Heavy Weight Bullets In The .44 Magnum

Guns Magazine ^ | December 2001 | John Taffin

[planekT]

...Accuracy: The longer a bullet is in relation to its diameter, the more accurate it normally is... (from the article)

I think the statement is mostly true since if a bullet is the same shape and diameter the longer bullet is of course heavier and will buck wind better (property of higher BC).

A higher BC also also means flatter trajectory at a given velocity, but to me that is something different then accuracy. That has to do with point of aim.

Absent wind, a heavier (longer) bullet of the same diameter may not necessarily be more accurate. I wouldn't say it would necessarily be any less accurate either. I think where he lost me was attributing it more to length then weight.

A Nosler ballistic tip has a higher BC then a Match Bullet at the same weight. Why don't the bench resters use them? In my own experience a Nosler is less accurate then a Match Bullet. A lot less. The Match Bullets are hollow points, and I think that there is a reason that they are. It doesn't have to do with superior BC.

I have way more experience with rifles then pistols, but I figure the bullet doesn't care much about the gun after it has left the barrel.

[Lester Moore]

Although I like long heavy bullets, they are generally less accurate than shorter, lighter bullets. Just the opposite of what he says.

I had thought that at comparable velocities a longer bullet is more stable than a shorter one because of areodynamics. Like a longer arrow is more stable in flight than a stubby stick.

[Shooter 2.5]

http://www.imageevent.com/fiveshooter/clements

[Centurion2000]

mmmm .... gun porn :)

[Tijeras_Slim]

The 4" 29 is a gun with classic lines. I have a 29-1 in 8 3/8ths that is a "one-hole" gun, consistently putting 50 rounds in a playing card sized hole at 15-25 yards, even with me shooting it. I gave it a cleaning and trigger job this weekend, going with a 14 lb rebound slide spring, which smoothed and dropped the DA pull just a bit.

[yarddog]

Have you never wondered why long heavy bullets require a faster twist to stablized them?

[Lester Moore]

I suspect due to the increased mass requiring greater angular momentum to stabalize.

I have wondered why they don't make a long copper jacketed, plastic/nylon bullet for varmint hunting, in say .308. They would have good seating depth and probably fragment on impact, which would be desireable. The stubby 110 grn bullets in .308 do not have a reputation for any real accuracy. It would make my .308/ .30-06 more versatile.

[yarddog]

The increased mass has nothing to do with it.

The determining factor, is where that mass is located. Long heavy bullets are harder to stabilize than short, wide bullets due to gyroscopic instability.

Here is an extreme example: Take, say a 6.5mm 160 grain bullet and drill a tiny, perfectly centered hole through the base all the way through the point. Insert a long nail and make a toy spinning top out of it.

You will find it difficult to make it stand up.

Now take a .45 caliber 180 grain jhp. Do the same thing. It will be easier to make it stand while spinning. To make it even better, take a hammer and flatten it to where it looks like a large penney. It will spin even easier.

That is basically why long heavy bullets must have a much faster twist.

[45Auto]

The S and W Model 29 is a beautiful gun. I don't think it is tough enough to stand up to really powerful loads shot on a regular basis. However, I had a friend who put darn near 10,000 full power rounds through his Model 629 six inch before the sear broke. He had the thing fixed and sold it. The guy who bought it probably put another 5000 rounds through it so far.

[45Auto]

I think this is the kind of gun that does well with heavy bullets/heavy loads:

[Tijeras_Slim]

I'm well aware of the limitations of the Model 29, and particularly the earlier ones prior to the introduction of the "Endurance package." The 29-1 was a single year model with the only change from prior models being reversing the thread on the ejector rod so it won't unscrew under recoil. I'll shoot factory 240 grain loads from it, but would go to a Ruger or FA if I wanted more get up and go out of a handgun. For most of what I do, 200-240 grains at under 1000 f/s is plenty. That's probably why I have a number of Model 25's as well.