Historic Shooting Forums
Bullet sectional density - Printable Version

+- Historic Shooting Forums (http://historicshooting.com)
+-- Forum: General (http://historicshooting.com/forum-1.html)
+--- Forum: Hunting (http://historicshooting.com/forum-6.html)
+--- Thread: Bullet sectional density (/thread-59.html)

Pages: 1 2


Bullet sectional density - Don McDowell - 05-18-2012

Found this place today http://www.realguns.com/calc/sectionaldensity?results

Earlier rdnck and I were discussing the suitability of a bullet for what game. And it turns out Bill that .438 bullet you were talking about has a sd of 316 which is right up there with the great ones to offer plenty of penetration.


RE: Bullet sectional density - Stephen Borud - 05-18-2012

I ran some numbers for bullets I killed with and will kill with!

50 cal 473gr .494 =.277
45 cal 550gr .441=.404
45 cal 490gr .440=.362
44 cal 405gr .431=.311
So is the number you posted Don average or above average for killing?

Thanks Stephen


RE: Bullet sectional density - Don McDowell - 05-18-2012

Stephen in the smokeless and jacketed bullet circles they generally consider anything over 250 as good.


RE: Bullet sectional density - Stephen Borud - 05-18-2012

Don I did a Wikipedia check and it said the higher the sectional density the better!

Stephen


RE: Bullet sectional density - Don McDowell - 05-18-2012

Stephen generally that can be true, but sometimes it's overrated. Look at the affectiveness of the good ol 30-30 or the 44-40 for that matter. Neither one shoots a bullet with much SD.
SD should if everything goes well just about guarantee great penetration if not a complete passthru.


RE: Bullet sectional density - Stephen Borud - 05-18-2012

I thought of that as well! It reminded me of the 15" antelope I killed with my 73 44/40 Winchester at 174 yards!

Stephen


RE: Bullet sectional density - Don McDowell - 05-18-2012

Now Stephen, you know those old blackpowder "pistol" cartridges aren't affective at much more than 53.6 yds. lol


RE: Bullet sectional density - Stephen Borud - 05-18-2012

Ya I have been told that before! That's why I took it hunting antelope with me just to prove a point! LOL!!!! I bet I passed up 40 different antelope bucks before I found that 15"er, did a belly crawl in the mud to 174 yards, BTW I only practiced to 150 yards, gave the 44/40 a little more front sight and plugged that goat! Good stuff Don!

Stephen


RE: Bullet sectional density - Don McDowell - 05-18-2012

Yuppers it's always good when a fella can pull something like that off.


RE: Bullet sectional density - bobw - 05-19-2012

Interesting little calculator. When I run the base cup plug out all the way on my KAL mold for the TGBS .440" ppb's I get a 625 grain bullet. by the calculater that's a .461 sectional density . bobw