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Old March 2, 2011, 06:14 PM   #14
That'll Do
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Join Date: October 25, 2008
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Posts: 546
Quote:
Originally Posted by UncleNick
Actually, for a given nose and base shape, construction type and velocity, heavier bullets are less stable. This is mainly because they are longer. That gives air resistance a longer lever arm for trying to overturn them in flight. What they do have that's more desirable are higher ballistic coefficients (BC's) than their lighter, same-shape counterparts. A higher BC means, at a given velocity, a bullet will be less affected by the influence of wind and other atmospheric irregularities at long ranges. Provided you have enough twist to stabilize a longer, higher BC bullet, they will normally be easier to stay on target with at long range. Just don't count on them necessarily being more accurate at short range. They can be, but don't have to.
My reasoning for using heavy bullets was poorly worded. By "more stable", I was referring to the heavier bullets' "wind-bucking" ability. Sorry for the confusion.
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