’m out on other targets, I think this helps with the closer shots. If you can consistently shoot distance those 80 yard are chip shots. I’m amazed that a slower velocity round out performs a burner round. Kinda like to understand this a little more.

 

[DoubleLungRage]

I don't know if it's a fair comparison because it's two different calibers, but I posted a while back about a video where the creator showed side by side comparison of a 5.56 and a 6mm arc. The 6mm arc was a LOT easier to shoot out pas 700, if I recall?

I think that the 6.5CM is a good example. Look at how easy it is to shoot at longer distances. IMO that's why it became so popular, not just marketing.

Since you want to do your own testing. Wouldn't a 6mm arc vs 243 or 22 arc vs 22-250 be fair? Just take both out at the same time (same conditions) and see which is easier to shoot, the older "traditional" bullets or the newer high BC bullets.

 

[SupressYourself]

BC means very little until you hit 300-400 yards. It becomes increasingly more important the farther out you go. At a certain distance, a higher BC bullet shot at a lower muzzle velocity will start to "shoot flatter" than a lower BC bullet shot at a higher MV. And of course the higher BC bullet has less wind deflection the whole way.
You don't really need to do any testing. You could use the Hornady ballistic calculator on their web site. Plug in the values and compare drop and wind deflection out to 1000 yards.
@Oldcoyotetrapper considering your relatively short-range shooting, I wouldn't give it a second thought.

 

[popper43]

As all bullets have a curved trajectory that depends on FPS and BC. In 22cal, not much difference. In 30 cal, yup. If you are asking if high BC bullets are worth the cost, buy some and try them. There will be a difference in POI @ 50 and farther distance, can you compensate on the fly? My cast 308W has a 6" drop over factory 'hog' bullets @ 200 yds. Difference between lower BC and 2400 vs 2600 fps.

 

[Oldcoyotetrapper]

I don't know if it's a fair comparison because it's two different calibers, but I posted a while back about a video where the creator showed side by side comparison of a 5.56 and a 6mm arc. The 6mm arc was a LOT easier to shoot out pas 700, if I recall?

I think that the 6.5CM is a good example. Look at how easy it is to shoot at longer distances. IMO that's why it became so popular, not just marketing.

Since you want to do your own testing. Wouldn't a 6mm arc vs 243 or 22 arc vs 22-250 be fair? Just take both out at the same time (same conditions) and see which is easier to shoot, the older "traditional" bullets or the newer high BC bullets.

That’s a good idea. Try and keep it as close to apples to apples as I can.

 

[derbyacresbob]

I have to shoot Lead Free bullets so I don't even think about the BC.

 

[DoubleLungRage]

I have to shoot Lead Free bullets so I don't even think about the BC.

That's not always a bad thing. Those Barnes penetrate well.

 

[Oldcoyotetrapper]

As all bullets have a curved trajectory that depends on FPS and BC. In 22cal, not much difference. In 30 cal, yup. If you are asking if high BC bullets are worth the cost, buy some and try them. There will be a difference in POI @ 50 and farther distance, can you compensate on the fly? My cast 308W has a 6" drop over factory 'hog' bullets @ 200 yds. Difference between lower BC and 2400 vs 2600 fps.

Yep I I know the 22arc well out performs 22-250. And at 12 grains heavier and I believe less case capacity.

 

[Oldcoyotetrapper]

I have to shoot Lead Free bullets so I don't even think about the BC.

Sure is Interesting the different regs between states

 

[DoubleLungRage]

Sure is Interesting the different regs between states

Not to high-jack your thread, but that's one good thing about a "national" forum. I've learned a lot about Western hunting and how different it is than Eastern hunting. Also, as you said, I've learned about how a lot of states' laws may totally be the opposite of other states. I guess that shows you how vastly different habitat is throughout the US.

 

[spotstalkshoot]

Even though the 62 VT has a higher BC than a 50 gr vm, the 22-250 is MUCH flatter shooting out to 300 yards(well past most real world coyote shots, that actually hit a coyote) than the 22arc with the 62. Even Hornady's factory ammo calculator will show the facts. Keep optic height above center of bore the same and you will see almost 3" less drop at 300 yards with the 22-250.

 

[derbyacresbob]

That's not always a bad thing. Those Barnes penetrate well.

I don't use the copper big game bullets on ground squirrels or coyotes. I use the Barnes Varmint Grenades, MPG bullets and Hornady NTX and Nosler BT Lead Free Varmint bullets out of my 22 cal and 6mm's.

The Lead Free varmint bullets are way cheaper to buy than the copper big game bullets are. The 243 copper bullets are 82 cents per bullet and 62 gr VG 243 Varmint bullets are 36 cents per bullet.

 

[Murl B]

For every Coyote that's killed over 200 yards there are 500 killed inside 200 yards, it's a hell of a lot harder to call in Coyotes than it is to shoot them no matter what you use. Murl B.

 

[Oldcoyotetrapper]

Even though the 62 VT has a higher BC than a 50 gr vm, the 22-250 is MUCH flatter shooting out to 300 yards(well past most real world coyote shots, that actually hit a coyote) than the 22arc with the 62. Even Hornady's factory ammo calculator will show the facts. Keep optic height above center of bore the same and you will see almost 3" less drop at 300 yards with the 22-250.

That’s exactly what I’m talking about,but the 22-250 isn’t flatter. Unless I’m completely missing something. Which I maybe just not sure what it is.