Roundball Ballistics
11-23-2007, 04:42 AM
#1
Fork Horn
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Midwest
Posts: 275
Roundball Ballistics
Right now my T/C New Englander is shooting 4 inches high at 50 yards. I am shooting a .490 roundball with 90 grains Pyrodex RS. Anyone know the Muzzle Velocity of this combo and where I might be at 75 and 100 yards? I'm asking because I am not sure if I can get back to the range before I go out for the ML season in a few weeks.
11-23-2007, 08:23 AM
#2
Dominant Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 21,193
RE: Roundball Ballistics
The B.C. of a .490 roundball is .056. The muzzle velocity with 90 grains of 2f powder is 1950 with a muzzle energy of 1478. In order for the rifle to hit 4" high at 50 yards (V=1369 & E = 736), you would have to sight dead on at 138 yards. At 25 yards you should be 1.7 inches high. At 75 yards = 5.2 inches & E= 531. At 100 yards = 4.7 inches & E=416. At 125 yards = 2.2 inches & E= 349. Dead on at 138 yards . At 150 yards = -2.7 inches & E= 302.
I want to say that numbers mean very little when you talk about roundball. Velocity is good in most cases, but the rifle's muzzle energy is very poor. The roundball is good as far as expansion and take down ability. The only thing I would question with your set up is why you sighted so high at 50 yards. Sighting in only 1.6 inches high at 50 yards brings all your numbers much closer together for the kind of distance you should attempt with a roundball. This puts you dead on at 100 yards. I personally sight my roundball rifles in at 75 yards. This brings all my ups and downs much closer out to 100 yards. But then I do not like to shoot further then 100 yards with a roundball. And probably would not unless there was a perfect (and I do mean perfect) shot.
I want to say that numbers mean very little when you talk about roundball. Velocity is good in most cases, but the rifle's muzzle energy is very poor. The roundball is good as far as expansion and take down ability. The only thing I would question with your set up is why you sighted so high at 50 yards. Sighting in only 1.6 inches high at 50 yards brings all your numbers much closer together for the kind of distance you should attempt with a roundball. This puts you dead on at 100 yards. I personally sight my roundball rifles in at 75 yards. This brings all my ups and downs much closer out to 100 yards. But then I do not like to shoot further then 100 yards with a roundball. And probably would not unless there was a perfect (and I do mean perfect) shot.
11-23-2007, 08:39 AM
#3
Fork Horn
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Midwest
Posts: 275
RE: Roundball Ballistics
cayugad,
That is just where it happened to be shooting from where I had it last time. I have never hunted with it and up until I shot it a few weeks ago, I had not shot it for over a year. I will have to take it out and sight it in again before I go out. I do not plan on shooting past 75 yards anyhow with iron sights.
That is just where it happened to be shooting from where I had it last time. I have never hunted with it and up until I shot it a few weeks ago, I had not shot it for over a year. I will have to take it out and sight it in again before I go out. I do not plan on shooting past 75 yards anyhow with iron sights.
11-23-2007, 08:43 AM
#4
Dominant Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 21,193
RE: Roundball Ballistics
Then sight that in for 75 yards and you should be in business. Then all your numbers are a lot closer. You can punch those numbers into a ballistic calculator if you like. That is all I did with them. I shoot a .54 caliber New Englander. Mine for some reason likes really powerful loads for any kind of accuracy.
11-23-2007, 12:59 PM
#6
Typical Buck
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 882
RE: Roundball Ballistics
My renegade 54 flinter must be smoking looking at the chart
My load is 95 grains of 3F goex with a 530 RB
My t/c flinter 50 cal like 90or 100grains of 3F goex and a 490 RB : I have to say it is fuzzy with 95 grains why I don't know
My load is 95 grains of 3F goex with a 530 RB
My t/c flinter 50 cal like 90or 100grains of 3F goex and a 490 RB : I have to say it is fuzzy with 95 grains why I don't know
11-24-2007, 09:24 PM
#7
Fork Horn
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Midwest
Posts: 275
RE: Roundball Ballistics
cayugad or gander,
How high at 25 yards will put me dead on at 75 yards with the 90 grains of RS and .490 ball. I might be able to do some shooting before I go out but 25 yards will be the max distanceat this particular shooting range.
How high at 25 yards will put me dead on at 75 yards with the 90 grains of RS and .490 ball. I might be able to do some shooting before I go out but 25 yards will be the max distanceat this particular shooting range.
