Hello,
I am very much a newb to the sport of shooting--and I really only have an interest in range shooting, not hunting. I am particularly interested in improving accuracy etc...
I am still getting a grasp on the physics of ballistics, as well as the different statistics of grains etc... so please bear with my ignorance.
My question is regarding the distances of different calibers, and I would like to verify my findings here.
I understand that the heavier the bullet, the less trouble it will have dealing with external factors such as wind; but the faster it will lose velocity and range. (I am only thinking of factory loads for bullets, not the reloading that can be done which will up the power of a cartidge).
I would like to use the .44 mag as an example:
I have read on forums (no official documents, so the information I have read is all personal opinions) that the max range that a lever action .44 rifle can fire is 100-150 yards. If that's true, could an experienced gunman fire the rifle further, more accurately? Would it be worth attempting to improve your skill with that particular caliber to fire further? (Keeping in mind that it's target shooting--so the risk of injuring any animal for a distance shot is not a concern).
I have a similar question with a 9mm handgun:
I have read that a typical handgun shot is 15-25 yards. (I believe law-enforcment officers train up to 25 yards) but the "practical accuracy" range of a handgun fired 9mm can be 50 yards. Is attempting to fire the handgun any further a pointless "show-off" sort of endeavour, or is it a worthwhile attempt at improving your shooting skill?
The reason for my questions is that I would really like to work on accuracy just to improve that skill. (I love darts and archery for the same reason--to get better at consistently hitting the target). I understand that there is a natural ceiling at which point a bullet cannot be shot past, and that ceiling is dependant on caliber etc (i.e. a .50 cal can fire accurately 2km). But my question is this:
Understanding that a long shot will not potentially and inhumanely be fired at an animal, are the distances of the calibers mentioned above the actual ceilings of those cartridges, or averages that can be improved on and eventually increased? (Without modifying the loads).
I haven't done as much research on the .22, but I belive it has the same range as the 2 calibers mentioned above as well. I downloaded a program that tracks the trajectory of the bullet and the .22 arcs a full 3 inches before hitting a target 100 yards away...if accuracy is the goal, am I better off just shooting with the .22 and forgetting the other calibers entirely? Or is the .22 ceiling literally at 100 yards?
Thanks!
I am very much a newb to the sport of shooting--and I really only have an interest in range shooting, not hunting. I am particularly interested in improving accuracy etc...
I am still getting a grasp on the physics of ballistics, as well as the different statistics of grains etc... so please bear with my ignorance.
My question is regarding the distances of different calibers, and I would like to verify my findings here.
I understand that the heavier the bullet, the less trouble it will have dealing with external factors such as wind; but the faster it will lose velocity and range. (I am only thinking of factory loads for bullets, not the reloading that can be done which will up the power of a cartidge).
I would like to use the .44 mag as an example:
I have read on forums (no official documents, so the information I have read is all personal opinions) that the max range that a lever action .44 rifle can fire is 100-150 yards. If that's true, could an experienced gunman fire the rifle further, more accurately? Would it be worth attempting to improve your skill with that particular caliber to fire further? (Keeping in mind that it's target shooting--so the risk of injuring any animal for a distance shot is not a concern).
I have a similar question with a 9mm handgun:
I have read that a typical handgun shot is 15-25 yards. (I believe law-enforcment officers train up to 25 yards) but the "practical accuracy" range of a handgun fired 9mm can be 50 yards. Is attempting to fire the handgun any further a pointless "show-off" sort of endeavour, or is it a worthwhile attempt at improving your shooting skill?
The reason for my questions is that I would really like to work on accuracy just to improve that skill. (I love darts and archery for the same reason--to get better at consistently hitting the target). I understand that there is a natural ceiling at which point a bullet cannot be shot past, and that ceiling is dependant on caliber etc (i.e. a .50 cal can fire accurately 2km). But my question is this:
Understanding that a long shot will not potentially and inhumanely be fired at an animal, are the distances of the calibers mentioned above the actual ceilings of those cartridges, or averages that can be improved on and eventually increased? (Without modifying the loads).
I haven't done as much research on the .22, but I belive it has the same range as the 2 calibers mentioned above as well. I downloaded a program that tracks the trajectory of the bullet and the .22 arcs a full 3 inches before hitting a target 100 yards away...if accuracy is the goal, am I better off just shooting with the .22 and forgetting the other calibers entirely? Or is the .22 ceiling literally at 100 yards?
Thanks!