Category: Ammo
Here’s a 500X picture of the circuit system for the cast bullets.When digging deep within this thing we call the internet, defeating several levels of security from probing eyes, there’s no discoverable limit on what is available.
One night, I had reached the outer limits of the World Wide Web, entering the crevices where spooks and goblins call home. I’d only heard rumors of this dark place, never knowing if it existed. But here I was …
Roy cooly explaining how he made a top-secret bullet mold for me. No one ever knew the real truth.
Special Projects Editor
How was I, a basic computer illiterate, able to enter this world consisting of catacomb conspiracy theorists? This is where FMG’s Special Projects Editor Roy Huntington comes in. Many don’t know this, but Roy worked for the CIA in a previous life.
Who knew? Shhhh, this is hush-hush information! It was only after plying him and myself with the most common truth serum known to man — bourbon — that he admitted this dark secret. I wasn’t trying to prod Roy for information; we were just enjoying a bottle of Eagle Rare, talking guns, upcoming projects and other shooting stuff when it slipped out.
After all the usual questions about missions, assassinations, weapons systems, the state of the union, and other stuff, Roy told me about accessing the Deep Dark Web (DDW). Then he surprised me, offering a large stipend from FMG’s “special account” to do whatever I please, to find something interesting to write about. Wow! I was both excited and a little afraid of such a huge assignment.
While the bullets look like regular cast slugs, no one would ever suspect they contained complicated circuitry system capable of infrared guidance.
Exploration
Putting on my miner’s hat, I start probing the DDW. Roy told me to first buy a new computer with the money, to make any possible tracking harder from nosey eyes. He also gave me a few older secret passwords and websites to begin the journey, along with an alias code name, Jug Johnson.
When I started my journey, I admit to being scared. I was worried I wouldn’t be able to negotiate all the secret gates, walls, and even Windows firewalls. But somehow, I managed to breach the system, stumbling headfirst into the deep depths of this underworld.
Naturally, my attention was drawn to the secret shooting world containing new equipment, powders, brass and bullets. But boy, was it expensive! Even with the healthy stipend of $50,000 Roy gave me, it was only scratching the surface of what I could afford.
Now, if one had unlimited income and could negotiate the complex labyrinth of super-secret security walls, there’s no telling what one could purchase.
4: The Taurus GE TORO was the perfect platform for launching these super-secret bullets. Copper Wash powder coat transmitted the best. Makes perfect sense!
Bullets?
One of the things that caught my eye was infrared-guided bullets. With the popularity of red dot sight systems today, the DDW had infrared-capable sighting systems that communicated with bullets synchronized to the wavelength of the red dot sighting system.
Just hold your dot steady on whatever you want to hit and SQUEEEEZE your trigger. The bullet hits wherever the dot is plastered by the shooter, working much like today’s regular guns. Go figure? The problem was a box of 100 bullets cost the $50,000 I had. Who would pay shipping? Not me! Plus, you had to buy a red dot system synchronized to your bullets.
Further down the list, they sold just the circuitry plus the red dot system for $40,000. If I had the right mold, I could always cast a bullet around the circuitry to shoot. Again, Roy was just the man for the job. He designed a cast bullet mold that held the complex, microscopic circuit board in place as I poured molten alloy around it.
I experimented with both clear and copper wash powder coat, finding that the copper wash was better for receiving the red dot signal and, hence, more accurate. We would be using a Taurus G3 TORO as the launching system.
Clear powder coat also worked. The bullets were stored in
regular boxes of ammo for furtive concealment.
Seeing is Believing!
Initial testing couldn’t have been better! One-hole groups for 15 rounds at 50 yards was the norm! This system seems to be invincible. Even non-shooters were capable of half-inch groups using this system. Admittedly, this system is out of reach for most people!
Roy has decided to use the Taurus G3 TORO, along with the rest of the loaded rounds (70), as the raffle giveaway prize on April 1, 2024! Some of you may know this date is more commonly called April’s Fools Day. Hey, we like to have a little fun, just like everyone else! Besides, Tank could never pull off such a complicated endeavor as the one depicted here.
Ballistic Coefficient (BC) is a mathematical measure of a bullet’s ability to overcome air resistance in flight. Think of it as an aerodynamic efficiency rating: a higher BC means the bullet cuts through the air better, retains its velocity longer, and drifts less in the wind.
If you are shooting at 100 yards, BC doesn’t matter much. But if you want to shoot past 300 yards, compete in PRS, or hunt ethically at extended ranges, Ballistic Coefficient is the single most important number printed on your box of ammunition.
Here is exactly how Ballistic Coefficient works, the difference between G1 and G7, and how to use it to hit your target.
How Does Ballistic Coefficient Work? (The Physics)
Once a bullet leaves the muzzle, two primary forces act upon it: gravity (which pulls it down) and aerodynamic drag (which slows it down). Gravity is a constant, but drag is a variable that depends entirely on the bullet’s design.
If there is wind outside and the bullet is traveling a notable distance, wind is another force acting on it.
To calculate how well a bullet fights drag, ballisticians use a simple formula: BC = SD / i
- SD (Sectional Density): This is the bullet’s weight relative to its diameter. For a given caliber, a heavier bullet will have a higher Sectional Density. Heavy objects carry more momentum and are harder to slow down.
