THE LONG RANGE BULLET FALLACY
During the past few few years, several bullet manufacturers have introduced long and heavy-for-caliber boattail bullets intended for shooting at extended ranges. In theory, these bullets offer remarkable performance over anything and everything that came before them. In practical application, other results are showing up.
Ballistic coefficient is a relative number that kind of describes a bullets ability to fly. Essentially, the higher the number, the more streamlined the bullet. Shooters of 30-caliber rifles used to be happy with a ballistic coefficient of, say, 0.550 (that's just an example). Now they want something more in the range of 0.675, or even higher. The dream is to punch holes in paper at 1000 yards better than ever before, or punch a hole in the vitals of an elk at some irresponsible distance; thereby greatly increasing the possibility of losing it so it can die a miserable death that night in a waterway, or while trying to hide in some brush.
I've been a long-range shooter, both recreational and in competition, since the 1960s. Quite frankly, I'd rather shoot flat-based round-nose bullets than most of the recent-hype miracle bullets being offered. Many other shooters will find out why when they try them. Oh, sure, there will be the occasional boaster that makes great claims about how they worked for him, but take that fellow out and have him demonstrate the success to you.
I believe there are physical limits to bullet designs that do not apply to aircraft or rockets. You see, bullets get just one whack on their butt and then have to make the rest of the trip on their own. They don't have a continuous supply of power, or methods to control yaw. The higher the ballistic coefficient -- in my humble opinion -- the greater the effect of destabilizing forces. Here's an example... the highly accurate Sierra MatchKing Bullets intended for longer ranges, winner of most matches by far, mostly tend to have comparatively upper-moderate ballistic coefficient ratings. Sierra makes a few that are way up there, but let's stay with those that have been around for at least a couple of decades. Normal barrel twist rates can be used for the majority of these bullets. When the super-high ballistic coefficients come into play, tighter barrel twists in the range of ten percent or more need to be employed. Now we're throwing a bullet at rest into an even tighter turn, scrubbing its tires even more violently against the curb. Okay... got carried away there, but you get the point.
If it's the match bullets you want to try, no harm done. Just don't buy too many because you finally see some available. The shop owner is not obligated to take back those additional full boxes that you now don't want. But if they're the hunting bullets, you have a responsibility. A long shot at a varmint (wolf included), or maybe even a pronghorn in open country, is possibly within reason. But one of those totally stupid shots at an elk at extended range is beyond irresponsible. Don't do it. For that job, use a good-quality, no-gimmics hunting bullet and stalk (like a real hunter) to within 300 yards. You'll feel a lot better about yourself afterwards.
Any complaints about this, write me at this website. Everyone has an opinion, and I enjoy reading some wrong ones from time to time.
JDC