The Firing Line Forums - View Single Post - Bullet Drop At 2000 Yards

Coinneach · June 14, 2000, 01:28 PM

100 feet sounds extreme for anything hotter than .22LR. Remember though that the ballistic curve is in a decreasing radius, so it's not as simple as "If I hold 12" over at 300 yards, then I have to hold 24" over at 600." Essentially, the downward curve gets tighter as distance increases and velocity decreases.

I'll see what I can dig up.
------------------
OK, here we go.

Assuming sea level, standard conditions, I've come up with the following. .308, .338, and .300 are extrapolations based on a polynomial trendline. I did the work in Excel 2000; anyone who wants to see the numbers and charts, email me.

.308 Win
165gr bullet
2600 fps muzzle velocity
.481 drag coefficient
Approximate drop @ 2000 yards = 2850 inches, or 237.5 feet.

.300 Win Mag
165gr bullet
3000 fps muzzle velocity
.456 drag coefficient
Approximate drop @ 2000 yards = 2850 inches, or 237.5 feet (again).

.338 Lapua
200gr bullet
3000 fps muzzle velocity
.437 drag coefficient
Approximate drop @ 2000 yards = 2200 inches, or 183.3 feet.

.50BMG Updated
750gr bullet
2800 fps muzzle velocity
1.07 drag coefficient
Approximate drop @ 2000 yards = 1399.6 inches, or 116.3 feet.
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Verdict:

.50BMG with a heavy, fast bullet. Hoorah!

QED. And don't make me do this again, dammit!

[This message has been edited by Coinneach (edited June 14, 2000).]

June 14, 2000, 01:28 PM	#2
Coinneach Staff Alumnus Join Date: February 23, 1999 Location: Denver, CO Posts: 4,272	100 feet sounds extreme for anything hotter than .22LR. Remember though that the ballistic curve is in a decreasing radius, so it's not as simple as "If I hold 12" over at 300 yards, then I have to hold 24" over at 600." Essentially, the downward curve gets tighter as distance increases and velocity decreases. I'll see what I can dig up. ------------------ OK, here we go. Assuming sea level, standard conditions, I've come up with the following. .308, .338, and .300 are extrapolations based on a polynomial trendline. I did the work in Excel 2000; anyone who wants to see the numbers and charts, email me. .308 Win 165gr bullet 2600 fps muzzle velocity .481 drag coefficient Approximate drop @ 2000 yards = 2850 inches, or 237.5 feet. .300 Win Mag 165gr bullet 3000 fps muzzle velocity .456 drag coefficient Approximate drop @ 2000 yards = 2850 inches, or 237.5 feet (again). .338 Lapua 200gr bullet 3000 fps muzzle velocity .437 drag coefficient Approximate drop @ 2000 yards = 2200 inches, or 183.3 feet. .50BMG Updated 750gr bullet 2800 fps muzzle velocity 1.07 drag coefficient Approximate drop @ 2000 yards = 1399.6 inches, or 116.3 feet. ----------------- Verdict: .50BMG with a heavy, fast bullet. Hoorah! QED. And don't make me do this again, dammit! [This message has been edited by Coinneach (edited June 14, 2000).]