- i (Form Factor): This is the aerodynamic shape of the bullet. A long, pointy bullet with a boat-tail has a very low (efficient) form factor. A short, flat-nosed bullet has a high (inefficient) form factor.
The Takeaway: To get a high Ballistic Coefficient, you need a heavy, long, and pointed bullet. A light, short, and flat bullet will always have a low Ballistic Coefficient.
High BC vs. Low BC: What’s the Difference on the Range?
Many beginners mistakenly believe that muzzle velocity is the most important factor for long-range shooting. It isn’t. A slower bullet with a high BC will almost always outperform a faster bullet with a low BC at distance.
To prove this, let’s compare two common .308 Winchester loads at 500 yards: a traditional 150gr Flat Base Soft Point (Low BC) and a modern 175gr Sierra MatchKing (High BC).
| Metric | 150gr Flat Base Soft Point (Low BC: ~0.314 G1) |
175gr Sierra MatchKing (High BC: ~0.505 G1) |
|---|---|---|
| Muzzle Velocity | 2,820 fps | 2,600 fps |
| Velocity at 500 Yards | 1,520 fps (Losing speed fast) | 1,750 fps (Retains speed) |
| Energy at 500 Yards | 770 ft-lbs | 1,190 ft-lbs (+54% more energy) |
| Bullet Drop at 500 Yds | -52.5 inches | -58.2 inches* |
| Wind Drift (10mph at 500 Yds) | 28.5 inches (Blown off target) | 18.4 inches (Cuts the wind) |
*Note: The heavier 175gr bullet has slightly more drop at 500 yards because it starts with a slower muzzle velocity. However, because of its high BC, it retains energy far better and drifts 10 inches less in the wind—making it vastly superior for long-range precision. Calculated using BallistX.
As you can see, wind drift is the real killer at long range. A high BC bullet acts like a dart cutting through the wind, while a low BC bullet acts like a parachute being blown off target.
G1 vs G7 Ballistic Coefficient: What’s the Difference?
If you look at a box of modern precision rifle bullets, you will often see two different Ballistic Coefficient numbers listed: a G1 BC and a G7 BC.
To understand the difference, you need to know how BC is calculated. Ballistic Coefficient isn’t just an arbitrary number; it is a comparison. It compares your bullet’s flight to the flight of a “Standard Projectile.” The problem is that bullets come in very different shapes, so ballistic engineers use different “Standard Projectiles” (drag models) to get an accurate comparison.
The G1 Standard (The Old School Bullet)
The G1 drag model is based on a standard projectile that looks like an old artillery shell. It has a flat base and a relatively blunt, short nose.
- When to use G1: You should use the G1 BC if you are shooting flat-based bullets, pistol bullets, muzzleloader projectiles, or blunt lever-action bullets (like a .30-30 flat nose).
- The flaw with G1: Because a G1 standard projectile is so un-aerodynamic, its drag changes drastically as it slows down. If you use a G1 BC for a modern long-range bullet, the calculator has to constantly adjust the BC based on velocity, which introduces math errors at extended distances.
The G7 Standard (The Modern Precision Bullet)
The G7 drag model is based on a standard projectile that looks like a modern long-range rifle bullet. It has a long, pointed nose (ogive) and a tapered boat-tail base.
- When to use G7: You should use the G7 BC for any modern, pointy, boat-tail bullet. This includes almost all bullets used in PRS, NRL Hunter, and modern long-range hunting (e.g., Hornady ELD-M/ELD-X, Berger Hybrids, Sierra MatchKings).
- The advantage of G7: Because the G7 standard projectile actually matches the shape of modern bullets, the drag remains much more constant as the bullet slows down. This gives you significantly more accurate drop data in your ballistic calculator at 600+ yards.
The Golden Rule: If the bullet has a boat-tail, use the G7 BC. If it has a flat base, use the G1 BC. (Do not let the larger G1 number trick you—they are simply on different mathematical scales).
Does Ballistic Coefficient Change with Velocity?
Yes. Ballistic Coefficient is not a static, magical number. As a bullet flies downrange, it loses velocity. When a bullet slows down and approaches the transonic barrier (around 1,200 fps), the way air flows around it changes dramatically, which alters its drag profile.
This is why advanced weather meters and solvers (like a Kestrel with Applied Ballistics) use custom drag models rather than relying on a single static BC number. However, for 99% of shooters engaging targets inside of 1,000 yards, using an accurate G7 BC in a quality ballistic app is more than enough to get first-round impacts.
How to Use BC to Hit Your Target
Knowing your bullet’s Ballistic Coefficient is useless if you don’t do the math. You cannot calculate wind drift and bullet drop in your head.
To get your exact scope holds, you need a ballistic solver. Input your bullet’s G7 BC, your muzzle velocity, and your current environmental data (altitude, temperature) into our BallistX Calculator. The physics engine will run the math and tell you exactly how many MOA or MRAD to dial on your scope to hit your target.
Frequently Asked Questions
AJ Deysel is a competitive rifle shooter in the PRS and NRL Hunter series, a lifelong hunter, and a recognized ballistics specialist whose load development expertise has been featured by industry leaders like Hornady. He is the founder and lead editor of LoadDevelopment.com