Why is the 204 better in wind than the 223?

KDX

KDX

New member
I read this comment on another thread and asked why but never received a response so I figured I would start a thread on it to find out why.
 
Wind drift is a product of two things: BC of the bullet and time in flight. The less time the bullet spends out in the wind, the less wind-drift there will be.

The .204 just doesn't spend a lot of time between the muzzle and the target.
 
In a 300 yard shot (900 feet) would there be that much difference with say a 10mph cross wind? It's less than 1/2 second flight time.
 
a 300 yard shot with a federal 39g. (sierra BK) factory load has a .289 second flighttime. also has a 2.8 moa (8.79") shift with a 10mph (90 degree) wind.

a 300 yard shot with a hornady 32g (vmax) factory load has a .268 second flight time and a 3.2 (10.0") moa shift with the same wind.

So heavier/higher bc bullet, longer flight time but less wind shift. Lighter/lwer bc bullet, shorter flightime but more windshift.

accrding to jbm, sierra, and hornady webpages....
 
BC rules. Period!
Time in flight is not as important as the difference between muzzle velocity and terminal velocity.
If you look at the basic equation for wind drift it becomes obvious.

Jack
 
Love my 204, have shot several yotes with it. I think I like it better then my 22-250. less recoil and I like watching them flip in the scope.
 
Quote:
BC rules. Period!
Time in flight is not as important as the difference between muzzle velocity and terminal velocity.
If you look at the basic equation for wind drift it becomes obvious.

Jack


OK. I'm not trying to be a jerk here, just to find out if people are telling the truth or just repeating what they have heard. Personally, I use Hornady 52gr Match HPBT bullets in my .223 that have a BC of 0.229. The 32gr V-Max (for the 204) has a BC of 0.210 and the 40gr V-Max has a BC of 0.275. If someone is using the 32gr V-Max and tells me it's better in the wind they are full of BS and if someone is shooting the 40gr V-Max and they tell me it is better in the wind than my .223 they are right? Thanks in advance.
 
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Got a buddy that's shooting an XP-100 handgun with a 200 gr. .8 BC bullet @ 2700 mv. He beats a 300 Magnum shooting the 180 Accubond at 400 fps faster right out of the box for windage, and takes over for energy and velocity beyond something like 400 yds. or so. BC beats velocity hands down.
 
Quote:
Quote:
BC rules. Period!
Time in flight is not as important as the difference between muzzle velocity and terminal velocity.
If you look at the basic equation for wind drift it becomes obvious.

Jack


OK. I'm not trying to be a jerk here, just to find out if people are telling the truth or just repeating what they have heard. Personally, I use Hornady 52gr Match HPBT bullets in my .223 that have a BC of 0.229. The 32gr V-Max (for the 204) has a BC of 0.210 and the 40gr V-Max has a BC of 0.275. If someone is using the 32gr V-Max and tells me it's better in the wind they are full of BS and if someone is shooting the 40gr V-Max and they tell me it is better in the wind than my .223 they are right? Thanks in advance.



Here's what I come up with on a ballistic program.


.223 w/52gr HPBT @ 3100fps @ 70 deg drops 4.1 MOA @ 300yds and w/a 10mph cross wind, takes 3.9 MOA.

.223 w/52gr HPBT @ 3200fps @ 70 deg drops 3.8 MOA @ 300yds and w/a 10mph cross wind, takes 3.8 MOA.

.204 w/32gr Vmax @ 4000fps @ 70 deg drops 2.1 MOA @ 300yds and w/a 10mph cross wind, takes 3.1 MOA.

.204 w/39gr Blitzking @ 3800fps @ 70 deg drops 2.1 MOA @ 300yds and w/a 10mph cross wind, takes 2.3 MOA.

The .204 is better in the wind then the .223 with the bullet you stated. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

Now, if we used a different bullet in the .223 like a 75gr Amax it's better in the wind.

.223 w/75Amax @ 2850 @ 70 deg drops 4.0 MOA @ 300yds and w/a 10mph cross wind, takes 2.1 MOA.
 
Here is a simple way to get a clear idea of ballistics. Any two projectiles, regardless of diameter or weight, with the same BC will follow the same path when fired at the same velocities.

You will either have to speed one up or increase the BC of one for there to be a difference.

Now out to about 250-350 yards, all these numbers are moot when shooting at coyotes. At the longer ranges that few are capable of hitting a live target in the fields, the higher the BC, the better off you will be up to a point. Velocity, time of flight will play a role also.
 
When you are talking about . whatever that is not enough difference for much to me at all. Vel will rule up to a point and then BC takes over. In calling most 100 yd shots are long much less a 300 one. Calling is to get them in close so long shots are not to be needed to me.
 
You quibbling over hundreths of an inch,as I recall a yote has a kill zone of about four inches.Acouple hundreths of an inchis not going to matter if you can hit that four inch sweet spot.
 
I have a .223. Rem 700. It is my favorite rifle. I am seriously considering a .204. I have never even fired one, but have heard so many good things about it that I may get one. Mainly for the exit wound, or lack of. Is the .204 really that much nicer to our little friends hides? Sorry for the hijack.
 
Thanks for all the info guys. Very interesting and informative. I guess when most shots are at 100 yards or under it really becomes an issue of burning less powder, less recoil and the possibility of not making a exit wound. I'll probably use mine for wolves also so the .223 is good for me.
 
Quote:
Quote:
Quote:
BC rules. Period!
Time in flight is not as important as the difference between muzzle velocity and terminal velocity.
If you look at the basic equation for wind drift it becomes obvious.

Jack


OK. I'm not trying to be a jerk here, just to find out if people are telling the truth or just repeating what they have heard. Personally, I use Hornady 52gr Match HPBT bullets in my .223 that have a BC of 0.229. The 32gr V-Max (for the 204) has a BC of 0.210 and the 40gr V-Max has a BC of 0.275. If someone is using the 32gr V-Max and tells me it's better in the wind they are full of BS and if someone is shooting the 40gr V-Max and they tell me it is better in the wind than my .223 they are right? Thanks in advance.



Here's what I come up with on a ballistic program.


.223 w/52gr HPBT @ 3100fps @ 70 deg drops 4.1 MOA @ 300yds and w/a 10mph cross wind, takes 3.9 MOA.

.223 w/52gr HPBT @ 3200fps @ 70 deg drops 3.8 MOA @ 300yds and w/a 10mph cross wind, takes 3.8 MOA.

.204 w/32gr Vmax @ 4000fps @ 70 deg drops 2.1 MOA @ 300yds and w/a 10mph cross wind, takes 3.1 MOA.

.204 w/39gr Blitzking @ 3800fps @ 70 deg drops 2.1 MOA @ 300yds and w/a 10mph cross wind, takes 2.3 MOA.

The .204 is better in the wind then the .223 with the bullet you stated. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

Now, if we used a different bullet in the .223 like a 75gr Amax it's better in the wind.

.223 w/75Amax @ 2850 @ 70 deg drops 4.0 MOA @ 300yds and w/a 10mph cross wind, takes 2.1 MOA.



run the 32's at 4200 and see what you get, then you will see it utter spank the 223, in trajectory and wind drift, for calling, the most important thing is trajectory, the 204 means a dead on hold out to past 300 yards where as the 223 needs some elevation at that distance to make the shot. personally a hot loaded 22-250 shooting 50grn bullets or less can pretty much do what the 204 can or close to it. while delivering a substantially heavier bullet on target.
 


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