As is often the case, especially lately, when a shooter wants to change to a different bullet or has to buy a different bullet to shoot as their usual choice is not available, they have to check the manufacturers website or on the box to see how the Ballistic Coefficient compares to their current or favorite bullet. This is a tedious process, and although the information is freely available online, we decided to compile it all in one place, easy to see and compare. So we created this bullet library or ballistic database so you can compare bullets of the same caliber or even similar ballistic coefficients quickly.
The ballistic chart or bullet BC list below, is not a completed database, but rather an evolving information source for shooters and ammo reloaders. If you find any mistakes with the ballistics coefficient values data or would like to add more data to the ballistic chart, please send it through to me and I will gladly review and add it to the list for all of the shooting community to access.
There are over 5 600 bullets listed in this free bullet database so far.
Ballistics
Ballistics is the science of the motion of projectiles, such as bullets, rockets, bombs, and other objects that are thrown or driven forward through the air. It is a complex field that encompasses many different areas, including:
- Interior ballistics: the study of the forces that act on a projectile as it is fired from a weapon.
- Exterior ballistics: the study of the motion of a projectile after it has left the weapon.
- Terminal ballistics: the study of the impact and effects of a projectile on a target.
Ballistics is used in a variety of fields, including:
- Law enforcement: to investigate crimes involving firearms and to identify the weapons that were used.
- Military: to develop and improve weapons systems.
- Engineering: to design projectiles for specific applications, such as artillery shells or missile warheads.
- Sports: to improve the performance of athletes who use projectile weapons, such as archers and shooters.
Ballistics evidence can be used to answer a number of important questions, such as:
- What type of weapon was used?
- How far away was the shooter?
- What was the trajectory of the bullet?
- Was the bullet fired from inside or outside the vehicle?
- Was the victim shot from the front, back, or side?
Ballistics experts use a variety of tools and techniques to analyze ballistic evidence, including:
- Microscope examination: to examine the markings on bullets and cartridges for identification purposes.
- Ballistics gel testing: to simulate the impact of a bullet on a human body.
- Computer modeling: to predict the trajectory of a bullet and its impact on a target.
Ballistics is a vital tool for law enforcement, military, and engineering professionals. It is also used by sports enthusiasts to improve their performance.
What is Ballistic Coefficient?
Ballistic coefficient (BC) is a measure of how well a projectile resists air drag. It is a dimensionless number that is calculated using a variety of factors, including the projectile’s shape, weight, and diameter. The higher the BC, the less the projectile will be affected by air drag and the further it will travel.
BC is an important factor for long-range shooters, as it can help them to accurately hit targets at extended distances. Bullets with high BCs will have less drop and wind drift, which makes them easier to shoot accurately.
BC values are typically measured at a specific muzzle velocity and air density. However, BC can vary slightly depending on the actual conditions in which the projectile is fired. For example, BC will be lower in windy conditions or at higher altitudes.
Here are some examples of ballistic coefficients for different types of bullets:
- High BC: Berger 130gr VLD Hunting (.308 Winchester): .670
- Medium BC: Hornady 168gr ELD-X (.308 Winchester): .590
- Low BC: Winchester 150gr FMJ (.308 Winchester): .420
As you can see, the higher BC bullets travel further with less drop and wind drift. This makes them ideal for long-range shooting.
BC is an important factor to consider when choosing a bullet for a specific shooting application. For example, hunters who need to shoot long distances at game animals will want to choose a bullet with a high BC.
Ballistic coefficient is also used by engineers to design projectiles for specific applications, such as artillery shells or missile warheads.
Ballistic Calculator
The ballistic coefficient (BC) of a projectile can be calculated using the following ballistic calculator formulas:
Where BC is the ballistic coefficient of the bullet (lb/in2), m the mass of the bullet (grs), d the diameter of the bullet (in), i the dimensionless coefficient of the shape of the projectile.
Where BC is the ballistic coefficient of the bullet (lb/in2), SD is the cross-sectional load or sectional density of the bullet (lb/in2), i is the dimensionless shape factor of the bullet.
Where SD is the cross-sectional load or sectional density in (lb/in2), m is the mass of the bullet in (grs), d is the diameter of the bullet in (in).
These calculations are the standard and provide a good baseline, but as has been seen in the practical long range shooting world, and as has been tested extensively by ballisticians like Applied Ballistics, these values change based on various factors like the velocity and density factors. For more accurate real-world ballistic curves of bullets over a long range, the drag coefficient models that are being studied and defined are more accurate. There are also various companies like Energetic Materials Research Lab and Testing Center and Applied Ballistics that can measure the actual flight path of bullets with a doppler radar to determine the actual BC and flight path.
The Problem with Ballistic Coefficients of Bullets
Bullet ballistic coefficient (BC) values actually varies with velocity Mach number, so a bullet’s claimed BC is only an approximation for one part of a bullet’s flight path, usually the fastest part, right out of the muzzle to about 300 yards. Modern ballistic solvers often use stepped BC to account for this variation, and there is a push towards Doppler radar to measure a bullet’s true drag performance throughout its trajectory. While most manufacturers provide an average BC for their bullets, a Cd vs. Mach curve for a bullet will give a much better representation throughout the flight path. This is obviously not needed for hunting or most gong shooting competition which take place inside of 400 yards, but for PRS and long range shooting, it exponentially increases the chances for hits over longer ranges in varying wind and atmospheric conditions.