How important is velocity - Page 2

RaySendero · January 5, 2019, 09:25 AM

Quote:

Dre_sa asked:

When hand loading, how important is it to keep track of the exact velocities of your loads?
Does one really need to know the extreme spread, standard deviation, averages and all such mathematical bothering?

Yes and Yes!

Chainsaw. · January 5, 2019, 10:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by T. O'Heir

Ballistics computers and programs are just that. Computer programs that cannot consider every single variation that's possible. Not to mention they're written by a programmer who likely have never seen a real firearm. Just like computer 1st person shooting games.

Cannot consider every variation? Like velocity, ballistic coefficient, bullet weight, ambient temperature, relative humity, distance, side wind, angle of said side wind, what direction relative to the poles you’re shooting from, spin drift, angle of the shot, scopes zero, etc etc etc. The fact that average Joes are using these ballistic programs to make shots well past 1000 yards and take game at distances that only the most elite of shooters could consider 20 years ago proves your ignorance.

To the O.P. Good question. The answer starts with another question though, but you are already on track. What are you trying to accomplish? Shooting cans at 15 yards? Nah, load em up and shoot em. Trying to take big game with a pistol at 90 yards? Probably need a good ball park idea of velocity and how close each shot it shoot compaired to the next to a point. Shooting your 6.5 to 1200 yards and would like to do it on the first shot? You absolutely need to know what your velocity is and know that your SD And ES are.

9MMand223only · January 5, 2019, 04:25 PM

I think one can answer "how important is consistent velocity" question by stating that, generally, the farther you shoot, the more it matters.

I will just state that having a spread of velocity from say 1050 to 1090, which is below average by far for good reloads, are not a problem AT ALL "For shooting pistols at normal ranges...7 feet to 25 yards.

Having an extreme spread of 40 for a rifle that shoots 2540 FPS and some shoot 2500 FPS, that is definitely an issue if you are shooting long range, the farther it goes the more its off.

January 5, 2019, 04:25 PM	#28
9MMand223only Senior Member Join Date: November 30, 2014 Posts: 283	I think one can answer "how important is consistent velocity" question by stating that, generally, the farther you shoot, the more it matters. I will just state that having a spread of velocity from say 1050 to 1090, which is below average by far for good reloads, are not a problem AT ALL "For shooting pistols at normal ranges...7 feet to 25 yards. Having an extreme spread of 40 for a rifle that shoots 2540 FPS and some shoot 2500 FPS, that is definitely an issue if you are shooting long range, the farther it goes the more its off.