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Ballistic Coefficient Formula:
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Ballistic Coefficient (BC) is a measure of a projectile's ability to overcome air resistance in flight. It represents the ratio of sectional density to form factor, indicating how well a bullet maintains its velocity and resists wind drift.
The calculator uses the ballistic coefficient formula:
Where:
Explanation: The formula calculates how efficiently a projectile travels through air by comparing its mass distribution (SD) to its aerodynamic shape (FF).
Details: Higher BC values indicate better aerodynamic efficiency, resulting in flatter trajectories, less wind drift, and retained energy at longer ranges. This is crucial for long-range shooting and hunting applications.
Tips: Enter both Sectional Density and Form Factor as positive values. The calculator will compute the Ballistic Coefficient, with higher values indicating better aerodynamic performance.
Q1: What is a good ballistic coefficient value?
A: Generally, BC values above 0.4 are considered good, with values above 0.5 being excellent for most hunting and shooting applications.
Q2: How does BC affect bullet performance?
A: Higher BC bullets experience less velocity drop, less wind drift, and retain more energy downrange compared to lower BC bullets of the same caliber.
Q3: Can BC change with velocity?
A: Yes, BC is not constant and typically increases as velocity decreases, which is why manufacturers often provide BC values at specific velocity ranges.
Q4: How is sectional density calculated?
A: Sectional Density = bullet weight (in pounds) divided by the square of bullet diameter (in inches).
Q5: What factors influence form factor?
A: Form factor is determined by bullet shape, with sleeker, more aerodynamic bullets having lower form factors and thus higher ballistic coefficients.