Hey guys,

What happens to a jacketed and un-jacketed bullet after it leaves the barrel but before it hits a target?

Does it change shape?

Tom

Well, I am sure in some very negliable manner, it changes shape, but nothing that would greatly affect BC or terminal performance.

I certainly hope not! Its not supposed to! Supposed to be spinning like a Payton Manning pass. Despite popular belief, bullets do not acctually travel in a straight up and down line. Rather, they travel more like a golf ball hit by a right-handed golfer with a bit of a slice. Sort of a left then right hook as they drop. The "slice" of a bullet really isn't as bad as say, my sliceis. It is enough to notice on paper inside of 100 yards, but unless you knew about it, you would probably just chalk it up to user error.
If you fire slow moving bullets (under 1500 fps, .22LR works great) with the sun at your back you can watch the path through the scope. Pretty neat.

HUH??????????

I have seen a whole bunch of slo mo video of bullets traveling to extreme ranges and have never seen a "sliced" bullet path.

If a bullet does travel in this manner you wouldn't be able to hit anything with a bullet.

The bullet does change shape in the barrel, since it is forced into the rifling. It does not change shape in flight.

Most error seen on paper under 100 yards is due to the bullet not going to sleep right away. It is common to find a rifle of large caliber that shoots better at 200 yards than it does at 100 yards. Any movement right or left in travel is generally because of wind drift.

Bullets do drift slightly to the right through the air.... "slightly" ..... It's because of the right hand twist... Long ago (sorry i no longer remember who) made a left hand twist bbl. and the bullets drifted to the left... Maybe it was Hatcher? Or Ackley,.... it may have been something we discussed in his shop??? He did a LOT of experimenting that didn't get in print.

I've seen a zillion bullets in flight and i've never seen it happen, i have noticed it on paper at longer ranges and like i said, it's NOT much. I tend to sight my rifles 1/2" left at 200 yards...

DM

Interesting stuff that's for sure. Glad I asked.

Tom

DM, Now I know everything (almost)!!! Thanks for the post, interesting.


GAO

I have to agree with DM! Due to the rifling, bullets are going to drift, but it should be so slight, you could'nt even measure it! Wind would cause more drift than physical dynamics!