Author Topic: Sectional Density and Bullet Selection (Read 928 times)

Duffy · « **on:** June 09, 2003, 11:14:34 AM »

How many of you consider SD when choosing a hunting bullet for a new/different caliber? For example if a 180 grn 30 cal bullet with a SD of .271 works well on Elk would a 154 grn 7mm bullet with a SD of .273 work as well? Taking into consideration all other things being equal, construction, speed, ect.

Questor · « **Reply #1 on:** June 10, 2003, 08:02:12 AM »

I pick bullets based on proven performance with a given cartridge for a given specie and probable size of game animal. There are too many variables in bullet design for me to hypothesize effectiveness based on one of those variables.

A good "no-brainer" choice in your case would be a 175 grain Nosler Partition bullet or something similar. Maybe a 160 grainer would be OK. As it happens, it will have a relatively high SD, but the important thing is that it is designed with elk and similar animals in mind, and it has proven itself over and over again in the field.

Questor · « **Reply #2 on:** June 10, 2003, 08:04:13 AM »

What cartridge are you shooting? The heavier 7mms may not perform from a slow handgun cartridge. (I thought we were in the rifle forum.)

Zachary · « **Reply #3 on:** June 10, 2003, 08:43:11 AM »

Duffy,

Please keep in mind that all the numbers in the world will not provide a fail-safe formula. If you took a paper clip and took out all of the bents out, it would be about 6 inches long and probably have a section density of about a million. However, would I use such a bullet on elk or any other animal, obviously not.That said, certain numbers can be usefull when used with practical experience.

With regard to section density, on paper, the 7mm 160 grain bullet seems to be better than the .308 180 grain bullet. However, all else being equal, my experience is that the .308 180 grain bullet is a better penetrator on elk or anything else. Please realize that the added benefit of the .308 bullet is that, since it is wider, it will produce more tissue damage and, hopefully, an exit wound.

Zachary

Duffy · « **Reply #4 on:** June 10, 2003, 10:13:17 PM »

Just forget it.

safetysheriff · « **Reply #5 on:** June 12, 2003, 10:16:18 AM »

How did this get into the Handgun Hunting section?

With rifles I do compare SD's to some degree, believing that reasonably light sd's provide good performance on animals up to deer size in appropriate calibers from .223 up through .30-06.

Above the size of deer I think the comparison does not include .22 and .24 calibers for most of us - unless we're in an area we can frequently hunt the larger animals. (I wouldn't hunt elk with a .243 on a once-in-a-lifetime hunt!) Above deer/caribou I would use only a .25 caliber or larger, with preferably heavier sectional densities in all calibers. For dangerous game, even in the Western Hemisphere, I would recommend the .270 caliber as an absolute minimum - with very strongly constructed bullets!

In handguns I would not compare SD's. The size of the bullet diameter and the velocity change too quickly from one caliber to the next. So, too, does the bullet weight and momentum. A .44 magnum in any SD' is a lot more gun than any .38 or even .357 in the same sectional density.

Duffy · « **Reply #6 on:** June 13, 2003, 05:34:53 AM »

The reason its in the handgun section is because I'm working on a load for my ENCORE 7mm08.
So far I have a 160g Partition @ 2450 and am still working on it.

Was just trying to start a informative post, not get a ass chewing.

MS Hitman · « **Reply #7 on:** June 14, 2003, 02:07:58 AM »

Duffy,

I do not see where you got an ass chewing, just some fairly good responses. To answer your question directly though; no, I do not consider sectional density when choosing bullets for cartridges. I choose my bullets based on the intended game I am hunting. Varmints get a lighter, more frangible bullet than do African species. I load heavier (weight and/or construction) bullets to suit the game as it gets heavier and tougher.

Hope this helps.

crawfish · « **Reply #8 on:** June 15, 2003, 09:40:41 PM »

SD is sort of like South Dakoda for me: I know it is there BUT I'll never visit. No I don't consider SD when working up loads even when working "bottle necked" calibers. In the "short" handgun barrels (even 15 inchers) you usually give up 400fps over a rifel of the same caliber so I tend to go with the lightest bullet at the fastest speeds with out blowup at close range. That equates to Barnes Xs', Fail Safes, and Partitions all light for caliber IF YOU WERE SHOOTING A RIFLE. With stright walled calibers (mostly .41) I go the other way and use the heaviest that I can stabilize for that caliber. But all this light/heavy is geared toward the same thing and that is complete pass through on a broadside center shoulder hit on the intended game. That beng said I would never use a 120g X on elk out of a 14 inch Contender 7X30Waters but would and have used a 250g hard cast out of a .41RemMag and .41GNR#2 on 5 animals over 1500lbs. Ask any long term (35 years for me) reloader and most will tell you that it is just something you learn with lots of shooting. I guess it all comes down to that except on a couple of rare exceptions paper figures dont begin to reflect the real world situation with the way a bullet will perform game. :?