RE: Bullet "Rise" - Dispell the Myth
 

This is very interesting stuff, thanks for the good responses even if I don’t understand some of it (physics was not my forte in college).

If I know anyone needing a PhD thesis in aerodynamic engineering, I will revert him or her to this post.

One question I have is from a post above. Someone was saying that a bullet drops faster in cold weather versus warm weather due to the density of the cold air. Why would the air temperature affect this if gravity is pushing down at a constant? An example would help to clarify this if at all possible.

RE: Bullet "Rise" - Dispell the Myth
 

If you are using Barnes X bullets, you will not have to worry about any of these things. X bullets defy all laws of physics - especially if fired from a Weatherby Vanguard.

RE: Bullet "Rise" - Dispell the Myth
 

Air density affects the bullet path independant of gravity. You would need a super computer to try to figure where a bullet would travel in real conditions. You have different air densitys, wind speed, wind directions, bullet rotation speed, bullet velosity and more along the path of a bullet. The only constant is gravity down at 9.8meters per second. So gravity is only one of the many forces acting on the bullets path.

If you can find a vacuum to shoot in. Your bullet will drop 9.8 meters per second directly straight in front of the direction the barrel was pointed when fired.

RE: Bullet "Rise" - Dispell the Myth
 

Bmullin, you haven't been watching this thread long aparently!!!

9.81m/s is pretty accurate even for air, unless you're talking a LONG fall, at which point a terminal velocity might be approached or reached...the fall of a bullet SHOULDN'T be in that category.

Joe D. Check out my last post before this one re: the air density/bullet fall relationship

RE: Bullet "Rise" - Dispell the Myth
 

Nomercy
I was just trying to answer the one question. I was just saying gravity is independant of everything else. And is constant.

A bullet would actually fall slower in dense air because of resistance. But the trajectory would drop off faster because the velocity would be slowed faster also.

RE: Bullet "Rise" - Dispell the Myth
 

Guys, no need for a super computer. Throw this into bernoullis equations in a intregal equation over time for dynamic Bullistic Coef, mix in Newtons third law of motion, throw in more of bernoullis for average turbulance, and your done.

RE: Bullet "Rise" - Dispell the Myth
 

or you could buy 300 bullets and 300 targets and set up a target every foot for one hundred yards and trace the point of impact. Either that or try to catch the bullet on film and slow it down.

RE: Bullet "Rise" - Dispell the Myth
 

When ever I hear someone who is "miss informed" about something (particualrly hunting/shooting) I try to educate them. 1. it will help them out 2. it may stop them from "miss informing" others. Walking away to hit my head against a wall will not do anything posative for anyone.

"A picture is worth a thousand words" really applies to explaining the path of a bullet in this situation.

The line of sight
The line of the barrel
The path of the bullet

drawn on a scrap of paper helps a lot to explain the "bullet rise" and also to show the big advantage a .270 has over a 30/03 when shooting at deer at longer ranges.

Robin