StarMetal
According to the twist rate charts, only twist rate is a factor. That being because the faster a boolit/bullet is driven the more stabilization it actually needs. However, at longer ranges, as the projectile slows down, the stability factor would increase.
But at the critical spin rate, i.e. marginal, I have found that with a certain bullet, stability was only possible at full tilt. Less than that and semi- sideways hits at 15yds! (Accuracy at long range wasn't worthwhile)
Then there is the complication of muzzle blast. How else can one explain a 1 in 16 twist hornet stabilizing a 60gr spire point J-word? And that J-word stays accurate over long ranges!
I have speculated that at higher velocities, the boolit might be somewhat escaping the worst of the muzzle blast effects in some cases. Change to a slower powder for the same velocity and maybe that stability will be lost again?
I bet someone has done tests on this! Some interesting test have been done that we just happen to find out about, sometimes by folks on this forum!
Oh, not necessarily relevent on the range but with my 'test tube' testing with long boolits, I have been surprised at how a boolit with or without an upset nose (velocity dependant) will stay nose forward all the way until stopped. Very slow boolits penetrate the best of course - which makes it harder to retrieve.
(Even the 60gr hornet J-word stays nose first with beautiful expansion!)
Last edited by 303Guy; 12-16-2009 at 03:15 PM.
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BP | Bronze Point | IMR | Improved Military Rifle | PTD | Pointed |
BR | Bench Rest | M | Magnum | RN | Round Nose |
BT | Boat Tail | PL | Power-Lokt | SP | Soft Point |
C | Compressed Charge | PR | Primer | SPCL | Soft Point "Core-Lokt" |
HP | Hollow Point | PSPCL | Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" | C.O.L. | Cartridge Overall Length |
PSP | Pointed Soft Point | Spz | Spitzer Point | SBT | Spitzer Boat Tail |
LRN | Lead Round Nose | LWC | Lead Wad Cutter | LSWC | Lead Semi Wad Cutter |
GC | Gas Check |