#117 - Comparing Bullets Using Wind Drift
00:38:57 | This episode Bryan and Francis discuss bullet evaluation and how Francis compares bullets to see if there is a practical different between bullet A and bullet B in terms of wind drift. Too often we see shooters simply opting for the highest BC projectile without considering the potential tradeoffs or downsides to shooting a heavier bullet.
Awesome conversation! Thanks for helping me diagnose a developing case of SD-OCD and reset on practice. Suggestion for future discussion would be the definition of “wind brackets”, considerations + process on how to create them prior to a match and how you use them on stage for corrections. Thanks again.
Outstanding. Good explanation of why a “systems solution” is needed. (Oh, and mathematician Waloddi Weibull was still alive when I was working for a living)
Your ability to get to the heart of the matter clearly is very much appreciated. Short & sweet & right on point. When I’m struggling to explain my bullet choices for a given application to a shooting buddy, I’ll just send them a link instead. Thanks guys!
Idea for the next podcast, not accuracy related, but the “slow bullets” episode really got me thinking about terminal performance. It may be outside the scope of Applied Ballistics but could you guys talk about bullet design choices and their impact on terminal performance? It always seems to be pretty “fudd-lore” with impact velocity having a huge impact on how a bullet performs. But even as simple as what purpose a meplat of cannelure have at different speeds could be very enlightening.
For years and years I heard about heavy slow bullets beating fast lightweight bullets, but ran into multiple shooters that just told me there was no reason to shoot those heavy bullets in a service rifle. I just knew that was not true, so I used your AB and CDMs to construct an analog chart that showed wind drift at multiple velocities for various projectiles used in across the course shooting. It’s not even close for 600 yard shooting. As long as the heavy bullets can group well, you are leaving a lot on the table in terms of wind drift if you are not shooting super heavy bullets at 600.
Trying to convince people of that even after look at the chart, is nearly impossible.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1n2DaqrLgGHefGFmzG62USoGRY1HZeS0F/view?usp=sharing