As a 9.3 X 62 fan for Big or Big and Dangerous Game, I've always used projectiles over .3 SD to ensure deep penetration. Yet many people are most interested in Projectile BC. Which do y'all consider more critical for Big or Big and Dangerous Game?
Sectional Density or BC from really Big Game?
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blksno
Well-Known Member
The only thing BC is important for, is TOF, aerodynamics. No one is shooting Big/dangerous game at 6-7-800 yds...and if they are, there's a whole different set of issues.
I don't think I've ever seen anyone actually care about BC for a critter they are probably going to shoot inside 100 yds.
Greatgrandad
Well-Known Member
Most dangerous game are taken at relatively short distances, so I always prefer a good SD and proper bullet design. Stopping a charging elephant, cape, brownie or lion doesn't require a high BC bullet.
deep river
Member
Yep. SD for dangerous game. They are not mutually exclusive though. Projos with high BCs tend to have higher SDs because they are long/heavy for their diameter.
tomcat818
Well-Known Member
Dangerous game it's obviously SD due to close encounters where in some cases the hunter has become the hunted.
Big game I would still consider moderately dangerous I still don't skimp on SD .279,.310,.324 w/ respective BCs of .491, .656, .691. The top two in SD & BC are what I use for targeting elk+ sized game at long range but have taken 3 cow elk with the lowest SD bullet with only one requiring a follow up but she was down. I've gotten into the high BC bullets to hunt one unit in my state (hopefully some others out of state) that is high desert very open country where deer and elk opportunities can stretch my shooting ability. This is what brought me into the LRH craze to help bring both my shooting ability and my equipment up to 500-600 yard precision which is still a work in progress. I won't shoot at anything but a targets past these ranges due to TOF considerations and other variabilities.
Big game I would still consider moderately dangerous I still don't skimp on SD .279,.310,.324 w/ respective BCs of .491, .656, .691. The top two in SD & BC are what I use for targeting elk+ sized game at long range but have taken 3 cow elk with the lowest SD bullet with only one requiring a follow up but she was down. I've gotten into the high BC bullets to hunt one unit in my state (hopefully some others out of state) that is high desert very open country where deer and elk opportunities can stretch my shooting ability. This is what brought me into the LRH craze to help bring both my shooting ability and my equipment up to 500-600 yard precision which is still a work in progress. I won't shoot at anything but a targets past these ranges due to TOF considerations and other variabilities.
So for game that regularly weighs 900+ pounds a .30 caliber with an SD over .300 would be about the minimum? While there is a lot of distance variables depending on conditions. Example- a Moose crashing through quakies like a freight train at the edge of the cattails in Maine compared to say a muskox on the moss covered tundra, or a Grizz above timberline, not to mention a costal brown at the rivers edge. Probably the most difficult decisions come when hunting Polar Bears on the barren windswept ice pack. Although nowadays I believe you have to go to certain locations in Canada to hunt those white bruins? Perhaps Projectile diameter might even be of more concern than BC? Yet as mentioned SD, like Projectile diameter, are both components of BC.
memtb
Well-Known Member
On this forum, as in the name of"LRH" ……most are obsessed with BC far more than SD.
I kinda like having as much of both as reasonable. Though, using fragile bullets usually shoot a high SD in the @$$ when the bullet "comes from untogether"!
I don't shoot at very long distances, 600 yrds being the absolute maximum, only then when under perfect conditions. My bullet of choice has a G7 BC of .224 and a SD of .274. As it will shed little to no weight…..it should penetrate pretty well! memtb
Hydrostatic Shock is determined by Projectile diameter and velocity. With larger diameter projectiles requiring less velocity on impact to achieve the desired effect. Got a really long read for those that enjoy that kind of stuff, or you can just skip down to the heading VELOCITY. Here is the link. https://www.ballisticstudies.com/Knowledgebase/Effective+Game+Killing.html
For dangerous game BC has no importance, SD has a lot, but bullet design and composition matter even more. BC gets a bullet through the air. Bullet design particularly nose design and material are what kills big animals. And the bigger the animal the more caliber matters. You need a big hole to drain blood from a big animal. Elephants are another matter as those are usually head shots.
tomcat818
Well-Known Member
From what I've read about your setup you pretty much have the gamut covered.
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memtb
Well-Known Member
From what I've read about your setup you pretty much have the gamut covered.
On another forum, the topic was mono bullet expansion! Some were concerned that mono's "do not" expand as dramatically/violently as most cup & core bullets.
I posted this as part of my response, which pretty much describes my philosophy.
My comment: It's really this simple! Start out big…….then make them bigger!
memtb
Diameter wise I can agree with that. Yet my shoulder prefers cases that fit inside of a standard length action. Being directed to spend some time behind the butt of a bolt action 50 BMG has cured my desire to get behind most belted magnums nowadays. YMMV.On another forum, the topic was mono bullet expansion! Some were concerned that mono's "do not" expand as dramatically/violently as most cup & core bullets.
I posted this as part of my response, which pretty much describes my philosophy.
My comment: It's really this simple! Start out big…….then make them bigger!
memtb
